I've thought about the custom bumper thing, sk0t, and Tom offered me his -- but I kind of like the way it looks strangely enough, lol.

I was thinking about a piece of square channel running across the back joining the two sections.

The big problem is not a straight on impact, but one towards the ends. Without the center section, there's no resistance to bending the brackets.

I was also thinking about something like what you said, but tying it in to the winch mount either by bolting or welding.

Decisions, decisions...

 

Thanks, sk0t.

Doc, I haven't had any for awhile, I just loop the strap around the winch mount, or put the hook under the winch plate.

I'm going to get some weld-on D-rings eventually, or have mounts made for shackles and welded on. Just haven't done it yet. I still can get pulled out though and the winch mount is good and strong for that.

A lot of time for front recovery, I just winch out now.

 

Roger that... I was at PARAGON yesterday with the Blue Mountain JEEP Alliance folks and I think I need a winch now.... We were climbing up a slope covered in wet leaves at about a 40 or 50 degree slope with boulders to climb.. Not fun. I got up no prob then we got stuck for 30min while tring to get a cherokee up who had bald MTR's... Wished I had a winch there! LOL

 

Looks good John, but You need to grab a cheap can of white spray paint and paint those black pcs. on the bumper and below the headlights.

 

Nah, Mike, I like them black, lol. I painted them that way myself. Personal taste (or lack of it...)

 

nice job John, much better approach angle.

 

looks good mr. griggs! Lets see how it holds up at wharton!

 

very nice John... you planning on adding any more lights on the front?

 

Very nice John, I agree about the football player comment, that is what I was thinking as well.

If you want to try something else for your front end, I have my old bumper in storage behind my house (laying in the grass). If you'd like to have it for inspection or whatever else, I can bring it up with me this weekend for the meet. Just let me know.

 

Looks pretty damn nice that way!

 

I'm gonna have to do some digging, but a friend of mine sent me a link to a post on FSB (fullsize bronco) about welded versus bolted on custom fabbed bumpers. I'll search my MSN archives, but I think the read would be really interesting for you Griggs.

I'll get the link posted soon. I have to finish editing photos for Zach (redneckstone).

EDIT:
what the hell, I'll just post the messages up:

Jason is my best friend's brother. Drives a 97 4x4 F-250 superduty ex cab short bed.
Somewhere I belong is me (having one of those days - Linkin Park was soothing it over)

We were talking about my front end and how I'd like to modify my westin grille guard so that I can bolt it to where my tow hooks are versus having it attach under my valence with brackets (like it currently does) which equals reduction of angle.

10/22/2006 8:59:46 PM Jason i've recently been reading alot of threads taht say bolting your front end is more betterer tahn welding it on
10/22/2006 8:59:49 PM Jason fyi
10/22/2006 914 PM Somewhere I Belong interesting
10/22/2006 922 PM Somewhere I Belong porque
10/22/2006 929 PM Jason cuz it flexes
10/22/2006 934 PM Jason and bolts allow flex
10/22/2006 946 PM Somewhere I Belong whereas the welds could warp and crack
10/22/2006 916 PM Jason SI
10/22/2006 9:03:15 PM Jason http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79211
10/22/2006 9:03:20 PM Jason some there
10/22/2006 9:04:12 PM Somewhere I Belong damn it I should have gotten a FSB
10/22/2006 9:04:20 PM Jason But with all due respect I would rethink the connection to the frame rails. One or two bolts on each side IS insufficient and welding is a bad idea too because like it or not, there IS going to be some flexing especially under winch loads. Welds do not do flexing very well.
10/22/2006 9:04:43 PM Somewhere I Belong I'll just steal my grandmother's 89 FSB auto 4x4 with manual hubs

Edit 2:

I'm trying to locate the link he sent me where the guy had drawn up in a CAD program his mounting points, detailing the weakness etc. Not able to find it yet.

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...ghlight=bumper

 

Thanks, Chris. A mechanical guy here recommended a neat idea today: a "crossover" piece that would bolt to the bumper on either side of the winch, then come up and cross above it.

It would reinforce the flex problem of the bumper, as well as provide a platform to mount some lights. (Which is to answer your question as well, Billy: yes some 6" lights at some point -- my old ones are broken).

Again thanks to all for the positive comments. Once again the electrical guy managed to hack his truck mechanically and come out all right, lol. This is somewhat intimidating stuff for me since I'm not primarily a fabricating kind of guy, lol.

Winks: yes, if you can spare your old bumper I'd love to have it to do a better job on and make it with the crossover piece I mentioned. That would be excellent! Bring it with you and we can discuss how much you want for it at the meet.

 

Alright, I'll have the bumper with me.

 

I'm really sorry to bring up an old thread here, but i'm wanting to do this exact thing on my 04 Ranger, although i can't see any pictures or even links here unless i'm missing something. If there's any possibility that i could snag a few up close pictures from you that would be beyond fantastic :D thank you!

 

I haven't seen any posts from John Griggs in a very long time.

 

Yea, it's been awhile and the site crashed a few years ago so a lot of pics and links were lost.

 

He used to have a cardomain page as well with his stuff. But I don't know if any of that still exists either.

 

I found his cardomain page if you want to browse his pics and maybe find the image you want. Looks like his Ranger got totaled a couple years ago. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394...r-regular-cab/

 

sorry to bring up an old thread but the pictures aren't showing up on my computer, but would you mind messaging or emailing me picture of the mount for your winch? i've been trying to do this, but nobody seems to understand what i'm telling them. Iamsamrogers@gmail.com