So on Friday afternoon while the sun was out I took the opportunity to remove that useless piece of s@*# plastic on the bottom of the front bumper.

All the clips on one side were broken off but would still slightly lock into place. After driving down the highway and then checking it again - it would be out of place. It's been caught so many times while off roading, clip here, clip there..

So tonight was my first drive without the plastic.. I gotta say, it gave me a new feeling for the ranger. I wasn't worried about wondering if I was driving around with half the plastic flappin' around in the wind.

It kinda gives the truck a different look too. I'm sure some ppl think it's stupid and some people like it. For me - now i don't have to worry about catching it on anything and ripping it off, better approach angle, excuse to get dad to make me a bumper!

I mentioned this in my other post about gettin' stuck.. buut..

Does anyone have any plans or specs for front bumpers and/or rear bumpers?
Thanks!!

 

Alot of people will say "PUT IT BACK ON" as far as me.....

























PUT IT BACK ON

Exspecially on a 2004 FX4.....it just looks like crap without it...

Rocky

 

ripped the valance of the bottom of my bumper while offroading once, looked kinda beastly without it but my dad was giving me crap about how he didn't like how it looked and it also left 2 trans cooled lines kinda hangin there with no protection, so for now its zip tied back on, eventually i really want to build a bumper like on the front of Brianjwilson's truck, mines a little different being that theres more metal and less plastic but i know what you're talking about

 

lol... mine...back in the day... I kinda liked it gone...



never seen the valance off a 04 tho...

 

Ok, so I learned something new today - it's called a valance.

I've come across a few nice looking bumpers on this site (off other ppls trucks) and they inspire me to build one.

What about a custom front skid plate integrated with a custom bumper?

Anyone know how warns winches are mounted?

Also, if i wasn't planning on modding this bebe then I would never take that valance off but now there's a good reason to make a bumper mod.

 

your welcome :) and yeah def. think... maybe sawzall or somethin...

 

See now I rocked mine without the Valance before;
But I'm still a fan of Andy's setup:

 

Mine's been off for years. It's just not suitable for offroading unless you just ride down dirt trails with no ruts, lol.

I put a nice stainless steel custom skid plate under mine and it looks right now with it off.

 

That looks good.. Did he paint the chrome black?

 

I totally agree, unless you somehow protect and reinforce the valance it's just gonna keep catching on stuff and limit you as to where you want to take your ranger.

One more thing..

The valance is a great snow/slush/road salt catcher same with the rear bumper. That's another reason why they should go and be replaced w/ something better.

 

Tom,

If you don't like the valance, then I would suggest finding a local 4x4 or fab shop and see if they will make you a custom bumper.

 

I'm lucky enough to have a fabricator for a dad.. I'm just looking for some idea's or specs to give him to go on.

I DO like the valance on stock rangers but they just get snagged too much... why have part of a "body kit" on your rig that's guaranteed to get damaged from 4x4in? Makes me wonder why Ford designed it like that.. Especially on their "latest and greatest" addition to the Ranger family.

 

Like this...

 

That's a good start, thanks!

I'm hoping to get some input on how a warn winch is mounted.

Also..

Is the 8000 lbs. good for the ranger or is the 9000 lbs. winch more suited for the task?

 

check out brianjwilson's truck, that is the sweetest bumper i have ever seen on a ranger

 

i like the idea of better bumpers, but once you get lifted that valance rarely gets in the road.

 

I can only imagine... for now.

I sent him a PM about it, asking for pic's or specs I think.. It looked pretty nice in the little pic. And I believe it was the pic for the main entry page just the other day.

 

I do believe thats.....DEEP WEDGEWOOD BLUE!! DEEP WEDGEWOOD BLUE FOREVER!!

Bam! My rig:

 

he painted it wedgewood blue, wedgewood blue forever?! hhehe

 

Deep Wedgewood blue....the best, or worst color ever made.

 

I just took mine off, I do so every once and a while...

 

I climbed a snowbank tonight, it barely touched the chrome but i can just imagine what would have happened if the valance was still on... tweeeek!

 

So, are you suggesting I paint the chrome deep wedgewood blue... even though my trucks black? I'm not trying to be a smart *** or anything but just tryin' to clear up idea's.

 

go buy a edge (color matched valance) thats why his is that color..its the same as his...all edges have color matched ones

 

I like that idea, too. Especially once it's lifted.. bull bar with the black valance would look alright.