The ultimate teaser of all teasers, because I don't have any pictures, just a little explanation. I'm not going to start drawing it up and prototyping for a few weeks until I get all of my current rear bumpers and slider orders finished, but once they are done, things will go pretty good on the front bumper redesign.
Most everyone has seen the original prototypes. I just wasn't happy with how it was going on the design, because it was all one piece, with the mounts all incorporated into the bumper. The main design of the bumper shell itself won't change a whole lot, except I think I am going to keep the stock signal lights incorporated into the bumper, instead of the trailer lights. The bumper will also no longer have the front receiver. The bumper shell itself will bolt to a mount subassembly, so their will be a little more tolerance for adjustment. I don't have exact numbers for the 05+ bumpers, but they will be really close to the 02-04, which the front of the bumper is only about 4.5" from the front of the grill.
The biggest change to the bumper, is it is a convertible winch bumper. Yep, a winch bumper that only sticks out 4.5" from the grill. The winch will sit on top of the bumper. So, here are two of the questions that I will probably get the most, and they tie in together.
1. Why is it called a convertible winch bumper?
2. Won't the winch on top block the airflow to the radiator?
Without a winch, the bumper will look like the old prototype in most aspects, except without the front receiver hitch and with stock lights. The front receiver was deleted because it is a big target, as I have found from Ted's trail testing, and the front winch multimount setup really hurt approach angle, difficult to put it in if you are nose down in an obstacle, and front multimount has a lot of leverage that caused stress with any angle pulls. A winch on top of the bumper does block airflow, but offers the best approach angle and doesn't have the leverage of a multimount. So, to give the bumper the best low profile design with the best approach angle, that doesn't block airflow, with the versitility of being able to add or remove a winch like a multimount, I have come up with the convertible winch bumper.
The bumper mount subassembly will have two verticle receivers instead of one horizontal front load receiver. Don't need the winch, leave the bumper as it is with the winch setup in the cargo or the garage. On the trail, need the winch, grab it out of the cargo, drop it straight down into the upright receivers, lock it in with two standard 5/8" hitch pins, plug in the wires just like any multimount, your ready to rock and roll. Getting off the trail, don't need the winch anymore, unplug the wires, pull the two pins, pull straight up, throw the winch in the back. Don't care about airflow and want to keep the winch on the bumper, but worry about theft? Use locking hitch pins, and the bolts for the winch are blocked so no one can get a wrench or socket on them.
Just want a cool aftermarket bumper with recovery points, better approach angle over stock or the other winch bumpers, but don't ever plan on buying a winch, save money by not getting the convertible winch mount. Change your mind later and need the mount, call me up and get it.
Just for comparison, the 02-04 ARB is 9" from the center of the grill to the face of the bumper. My bumper is less than 5" (closer to 4.5"). So you get all the benefits of a winch and non winch bumper combined, without the negatives. The bumper shell is 1/8" plate to save on weight. The mounting subassembly is 1/4" plate and tubing, with 14 attachment points using 12MM bolts (same size you use for the rear hitch). The winch mount is 1/4" plate with 2x2x1/4" tubes that slide into the upright receivers, with a fairlead mount formed into the mounting plate.
I have yet to figure out the new pricing. They won't be cheap, but the good news for the 05-07 guys is their bumpers won't cost $200 more than the 02-04's like the ARB, and the good news for the 02-04 guys is it will be available for them unlike the TJM.
Are you dying for pictures now? So am I.
Like I said, in a few weeks when I get caught up with slider and rear bumper orders, I will have a break between the next (last batch of the year) rear bumpers to get to work on this thing.
Stay tuned.
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