Trying to do some custom bumper fab.!

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:31 pm

I cracked up the center part of my front bumper on my 2003 Limited. I was gonna replace it, but the friend who helped me put on my skids just a few weeks ago said we could custom fab something. He said we could cut out the center section of the bumper where I cracked it up, leave the side sections of the bumper as is (fog light areas), and put something steel in it's place. He was telling me all about how he used to do custom fabrication with steel for his two monster trucks (4 feet of lift, 44" swamper), one of which I have seen for myself: very impressive. I was wondering if this is at all a plausible idea.
I know of only one truly sturdy mounting point for that area, and that's the tow hook mounts. I was wondering if there's any other good areas I might be able to mount this bumper to, somewhere around the top of the bumper area, right below the grill? My friend put his hand through the tow hook openings in my bumper and said that there is frame right there under the bumper cover, but it's thin. He also said something about it maybe being connected to the suspension or something like that and if so we wouldn't want to put tow hooks on any bumper we made if we used that frame area.
Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated. I'm mostly looking for someone who's seen the Liberty's front end without the bumper on, and coincidently knows what's a sturdy mounting place. Thanks in advance for ANY help. I really want to do something custom, and I'm sure most of your LOST members would like to see something unique like what I plan to do.

chefdab · **Posted:** Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:23 pm

I had the bumper cover off when I installed my front hitch. There are two caps over the "frame" rails in the front. To install my hitch, I had to reach into the rail and insert a bolt through a hole I had drilled in it. The hitch itself is actually mounted below the "frame" rails. So I would guess that a custom bumper would probably have arms that slide into the frame and then bolt on from underneath. I've used my hitch as a recovery point on a couple of occasions with no ill effects to the frame so you should have no problem using hooks attached to your custom bumper.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:43 am

Thanks a lot for the info. I will try to get this done ASAP and post some pictures of the fabrication. I'm looking at the basic construction being black powder-coated steel tubing and a diamond plate for a skid on the lower part of the bumper. I'm also hoping to have some tow hooks attached and a pre-runner bar for a pair of lights.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:00 pm

I would love to see/hear how you do a skid...

Bumpers are on my list too, but the rear is my priority as the cover is barely hanging on....

My concern with a front skid is the airflow for the radiator/condenser. If you look in the 3 square holes on the bottom of the bumper (where the towhooks come out) you will see what I mean. I think the skid would have to have louvers or something (like the old 70's custom truck hoods)

lilmatty · **Posted:** Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:32 pm

I'd suggest D shackle mounts instead of tow hooks. Also a tow receiver built in.

I think you've got several interested in what you come up with. You friend might be able to sell a few and as a minimum the plans for it.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:28 am

Louvers being what? If ya didn't know, I'm 16 so I wasn't around for the 70s. Please clarify.
I'm thinking I'll replace that section of the bumper with two diamond plate rectangles, one flat on top, above the license plate frame, and then another right where the license plate frame is. It would obviously be long enough to cover all the way to each end of the bumper I'm not cutting. I can't say anything for tow hooks, D-rings, or receivers until we see exactly how this is going to be done in the garage. It'd be real awesome if we could install a receiver and cut the diamond plate to surround it.

uvalax236 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:58 am

I think that Louvers are slots cut to help increase airflow however I could be wrong.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:30 pm

uvalax236 wrote:

I think that Louvers are slots cut to help increase airflow however I could be wrong.

That's exactly what they are. Check out the LOUVERS on the hood of a lead sled for an example.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:30 pm

sorry about that, I do not remember the 70's either, but the vehicles (trucks anyway) were a lot better IMHO then dare I say all of them Jeep, Ford, Dodge and dare I even mention the "C" word looked better, and were all built to last longer than the current models could dream!!!

I will spare you all my rant on quality.

Trying to do some custom bumper fab.!

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