My $30 redneck brush guard

[TheInstaller]

OK, leaving me with nothing to do on my day off can be dangerous. I was trying to come up with an idea to reinforce my bumper and winch mount, and decided to walk around Home Guido. What I came up with is either absolutely brilliant or complete madness. You decide.

These pictures were taken before painting, which I just got finished doing. I actually painted everything in front of the hood line. I took the shots with my 3rd place trophy, and I know I am missing a fog light. It broke when I was getting ready to put it back on the bumper. banging









I still need to work on my welding. I am pretty sure my problem is that I rush them.






Close-up of trophy:


I used 3/4 inch pipe with threaded ends. The crossbars are 3 feet long. The uprights are 10 inches long. The top bar is connected to the uprights with 90 degree fittings. The bottom bar is connected to the uprights using T fittings, which are connected to the flanges on the bumper with 90 degree fittings. I am considering putting flanges on the inside of the bumper, and using more piping to tie it all into the unibody.

[HeavyMetal]

the hell kinda winch is that?

either way, how is it secured to the jeep?

[Buffalo Phil]

hahahahha what the fuck is that?!!?

[TheInstaller]

It is a Master Lock winch. It is rated at 2000 lbs straight pull, and 6000 lbs rolling. It only cost me $50, and is really only useful if I lose traction. If I get seriously stuck, it won't get me out. I can probably only use 1 snatch block with it since there is only 30ft of cable. If you recall the bracket I had on the bumper, it is designed to lock onto that. The bracket is bolted to the bumper and welded to the brush guard.

[CSaddict]

OMG. Jeff, that is somethin!

[TheInstaller]

csaddict said:

OMG. Jeff, that is somethin!

Want to give me some welding lessons? I have been getting better, but not enough projects to try my skills on. The brush guard was more of something to do besides sleep, and it seems to fit with the overall budget build of my Jeep.

[crosbike]

hmmm.

[HeavyMetal]

I'm just gonna say this

anything bolted to that stock bumper, especially anything under any sort of real load is going to fail.

it isnt unsafe really as if the winch mount fails, the bumper/winch is just gonna come off, so do whatever you want...but it doesnt take me a crystal ball to see the winch pulling that apart..theres a reason typical winch mounts are made of ~1/4" steel and mounted along the uniframe with as many bolts as possible

i do understand thats a small winch, but still, the stock bumpers on jeeps are just ment to bend around when u hit crap

theres my 2 cents (canadian)

aside from that, i gotta give you credit from thinking outside the box, however far away from the box that may be ;D

[TheInstaller]

To give you an idea of the strength of that little winch, Stryker and I had to use it to get a wheel off my old Pathfinder. It started dragging the Pathfinder sideways, so we hooked his Pathfinder up to hold mine from dragging. Until Max put his foot on the brakes, it was pulling both Pathfinders.

[Buffalo Phil]

want to see stock bumpers fail...just look ay my jeep. Felner started it all...

[HeavyMetal]

therifleman said:

want to see stock bumpers fail...just look ay my jeep. Felner started it all...

and all he fuckin did was jump on it hahahahah

[TheInstaller]

Don't worry guys, I am not going to rely on this setup to get me out of any really stuck situation. If I do need it and it bends the bumper, then I will have a reason to get a real bumper without my wife bitching.

[Buffalo Phil]

i know! bahahahahahha

[HeavyMetal]

theinstaller said:

Don't worry guys, I am not going to rely on this setup to get me out of any really stuck situation. If I do need it and it bends the bumper, then I will have a reason to get a real bumper without my wife bitching.

i like where your heads at

[TheInstaller]

I think my bumper is an extra special one anyway. It didn't even bend when I slammed into the back of a VW Jetta. After looking at the back of the Jetta, the cop just shook his head because he couldn't believe we were involved in the same accident.