New Bumpers and Sliders! Custom Fabbed CO

[Co4Fun]

Well, so I finally got some pics of my new custom fabbed bumpers! While I was in the queue I did my rad and a tranny cooler etc. as well so the downtime was productive.

Local CO guy here does AWESOME work! Loren, First Choice Fabrications...down off Broadway in Littleton. Let me know if you are local CO and want his info. He might ship too but that could become cost-prohibitive.

I am very happy with the end result and they came out even better than I had hoped. It ended up being slightly more than going CBI/Shrockworks etc. but there are some details in these that I really like such as:

-Mild wrapping underneath front for protection
-Full radiator protection front
-2" receiver front for my remote winch setup
-Receiver hitch frame tie-in's front and rear
-Rear hinge lock on swingout
-Preloaded gate (keeping it nice and tight for years to come!)
-Overall beefy and perfect gaps to my specific rig

Pics:

 

[amalik]

They look great but the front looks just like AOR.

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[Co4Fun]

They look great but the front looks just like AOR.

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Thanks man! I am so happy with them! In some ways it does look a bit like Addicted but no dedicated winch mount since I wanted a 2" for my remote setup. I'm not sure where he gets his inspiration but he has a style with most of his projects and we looked at some of the other custom ones out there. When he mocked it up I loved it. I think it covers a bit more underneath than the Addicted and his "corners" have three welds instead of two which I liked (he said he grinds a minimum of 8 hours on each bumper!)...similar though for sure.

 

[TMP]

How much does that rear bumper weigh? It's pretty sweet!

 

[Co4Fun]

How much does that rear bumper weigh? It's pretty sweet!

Thanks man! We didn't weigh it but he says they are typically within 50 lbs of many of the other aftermarkets. He does add a bit more with the frame tie in. They are manageable with one person and a jack or other support but of course a LOT easier with two.

But, with the 891 coils it really only starts sagging a slight bit with full Gerry can and gear in the back. But since I sometimes pull a dirt bike and adventure trailer I may solve that with bags. Going to go down to Toytech since they are local and have them scope it out.

 

[JWaldz]

I'm digging the rear with swing out, but seeing as it's custom I'm guessing he would need the truck for a few days to do one.

If you don't mind me asking, do you mind sharing how much the rear setup was? Feel free to message me.

 

[Co4Fun]

I'm digging the rear with swing out, but seeing as it's custom I'm guessing he would need the truck for a few days to do one.

If you don't mind me asking, do you mind sharing how much the rear setup was? Feel free to message me.

So it depends on some of the custom options like the swing latch, frame tie-in's, light buckets, etc. and I did let him provide the lights as well since he buys them in bulk and the prices were good. Let's just say you're looking close to $4k but that's front and rear with swingout, fully lined, built for my 1" body, all lights, installed and don't forget that's including sliders too out the door.

I did a LOT of homework on this and If you add that all up with CBI or Shrock plate bumpers and sliders finished and shipped it's comparable...plus most of us still would have to find someone local to weld the sliders on and of course buy lights etc. too.

Also ya so more than a day for all that. He had it about 2 weeks.

Oh and he's usually 3-4 weeks out. The word is out and he's busy.

He's a pro though and you get the custom experience with pics all along the way. He also has a shop so your rig is inside and locked up the entire time he has it.

If you want his info PM me.

 

[Co4Fun]

Forgot to mention he also can do future work on it if you want. For example one option I didn't do but really wanted was routing the exhaust through a hole in the side of the bumper. And so of course something like that he can do and add at a later time.

 

[zoombyu86]

Perfection

 

[Co4Fun]

Perfection

Thanks man! That means a lot to me and probably more to him. I agree and already everyone that has seen it has been blown away.

I was PICKY and hassled him a lot through the project with little details lol. (Well let's be honest it's a chunk of change.) But he was a pro and when I drove up and saw the final product I was so psyched!

He kept telling me to trust him and he was right! He's done a few other 3rd gens before this one and of course tons of other vehicles too. Has quite the portfolio of pics.

Looking at those build pics it's just amazing. So much work! Pricey yes but the work is worth the wages in my opinion. I'm paid well to do what I do and so should he.

 

[Mark_BC]

-2" receiver front for my remote winch setup

That's a beauty. I'm curious about your remote winch setup. Do you have anything yet? I am trying to keep the stock bumper on mine and am thinking I might want a 2" receiver in the front for that.

 

[kolelt]

i highly suggest removing the hi lift jack from the roof. Rain/water and rust on good paint dont mix well. I had a shovel on the side of my roof rack. After using the shovel the paint came of, thus starting to rust. Then when it rained, the rusty water stained my glass!

 

[Co4Fun]

That's a beauty. I'm curious about your remote winch setup. Do you have anything yet? I am trying to keep the stock bumper on mine and am thinking I might want a 2" receiver in the front for that.

I'll have to post up a pic. It's a Warn 9000 mounted on a cradle and I used forklift battery connectors on some long jumpers so it can be used front or rear. I also have a synthetic line on it and overall the weight isn't bad. Very easily managed by one person.

There are some reasons that a bolt on front setup can be better but I think they are minimal. One can be that side winching is perhaps not as stout but as my buddy pointed out that is a rare scenario and typically less resistance (snow or mud) when it happens. I like the versatility of rear winching but even more I just like not having it up there and in the elements and the extra weight all the time. The cradle sits nicely in the back under a shelf I made.

I think for overland to even higher level wheeling this is a great setup! I had a front mount with in-cab remote on my last Jeep and I think I used it about twice snow busting in over five years so I think for me and where I go this is where it's at. Again I'll have to try and post some pics of it.

 

[Co4Fun]

i highly suggest removing the hi lift jack from the roof. Rain/water and rust on good paint dont mix well. I had a shovel on the side of my roof rack. After using the shovel the paint came of, thus starting to rust. Then when it rained, the rusty water stained my glass!

Yes that really is a good suggestion and I had thought about that. I have options for it on my bumper. It's garaged 90% of the time but still I agree I need to watch for that. It's and old high lift as it is so already some rust on it.

 

[Co4Fun]

Just a final thought for you all in CO...

This was a full job with front, rear and sliders but keep in mind he can and will do whatever you want.

I would especially call out his sliders. He will fab, line and install them currently on about any vehicle for under $400 and they look great! He can do straight or kickouts as well. Did my buddy's 4th gen and it looks amazing.

Again, PM me if interested and I'll get you his contact info.

 

[JayRolla]

Just a final thought for you all in CO...

This was a full job with front, rear and sliders but keep in mind he can and will do whatever you want.

I would especially call out his sliders. He will fab, line and install them currently on about any vehicle for under $400 and they look great! He can do straight or kickouts as well. Did my buddy's 4th gen and it looks amazing.

Again, PM me if interested and I'll get you his contact info.

People are wanting $200+ just to install sliders. That's a good deal.

 

[Sean K.]

I'll have to post up a pic. It's a Warn 9000 mounted on a cradle and I used forklift battery connectors on some long jumpers so it can be used front or rear. I also have a synthetic line on it and overall the weight isn't bad. Very easily managed by one person.

There are some reasons that a bolt on front setup can be better but I think they are minimal. One can be that side winching is perhaps not as stout but as my buddy pointed out that is a rare scenario and typically less resistance (snow or mud) when it happens. I like the versatility of rear winching but even more I just like not having it up there and in the elements and the extra weight all the time. The cradle sits nicely in the back under a shelf I made.

I think for overland to even higher level wheeling this is a great setup! I had a front mount with in-cab remote on my last Jeep and I think I used it about twice snow busting in over five years so I think for me and where I go this is where it's at. Again I'll have to try and post some pics of it.

No offense intended, but for any serious wheeling, a front permanently mounted winch is the better solution for multiple reasons.

Side pulls happen almost every time I've seen anyone use a recovery winch in the rocks. The degree of side pull varies, but it's rarely straight ahead....I'd say 30-45º is a normal angle....but frequently, 70º+ does happen. Good removable (hitch style) receiver designs will often include 2 or 3 legs to the frame to mitigate the side pull issue.....but phasing the legs to one another can be problematic....couple that with having to get them into the receiver when they are buried in mud or there are rocks blocking the approach can make that difficult if not impossible to attach to one end of the rig.

The biggest problem with detachable setups is that they are absolute clearance killers once installed. This kind of setup lends itself well to having to winch out of a mud hole, but not up an obstacle.

Lastly, weight is weight. Yes, weight distribution matters in certain instances, but you're adding a very heavy winch plate set up to cart the thing around in....something that wouldn't be nearly as bulky (or necessary at all; depending on design) by mounting it permanently in a bumper.

That's another thing to consider: if weight up front is such an issue....why put on a plate style bumper that weighs as much, if not more than your winch?

Regardless, the OP's bumpers/sliders look very well made and are extremely nice. Just giving an opinion on the real-world practicality of QD style winch mounts and weight consideration.

 

[Co4Fun]

No offense intended, but for any serious wheeling, a front permanently mounted winch is the better solution for multiple reasons.

Side pulls happen almost every time I've seen anyone use a recovery winch in the rocks. The degree of side pull varies, but it's rarely straight ahead....I'd say 30-45º is a normal angle....but frequently, 70º+ does happen. Good removable (hitch style) receiver designs will often include 2 or 3 legs to the frame to mitigate the side pull issue.....but phasing the legs to one another can be problematic....couple that with having to get them into the receiver when they are buried in mud or there are rocks blocking the approach can make that difficult if not impossible to attach to one end of the rig.

The biggest problem with detachable setups is that they are absolute clearance killers once installed. This kind of setup lends itself well to having to winch out of a mud hole, but not up an obstacle.

Lastly, weight is weight. Yes, weight distribution matters in certain instances, but you're adding a very heavy winch plate set up to cart the thing around in....something that wouldn't be nearly as bulky (or necessary at all; depending on design) by mounting it permanently in a bumper.

That's another thing to consider: if weight up front is such an issue....why put on a plate style bumper that weighs as much, if not more than your winch?

Regardless, the OP's bumpers/sliders look very well made and are extremely nice. Just giving an opinion on the real-world practicality of QD style winch mounts and weight consideration.

Yep I hear ya and surely that bumper is weight. I think it's more the versatility and having a bit more of an overland build. I admit it's on the road 95%. And, though I would and have done trails with it here in CO into the 6 level ratings I learned with my jeep I didn't really like the hardcore stuff.

So for sure you have some valid points but again...for what I want I think this will work great. And, his frame tie in's are stout so I think they can be trusted. Also on our 3rd gens since the bumper is so high anyway it helps a bit with the clearance. The rear in that regard is worse for sure but that's an even rarer situation to winch backward.

Good discussion and I do get your points. I had thought about it a lot. I guess after all the wheeling I have done as well and figuring out the type I like to do and especially with this runner it was the way to go for me. lol beats the heck out of a comealong!

 

[Co4Fun]

People are wanting $200+ just to install sliders. That's a good deal.

I know man it really is and he does a lot of them so I wanted to spread the word for sure!

 

[Sean K.]

Yep I hear ya and surely that bumper is weight. I think it's more the versatility and having a bit more of an overland build. I admit it's on the road 95%. And, though I would and have done trails with it here in CO into the 6 level ratings I learned with my jeep I didn't really like the hardcore stuff.

So for sure you have some valid points but again...for what I want I think this will work great. And, his frame tie in's are stout so I think they can be trusted. Also on our 3rd gens since the bumper is so high anyway it helps a bit with the clearance. The rear in that regard is worse for sure but that's an even rarer situation to winch backward.

Good discussion and I do get your points. I had thought about it a lot. I guess after all the wheeling I have done as well and figuring out the type I like to do and especially with this runner it was the way to go for me. lol beats the heck out of a comealong!

And I didn't mean you personally were making a bad decision in the slightest....it sounds like it's perfect for your uses....and that's all that matters.