Spilling the beans... new front end!

[bimrunner]

*Updated*Spilling the beans... new front end! COMPLETED With Powder Coated Pics!

So, this has been in the works now for a few months and is finally getting pretty close. 4x4 labs is designing a front bumper that is a bit different from other offerings. I personally am thrilled with how it is turning out. Still probably a couple weeks out from picking it up, but here is where we are going! Progress pics are below, but going to have rigid LED fogs in the eyes and a 20 over the winch. The winch will be hidden but still working it out.

Before the eyebrows:


Eyebrow version 1:




Reworking to this mockup:


Also having some bump out sliders fabricated and they are unlike any I have seen. The skirts are now completely gone and one solid part will both cover the previous area and tie into the frame to give maximum protection and get the sliders as high as humanly possible. I don't have pics yet, but as soon as I do... you will see them. Luke should be able to get both the front bumper and sliders out once mine are done as he is making jigs and getting both ready for full production once mine are done. :thumb3:

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Looks mean as hell!

Wondering though, I know other companies purposely left a decent gap between the metal bumper and the headlights to allow for flex. The OEM bumper is all plastic and flexes quite a bit. Curious to see how they address this.

I can't wait to see the finished product, keep us posted!

 

[rnb754]

Nice!

 

[bimrunner]

Looks mean as hell!

Wondering though, I know other companies purposely left a decent gap between the metal bumper and the headlights to allow for flex. The OEM bumper is all plastic and flexes quite a bit. Curious to see how they address this.

I can't wait to see the finished product, keep us posted!

Pretty sure that there will be a gap you can see in the more top down pic. Don't think it will be any larger than that. I haven't seen it in person yet so it is hard for me to tell.

 

[harper7]

So, this has been in the works now for a few months and is finally getting pretty close. 4x4 labs is designing a front bumper that is a bit different from other offerings. I personally am thrilled with how it is turning out. Still probably a couple weeks out from picking it up, but here is where we are going! Progress pics are below, but going to have rigid LED fogs in the eyes and a 20 over the winch. The winch will be hidden but still working it out.

:thumb3:

Looks very interesting and will be following this,from 4X4 labs and the CBI offerings as I haven't decided which way I'm going yet. Looking for the best approach and departure angles is what matters to me. :naughty:

That's great news that 5th Gens are getting more love from the aftermarket community and will probably be getting even more if the FJ does indeed get discontinued. Choice is always a great option!

 

[bimrunner]

Sliders: Two types are being developed. The straight ones will have slider tubes welded on for bump out. The other are about 4" further out in the back than in front. We are going to see which look better on my truck and that is the ones I will run, but I'm pretty sure both will be an option.

ones that will have tubes welded on:





Type 2 like boat sides angles back:

 

[Okki]

The type one sliders look pretty sick.. between those and full skids the underside will look like a blast proofed humvee! :usa2: :gun4:

Okki

 

[<<<<]

Cool. It looks blastproof. Nice work.

 

[Viper45]

Sub'd I want to see what you end up with!

 

[Jono.ful]

so, is there an internal structure to the sliders? it just looks like a rolled/formed piece of sheet metal

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Again with the clearance thing… those things look awful close to the body…. Iv'e used my Bud Built Beefy sliders as a Hi-Lift jack point and had them truck rest its complete weight on the slider while teetering on a rock and seen how much they bow and flex…. I would't want them any closer to my rocker panels than the ones Shrockworks and Bud make. Like you mentioned before, it may be the angle of the photo throwing the depth off and they actually have plenty of clearance….

CLEARANCE CLARENCE!!!!! Haha I had to….

 

[bimrunner]

Again with the clearance thing… those things look awful close to the body…. Iv'e used my Bud Built Beefy sliders as a Hi-Lift jack point and had them truck rest its complete weight on the slider while teetering on a rock and seen how much they bow and flex…. I would't want them any closer to my rocker panels than the ones Shrockworks and Bud make. Like you mentioned before, it may be the angle of the photo throwing the depth off and they actually have plenty of clearance….

CLEARANCE CLARENCE!!!!! Haha I had to….

Honestly those are jack stands holding them up. There is always structural supports when Luke builds. He has been doing this for a long time for the FJ series. They will be able to be used for jack points and will be able to carry the load of the truck. Not sure if it is 3/16 or 1/4 but Luke isn't done with them, just putting them up to see how they look. I believe they are going to have tube supports under the paneling to serve as both weld points to the brackets and support for weight.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Honestly those are jack stands holding them up. There is always structural supports when Luke builds. He has been doing this for a long time for the FJ series. They will be able to be used for jack points and will be able to carry the load of the truck. Not sure if it is 3/16 or 1/4 but Luke isn't done with them, just putting them up to see how they look. I believe they are going to have tube supports under the paneling to serve as both weld points to the brackets and support for weight.

Looks really good. I'm sure they will be burly!

 

[adam2562]

that looks awesome

 

[andor]

Luke had sworn me to secrecy about your front bumper when I ordered my swingouts a couple weeks ago. I have wanted him to do a front since late last winter when I got a rear from him (thanks to a hit and run and my insurance company lol). Thanks for biting the bullet and giving up your truck for a while. I've had those pics for a little while and been super excited about ordering one.
As soon as I am able to sell my first gen I am paying in full in advance. Guys, Luke is beyond a perfectionist about stuff and this will be no different. You are looking at the future of what protection will be on modern trucks.

 

[Madoublet24]

opcorn:

 

[diverscale]

sub for details

 

[Jono.ful]

Luke had sworn me to secrecy about your front bumper when I ordered my swingouts a couple weeks ago. I have wanted him to do a front since late last winter when I got a rear from him ....

rear?
:worthless

 

[bimrunner]

Luke had sworn me to secrecy about your front bumper when I ordered my swingouts a couple weeks ago. I have wanted him to do a front since late last winter when I got a rear from him (thanks to a hit and run and my insurance company lol). Thanks for biting the bullet and giving up your truck for a while. I've had those pics for a little while and been super excited about ordering one.
As soon as I am able to sell my first gen I am paying in full in advance. Guys, Luke is beyond a perfectionist about stuff and this will be no different. You are looking at the future of what protection will be on modern trucks.

Luke gave the ok to let it out now that he is close to finished. Hopefully I'll continue to get pics to post up. Cool to know I'll have a twin out there somewhere! What accessories did you go with on the rear?

 

[andor]

Right now I am moving the wife in from Denver (no more geo-bachelor pad) so I'm not expecting to get much done till tonight or tomorrow.
I only got the tire sting out and hi-lift mount for now. Waiting to see what happens with a rack before I go for a ladder but I'll likely just fab one up myself so it can integrate a modular bike rack/snowboard rack/and whitewater kayak shuttle rig (For you mountain guys think of the mountain shuttles going from the Denver airport up to the resorts...just the basket on the bottom to shove 2 kayak tails into and strap them down vertically. Only for short movements half-a** secured and slowly back up the river to the put-in). For the bike racks I'll probably go with Rock Mounts axle mount on one of the upper rungs and a sectioned piece of their channel for the back tire on the bottom rung.
I dont have a build thread, and probably wont till I get really in depth with stuff (like pirate4x4 in depth...SAS/handmade links or LT+ only, built not bought type stuff).
I am ABSOLUTELY ordering the rear Radflo/Metaltech setup with the Metaltech LT springs. The 4x4labs rear is beefcake as is and already wringing out the capabilities of my cheap stopgap measure/experiment with stock coils+spacers and 5100s. 2.5" emulsion is the only way to go when adding weight to these pigs of trucks. I'm going to just figure on getting the 2.5" extended travel Icons with resi and TC UCAs when I add Lukes front bumper and a winch. The 5100s/toytec coils are just barely enough to handle stock weight up front.