SRQ / True North Fabrications DIY Front Bumper Kit
- Thread starter SRQ-Runner
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BlackwaterRunner
New member
Just got my alpha bumper mounted up the other day
Looks good! I was debating on that but needed the winch
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ghettoflow21
New member
Just got a ticket for no license plate. Any recommendations on a cheap plate holder that would work for this bumper? Apparently zip tie doesn't work to reduce the fine.
I emailed True North Fabrications last week asking them if they had any ideas when a body lift version would be available. There response was "We don't have any plans for body lift bumpers right now, maybe sometime next year". Hopefully they come out with one by the time I'm ready to buy an aftermarket bumper. This is my top pick for a front bumper, but I would really like to avoid a bumper gap.
JohnOfTheJungle
Member
Really? Bummer, I’ve been using a couple of zip ties at the bottom and a steel gorilla for the top, worked just fine for the last year and a half
In a pinch you could just drill some holes in the bumper and run some self tapping metal screws through the plate into it
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JohnOfTheJungle
Member
Devbot
New member
Old thread but can anybody here chip in as to how much free space these bumpers give us to work with? I know they use a Warn M8000 to model it around but there's very little information as to what else does/doesn't fit. Some people talk about using Smittybilt X20s but again, very little confirmation as to how they fit. With how close the bumper sits to the vehicle I'm concerned there won't be much room to work with. Fwiw I'm hoping to pair their Open Wing Hybrid bumper with a Smittybilt XRC Gen 3.
Would also love to hear any testaments to it's integrity too. I assume it's a strong bumper if it can handle a winch but it's close proximity and use of 10mm bolts is still pretty concerning. Really trying to decide between TNF and Badlands.
Before anybody suggests emailing them - i did and got no reply.
Would also love to hear any testaments to it's integrity too. I assume it's a strong bumper if it can handle a winch but it's close proximity and use of 10mm bolts is still pretty concerning. Really trying to decide between TNF and Badlands.
Before anybody suggests emailing them - i did and got no reply.
I have the TNF open wing hybrid installed, and I have a badlands apex waiting to go in. from what I can see, the winch itself will fit but relocating the controller box will be the puzzle. Until I actually get it all installed (possibly in the several weeks) I wont know fully yet. I'll be the guinea pig!
I have tried contacting them about the combo and the response I got was underwhelming. Basically saying the same thing that was in the product description about how it was designed around a Warn m8000.
Devbot
New member
Yeah I got a similar response when I reached out. I simply asked how much free space is there to fit a winch and basically got the item description sent back to me. I've already placed my order regardless, I've talked to a couple people here that have them and they don't seem to have any complaints
Do you have a plan for where you're going to relocate the solenoid box? I know there's not a lot of options but someone always comes up with something new.
Devbot
New member
Not a clue cause I don't have the slightest idea how much space I'll have to work with but I'm not too worried. My winch is a SB XRC Gen 3, and one of the people I talked to had a SB X20 which is bigger and said it still fits with a good amount of room with their box relocated, so I imagine one of the points smittybilt provides will work well
SRQ-Runner
New member
The main center section which houses the winch is 30" wide and just over 8" tall. We've found that most 10k and under winches fit with moving the control box. Hope that helps!
Devbot
New member
Very much so, much more than TNF themselves tbh. How much width, do you know?
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SRQ-Runner
New member
From the front face to the back of winch plate is 7"
Devbot
New member
Nearly done, very pleased
No pics yet cause it's dark now and bumper is still unpainted, but me and my buddy finished welding up my hybrid bumper today and I'm very content with how it looks and how everything went. My friend that helped out welds up a LOT of stuff for various Toyotas, sliders and bumpers and the like (both from DIY kits and custom/from scratch) and he REALLY liked the design of this kit, said it was much sturdier and wayyy easier than anything else he's done. He was also impressed by how light it is, and how the shackle/recovery mounts are one thick solid piece of steel as opposed to two thinner plates that need to be joined together (apparently this is somewhat common for other kits but I wouldn't know)
I was a little worried about the mounting holes being slightly oversized but that ended up being my saving grace for getting it set snug and evenly (or as even as I got it before calling it a night.) Using none of the extra washers it's almost perfectly flat and even. Only complaint is it SLIGHTLY blocks the headlights (barely enough to be noticeable, certainly not enough to obstruct your vision), but that's why they include brackets for a/m lights
Other than that almost everything popped right into place like Legos and made it all nearly fool proof. Only one spot needed some "persuasion" which could've been attributed to our own welding, as it was very minimal (maybe 1/16in.) There's a slight gap at the filler panels that I'm struggling to get even between both sides, but it's pretty small and I doubt anybody would ever notice, and judging by the pictures it seems I'm not the only one with it so I'm gonna assume it's just part of the build
Working pretty slowly and being sure to take our time, it probably took 3 hours to get everything mocked up and tacked into place, then another 1.5-2 to lay the bead inside+out
No pics yet cause it's dark now and bumper is still unpainted, but me and my buddy finished welding up my hybrid bumper today and I'm very content with how it looks and how everything went. My friend that helped out welds up a LOT of stuff for various Toyotas, sliders and bumpers and the like (both from DIY kits and custom/from scratch) and he REALLY liked the design of this kit, said it was much sturdier and wayyy easier than anything else he's done. He was also impressed by how light it is, and how the shackle/recovery mounts are one thick solid piece of steel as opposed to two thinner plates that need to be joined together (apparently this is somewhat common for other kits but I wouldn't know)
I was a little worried about the mounting holes being slightly oversized but that ended up being my saving grace for getting it set snug and evenly (or as even as I got it before calling it a night.) Using none of the extra washers it's almost perfectly flat and even. Only complaint is it SLIGHTLY blocks the headlights (barely enough to be noticeable, certainly not enough to obstruct your vision), but that's why they include brackets for a/m lights
Other than that almost everything popped right into place like Legos and made it all nearly fool proof. Only one spot needed some "persuasion" which could've been attributed to our own welding, as it was very minimal (maybe 1/16in.) There's a slight gap at the filler panels that I'm struggling to get even between both sides, but it's pretty small and I doubt anybody would ever notice, and judging by the pictures it seems I'm not the only one with it so I'm gonna assume it's just part of the build
Working pretty slowly and being sure to take our time, it probably took 3 hours to get everything mocked up and tacked into place, then another 1.5-2 to lay the bead inside+out
Endlessblockades
Senior Member
Cool - looking forward to some pics!
Devbot
New member
Might be a couple days. Was planning to get it cleaned up, primed and painted today but I got sidetracked with other stuff and nothing went to plan so all I got done was some grinding and some priming - but it was so damn windy today that I couldn't do much anyways. Had some real noticeable undercut where the tube notches meet the face, and in the process of sanding them away I left a bunch of divots and grooves that are a real ***** to clean up and looked much worse than before, but I've just about got it smooth again.
Ironically half my job at work is running a robowelder and cleaning up it's welds so this is something I do damn near everyday, but I'm so used to ultra-thick powder coating covering everything up it never clicked with me the imperfections would show through :wacko::lol:
Edit/update: yeah f*ck this I'm getting it powder coated, nearly impossible to get it looking even and stuff keeps falling from the trees and messing it up lol
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