AJ Bumper Install

**Calvin9r** · 08-18-2008, 12:37 AM

So I ordered a Slikrok front winch bumper from AJ's Off-road Armor. I chose it for the clean look, winch protection, solid mounting, and the support it gives to the unibody and steering. The bumper is pretty light (74lb shipping weight) and I was able to do the install alone. The bumper came with 2 nutserts, 2 pinch brackets and 13 bolts. It mounts with a total of 18, the 13, 3 with the steering box, 2 from the original bumper. The bumper arrived in bare steel so the first step was to prep and finish it.

Clean look & winch protection:

Solid mounting & support:

After sanding/scuffing the whole thing I rattlecanned it with the following in order from L to R:

All painted:

I removed the stock bumper, ends, and fender supports. In addition to the bumper, I was also swapping to a '99 Durango steering box so I removed the stock box as well.

I finished all the brackets for the bumper with the same flat black as the bumper. Instead of the flimsy stock steering box spacer, I used C-Rok's inner frame brace finishing it in F black also. Because the Durango box swap has been posted before, I'm not going to add pics of it here. I'll just describe.

I made additional sleeves (just like the C-Rok ones) for the passenger side frame. I also picked up 4.5" grade 8 bolts for mounting the Durango box. The stock bolts are 4" and between the bumper mount, C-Rok plate, and washers (spacers) I figured longer bolts won't hurt.

I started mounting the bumper by putting the nutserts in the opening at the end of each frame, then attaching the pinch brackets to the front cross member. The pinch brackets also hold the nuts for the forward-most mounting bolts of the bumper. Hammer flat the sections of the front cross member that are over the frame rails to allow the bumper to mount up flush.

Now the fun part of mounting this by myself...

So I'm laying on my back, holding the bumper up with a foot and my left hand while threading the first bolt from the bottom to help support it. Luckily the first bolt (bottom driver side) threaded quickly as well as the second (bottom passenger side) so the weight was off me pretty quick.

**Calvin9r** · 08-18-2008, 12:56 AM

I then mounted up the passenger side bolts followed by the driver side in the order on the pic:

Bolt #2 is from the stock bumper (for now). Bolts #3 feed in to the pinch bracket. Bolts #4 feed in to the steering box (driver side) and are sleeved (both sides).

None of the bolts were tightened until all were started. Of all 18, I only had a hard time getting one to thread and the hardest part of the whole thing was holding up the Durango box while trying to get those bolts started. Once all the bolts were tightened this is what I had:

I mounted up my winch and lights and this is what I ended up with...
Start:

Front:

Side:

I'm going to eventually move the winch solenoid in to the cab to clean up the mount, and I'm going to mount fog lights on the bottom of the front cross member.

$593 shipped to the door and I couldn't be happier!

Mr_Random · 08-18-2008, 02:24 AM

WOW I love that bumper! very nice and meanish look, but strong too! How did the durango box do for you? Did the steering shaft bolt right up and everything?

UKJeepThang · 08-18-2008, 03:10 AM

That is a great looking winch bumper.

I love AJ's stuff, I've got his rails but saving up to get a winch bumper shipped to the UK!

4.0H.O.XJ · 08-18-2008, 03:21 AM

NICE. Gimme.

**bmyohn** · 08-18-2008, 06:19 AM

definetly my next buy...looks great

Mr_Random · 08-18-2008, 12:38 PM

I think I may have to invest a weeks worth of income into that, do they have one without the winch mount? Can't really use a winch where all we have is cacti and fat people, haha... (fat joke not to be taken as offensive, please!).

Scratch that, it actually looks like a simple build, I could just get some of the heavy duty bumper mounts (don't remember which brand) and build around them with 3/16" stock and some angle steel (and what looks like rectangular tubing on the sides?), the hardest part would be that bottom lip... wanna give some more measurements and specs?

**Calvin9r** · 08-18-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Random

WOW I love that bumper! very nice and meanish look, but strong too! How did the durango box do for you? Did the steering shaft bolt right up and everything?

I used the C-Rok plate and three 3/8" washers to provide the standoff from the inside framerail. It bolted right up and works great. It was harder to detach the steering shaft from the stock box. This was another cheap mod I'm really happy with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Random

I think I may have to invest a weeks worth of income into that, do they have one without the winch mount? Can't really use a winch where all we have is cacti and fat people, haha... (fat joke not to be taken as offensive, please!).

Scratch that, it actually looks like a simple build, I could just get some of the heavy duty bumper mounts (don't remember which brand) and build around them with 3/16" stock and some angle steel (and what looks like rectangular tubing on the sides?), the hardest part would be that bottom lip... wanna give some more measurements and specs?

AJ's website: http://www.ajsoffroadarmor.com/

Sorry, while I'll share anything about my installation I don't want to infringe on AJ's great design. I'll leave specific specs about his design for him to give out. Hope you'll understand. FWIW, I only wish I could fab something this solid...

Mr_Random · 08-18-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin9r

I used the C-Rok plate and three 3/8" washers to provide the standoff from the inside framerail. It bolted right up and works great. It was harder to detach the steering shaft from the stock box. This was another cheap mod I'm really happy with.

AJ's website: http://www.ajsoffroadarmor.com/

Sorry, while I'll share anything about my installation I don't want to infringe on AJ's great design. I'll leave specific specs about his design for him to give out. Hope you'll understand. FWIW, I only wish I could fab something this solid...

No problem! Fully understand! A man's gotta eat, so a man's gotta work, and if that work aint selling He aint eatin'!

But I'll still use it as inspiration for sure!

JeffW · 08-18-2008, 09:32 PM

That is an awesome bumper. So many things I want for my jeep all of them in the 300-600 range. Makes it hard to prioritize which one I need first.

freemans97XJ · 08-18-2008, 09:48 PM

That looks great!!! Next time you are out, would you mind taking (and posting) a pic of it from the front angle and side, showing the whole Jeep?

Trying to get an idea how it looks from the side on the whole Jeep.

Thx,

JOhn

tigeowner · 08-19-2008, 02:55 PM

I like it, It looks really good.

**Wrenchands** · 08-19-2008, 09:10 PM

How long ago did you order this from AJ?

I have been trying to reach him for weeks with no results.

I want one!

jshaab2 · 08-19-2008, 11:00 PM

hey man. wanna sell your light bar. ?

**Calvin9r** · 08-20-2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffW

That is an awesome bumper. So many things I want for my jeep all of them in the 300-600 range. Makes it hard to prioritize which one I need first.

Man can I agree with that! When I placed the order I also ordered a rear bumper/tire carrier but a change in the finances required I split the order and postpone the rear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by freemans97XJ

That looks great!!! Next time you are out, would you mind taking (and posting) a pic of it from the front angle and side, showing the whole Jeep?

Trying to get an idea how it looks from the side on the whole Jeep.

Thx,

JOhn

Definately will as soon as I can. Been busy at work and hopin to get out sometime next week...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrenchands

How long ago did you order this from AJ?

I have been trying to reach him for weeks with no results.

I want one!

As far as I know he's a one man shop. I sent an initial email end of Feb and after back/forth with questions he got me in the "batting order" mid/end March. He's in NE central IA and things were held up with this last summers flooding in that area. Admittedly there were a few times I considered cancelling the order but IT WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT so I'm really glad I didn't. Be patient with him, he does well with calls, seems a little slower with email but IMHO the product is worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshaab2

hey man. wanna sell your light bar. ?

Actually it's listed in the Ebay sales forum as a part of the bumper assembly. I didn't want to seperate it frome the assembly yet in case someone wants the whole enchilada but if it doesn't sell that way it'll be sold on it's own...