Nate's 4x4 bumper

[Nick]

I'm thinking about getting this bumper for my 2000 cherokee:

http://www.nates4x4.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=50

What does it mean when it asks if you want the grade 8 hardwire kit? Does anyone have any experience with Nate's?

Thanks!
My XJ can be seen here: Starting my 2000 XJ Project

[j0hnb0y1989]

the grade 8 hardware is so you can mount your bumper to your jeep so you don't have to go guess on hardware. And a few people have his bumpers and like them just be prepared to wait 2-3 months on average for one.

[Nick]

Gotcha, so basically it just means that all the needed hardware will be included for mounting?

[j0hnb0y1989]

yup that's it im gonna order one of his slimline bumpers seems to be worth the wait for the price.

[Nick]

I agree, they look really nice and high quality. I'm fairly new to all this, so I thought I'd get more opinions. Do you know if he coats them with anything, or is it just the steel? Some pictures show it coated, while some don't.

[lostissues]

he ships them plain, just metal. from reading all over the place, and from learning first hand: quality of product is awesome, customer service is not so awesome. It is a one man shop so things do take a while to get done and shipped. I ordered my slimline bumper on march 31st, his calender said it would be done May 19th, emailed him June 9th, got a response on the 10th (which others have had a hard time getting him to respond) he said he has been a little behind and that he finished my bumper that day and would ship it out on the 11th. So hopefully I should have my bumper early next week.

I had sent him an email about adding to my order but he never responded, I was able to find what I was looking for elsewhere so whatever.

do some research, the consensus will be good product, bad communications. so if you are not in a hurry and want some nice bumpers then go for it. just keep in mind that it may take a while to get your stuff, and it may be hard to get in contact with him.

the grade 8 hardware includes all the nuts and bolts to use all the mounting points on the tie in brackets, also I believe that grade 8 is and upgrade in strength compared to the factory bolts.

[Nick]

Thanks for the insight. I'm not in a huge hurry, and for me, the quality is well worth the wait. Any particular way to get them painted? Anything you would suggest using? I have a 2000 silver XJ, and would probably want to get it in black.

[kboyts]

Originally Posted by nicksmith

Thanks for the insight. I'm not in a huge hurry, and for me, the quality is well worth the wait. Any particular way to get them painted? Anything you would suggest using? I have a 2000 silver XJ, and would probably want to get it in black.

Heres the process I used to paint mine.

1. Use a heavy scraper/putty knife/ wire brush to remove welding slag
2. D/A to sand off surface rust
3. Wipe down with thinner
4. shoot everything with self etching primer
5. sprayed with U-Pol Raptor liner bedliner

One thing I noticed (of course after I had all the paint work completed) was that on my bumper where the tubing from the ggrill guard/light hoops attatched together and to the bumper the welds werent complete. It looks as though he couldnt fit the welder in to complete the bead all the way around and it left like a 1/8" gap. So first time it rained I had rust streaks running down my bumper.

I sanded them out best I could with some folded up sand paper and a needle file, then filled the gaps with liquid metal and covered with some touch up paint.