[Jebussaves0]

Finally got around to posting pics. The powdercoating came out really nice (don't mind the mud... its already hauled about 1000 lbs of wood in the M416 to the dump ).

All mounted up

Wired the 3rd brake light (swings to full lock without jerking the wire)

recessed hitch... GO HOKIES!


After it's all said and done, I owe a big thanks to BESRK. His product really is top notch!

[Deacon]

Looks great! The recessed hitch idea is one that never occurred to me. You just use the pin on the back side of the bumper, then?

I've got mine all painted, put the finishing touches on today in the sun where I could see some spots that needed a little bit more help, and I'm planning to put it on tomorrow. I need to get the trailer wiring kit hooked up to the Jeep and the light wiring soldered up to the trailer hook-up. After retrieving an 8.8 tomorrow morning I hope to get it installed. If so, I'll share some pics.

Nice job with the D-shackles, btw

[Jebussaves0]

Originally Posted by Firekite

Looks great! The recessed hitch idea is one that never occurred to me. You just use the pin on the back side of the bumper, then?

I've got mine all painted, put the finishing touches on today in the sun where I could see some spots that needed a little bit more help, and I'm planning to put it on tomorrow. I need to get the trailer wiring kit hooked up to the Jeep and the light wiring soldered up to the trailer hook-up. After retrieving an 8.8 tomorrow morning I hope to get it installed. If so, I'll share some pics.

Nice job with the D-shackles, btw

Thanks! I saw the recessed hitch hitch a little while back on this thread. When I mentioned it to Eddie he said it wouldn't be a problem. The hitch pin goes inbetween the bumper and crossmember. The holes for the safety chains are also back there (worked fine today when I tested it out in the AM).

[poppatello]

Originally Posted by BESRK

.. and Poppatello, I've only got 6 more to do before yours.. yours will be shipped on the 24th no problem.

Aww Damn, do work yourself to hard now!
Here, have one of these on me...

[Deacon]

Well, I finished the install today at 5. In the morning. There were a couple of hiccups, primarily odd welding beads left over that made the already learned-skill frame tie-in installation even more odd (required the removal of the passenger side body mount bolt/puck on the bottom), and the wiring for the lights ended up being kind of a pain in the ***, but it's all so beautiful now.

I'll take pics tomorrow. It's nearly 5:30. I should really get the two hours or so of sleep before work tomorrow...

[fdkss03]

Originally Posted by kingcandy

How can you use the same style high lift mount on this tire carrier if you have stock tail's? I tried moving it to the other side but i feel it puts to much weight over there. Should be closer to the hinge.

[Deacon]

You know, I could've sworn I saw people putting two of those rubber tailgate bumpers back-to-back in order to make one that the swing arm would bumper into. But I can't figure out where they would've mounted it. Did they make a new hole? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Originally Posted by BESRK

It's a metric bolt that goes up thru the bottom of the frame.. I forget of the top of my head what size though.. think it was a 10x1.5 but I'm not positive.

For reference, you'd use a size 18 wrench/socket to get at it. The one size I didn't have. Thank god my buddy did...

[Deacon]

Oop! Found it, eventually!

Originally Posted by fromme

A tip for those of you with Eddie's bumper or even for one based on his bumper that you've built yourself. Tap a 1/4" thread (or whatever you want to use, just be careful not to make it too big of a bolt to go through the factory bumpers) in the carrier center brace, just under the 2" receiver for the spare tire. Then take two of the factory spare tire bumpers, put them back to back and bolt it to the new threaded hole you just made. It costs nothing except a bolt (unless you have one in the 5 gallon bolt bucket like I did) and they are the perfect size to put just a little preload on the tire carrier. I found it keeps it more steady, and doesn't push too much strain on the tailgate. I doubt it is necessary, but it can't hurt, especially when you hang a 35" tire and have a high load like a cooler, like I do. Keeps it from rocking front to back.

[Deacon]

Finally got some pics set up for y'all!

I love it, but I do wish the spare tire mounting plate with the neck that fits in the upper receiver had holes drilled further back where it could slide all the way into the receiver until the angle brace physically stops it. I have limited garage depth, and every couple of inches helps. I may mark it and slide it out to see if it's feasible to drill it myself. With that in mind, I would also prefer the bumper to be hugged up closer to the crossmember, but getting those bolts in there would be a royal pain the *** if it were any closer, I think

I would also prefer that the spring-loaded pin that locks the swing open would have a little higher bracing on it when in its normal resting position so that it didn't scrape against the bumper every time you open it, scraping away at the paint every time. Maybe I can figure something out to help with that.

I love how the lights came out. I'll try to get some night pics for y'all, but those shiny grommets will be dusty and scuffed up soon enough, I'm sure. It's bright and looks pretty badass, IMHO. The trailer wiring harness hook-up is perfect, too. So neat and tidy! I'll be zip-tying and wrapping up the wiring in conduit or electrical tape (or both) some time soon, when I can get around to it.

Next step is to do that little back-to-back bumper thing shown in the post above, and I need to consider whether to run a 3rd eye brake light or not. The other two are definitely bright and might meet the requirement for it, legally speaking...

That latch closes nice and tight. No way in hell that's going to pop open on the trail. And now that the weight of the tire is off of it, my tailgate now swings nice and easy, free as a bird! So much nicer...

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Firekite

I have to admit that the lights look better all mounted up with the tire carrier than they did with just the bumper. I kind of like the reverse lights, but I really don't understand why you added another set of brake lights down so low. I believe that you will still need to add a 3rd brake light to meet federal law. Its not a matter of light brightness but more a matter of line of vision. The law is intended to put the brake lights in someones direct line of vision. At least that is my understanding of it.

I agree that the bumper could sit closer to the cross member. I noticed that in pictures and I had Eddie build mine so it does sit a 1/2" closer than his normal bumper. I'm happy with my bumper to tub distance. But I don't have a tire carrier. I don't know if it would work with a tire carrier. You might need that distance in there to fit the spindle and everything.

[BESRK]

That distance helps me make sure gas can mounts and Hi Lift Mounts fit with a little wiggle room. Also, it allows the mounting bolts to be inserted from the outside instead of poking thru from the inside with the nut on the exterior.

I may look at "slotting" that tire mount hole to allow infinite adjustment. That would allow sliding the tire mount in until the tire hits the "A" frame.

You can pull that hitch pin and take a bit off the end with a grinder to keep it from dragging. I have a hitch pin that I use for mockup when making the bumpers. Sometimes, I'll get a batch of pins in that are just a bit longer than others. Maybe I'll start using the actual pin when doing mockup.. although I hate to burn it with welding spatter.

I'm at work right now so I can't see the pics.. anxious to look at them when I get home.

[Deacon]

Fargo, in regards to why the added STT lights, well...I just wanted them. I think they look nice and are somewhat unique, and extra STT's never hurt anyone. The bumper really isn't all that low, considering the height of the Jeep.

In regards to the 3rd eye, my regular tail lights are higher than the third eye on some cars. The LEDs in the bumper just add to the brightness. And I love not having any wiring going through the tailgate (though the CB might when I can get the mount relocated). That said, I'll probably end up finding some sort of legally-check-the-box solution at some point.

Originally Posted by BESRK

That distance helps me make sure gas can mounts and Hi Lift Mounts fit with a little wiggle room. Also, it allows the mounting bolts to be inserted from the outside instead of poking thru from the inside with the nut on the exterior.

Yeah, that makes sense. You'd really have to drop the rear of the gas tank otherwise.

I may look at "slotting" that tire mount hole to allow infinite adjustment. That would allow sliding the tire mount in until the tire hits the "A" frame.

That's an interesting idea. Or just change where the holes are drilled, maybe? I haven't really looked in-depth at it. The thing I like about the drilled hole is that it seems like you could use a locking hitch pin to keep someone from sliding out the mounting plate and taking off with the tire that way.

You can pull that hitch pin and take a bit off the end with a grinder to keep it from dragging.

That's a pretty good idea, but I think I found a better one: just put the handle over the spindle cap. It keeps it lifted up off the surface of the bumper, and since the spindle moves along with everything else when swinging the carrier open/closed, it rides along fine. I don't know how much I'd have to take off with a grinder to keep it from doing that, but it'd be enough that I'd have to double-check that it's not too much to keep it from dropping into its anchor hole.

I'm at work right now so I can't see the pics.. anxious to look at them when I get home.

I think you'll like it. I've got the big-*** originals (5MP I think) if you want them for your portfolio, or if you want pics at a different angle or whatever, just let me know. I'll try to remember to take some night shots soon.

EDIT: There one relatively minor thing that I do wish had worked out differently. When putting the spare on the mounting plate in the lower position (for better rear vision--the 33's aren't anywhere near big enough to require more room below), the single lug is on top while the pair of lugs are on the bottom, which is the opposite of the factory. That means the nicely lined up ///MT logo on the wheels aren't nicely lined up anymore unless I want to flip the thing over and mount it up high. It wouldn't matter at all to someone who didn't have a logo on their steelies (unless they happened to have the tire lined up where the name on it was flat, though I'd be surprised), but in my case it turned out kind of disappointing. A minor cosmetic issue, yes, but that's the kind of anal dude I am

[poppatello]

Yup, you seem like someone who most just can't satisfy. All in all, I think it looks good. Don't care for the red lights though. However, I like the white light idea. I would use them as spots instead of reverse lights as I don't need them in Delaware. Now if you have the red LED's set up as just stop lights, then I can see that been somewhat cool, but if they blink and all I think that is just plan hideous. But that's me. Congrats on your purchase and good luck with it.

[Deacon]

Originally Posted by poppatello

Yup, you seem like someone who most just can't satisfy.

That's the danger in letting me have input in the process

I've taken some pics and video of night shots. I'll get them set up and post them tomorrow. Bed time!

[Deacon]

Alright, night shots for those interested, and I put up a short video on YouTube showing the setup in action. I never really noticed that the factory lights kind of fade in and out until you see the LED's snap on and off. I'm very likely going to end up with a set of Savvy's tail lights at some point, and it'll be a complete matched set.