In a Bumper Mount Pickle....

Hey y'all! New member here and I'm in a bit of a bind with my front bumper mounts. I have an 04' Access Cab with an ARB Bumper. In the Fall I hit two deer going 65mph (not full on) and the bumper did great, but over the last few months the bumper has started to droop (see pics) and I recently discovered two bent and cracked bumper mounting brackets. New brackets from ARB are nowhere to be found in the United States and none are on the way from AUS. Earliest I could get them would be 8 - 12 weeks. I was thinking about fab-ing my own brackets but don't have a shop...... I know there are some TW members in Durango. Any and all ideas would be appreciated (apart from buying a complete new bumper... poor college kid)

 

I know a popular problem with these bumpers is all of the excess weight on the front end. The original bumper was super light and the end caps on the bumper were never designed to carry such a load. There are companies that make a a plate of steel that replaces the factory bumper and cap. I would bet that when you pull this bumper off you will find that those end caps are cracked. I will see if I can find the replacement end caps and get you the link.

 

What about the cracks in the bottom of the brackets? and the bent-ness of them.... Thanks for tip about the end caps!

 

Should get those brackets replaced if they are cracking.

 

Agreed! you are going to have to get someone to fab new brackets I am just saying while you are having those made you should really look into doing the frame end cap mod.

 

@Crow_of_judgement just installed one

 

Does Arb sell new brackets?

 

They do. They're like $73 a piece which is pretty cheap, but if I order them now they wont be here for 2-3 months and its my DD, at least through SLEE offroad

 

There are a few fabricators on here in the Colorado area. Check the regional section the Colorado threads

 

You can buy brackets direct from ARB USA. They will route you through a dealer network for payment, and ship straight to your house. I ordered a subframe for.an Isuzu trooper that way, then bolted a Jeep Cherokee bumper shell on it.

 

Unfortunately talking with ARB USA and a dealer is how I got the 2-3 months number......

 

Oh I just read the whole thing. I think you need those end caps that you.bolt into the frame rails. Much more to bolt to than that silly paper thin stock stuff

 

Definitely on the list, now just need a welding machine and a shop, hahaha

 

Send me the dimensions of the plate and the thread you want. I can get you some one inch blocks you can insert into the frame. Drill four hole in the frame first, insert cap, and weld through holes, paint and done.

We have a 1 inch shear here so there is scrap laying everywhere.