Cole
Expedition Leader
What has always made Jeeps fun to me is that they were light weight "scouting" type vehicles. Then we get a hold of them and start adding weight until they break. :shaking:
Having built dozens of Jeeps I was determined to not build the JK into a over burden beast. The more weight you add the more weight you have to haul up and over rocks. The more weight you have to lug around town, stop , start and turn. It breaks parts on the trail, it uses more gas, tires, brakes etc.
Of course there are certain things that a Jeep just kinda needs. Like a winch. I'm not totally convinced they need a bumper. But, I am not quite ready to hack off my front frame rails.
I have been waiting for someone to come out with a light weight winch mount solution, and hoping it would hold my factory fogs too.
So when Aberle Offroad introduced their one piece cast A356-T51 aluminum bumper I was ready to get one. It weighs less than 65lbs. Only about a 20lb difference over my stock set up with tow hooks and metal frame.
Here is their website for more info. http://aberleoffroad.com/jeep.html
I took tons of pics. :laughing:
All the stock stuff removed.
Some quick test fitting with my Bulldog 12k winch.
Here is the back side of the bumper.
Forgive the cheap calipers I was too lazy to go get the good ones out. This is the winch plate.
Top deck.
Bottom deck in front of sway bar bracket.
Having built dozens of Jeeps I was determined to not build the JK into a over burden beast. The more weight you add the more weight you have to haul up and over rocks. The more weight you have to lug around town, stop , start and turn. It breaks parts on the trail, it uses more gas, tires, brakes etc.
Of course there are certain things that a Jeep just kinda needs. Like a winch. I'm not totally convinced they need a bumper. But, I am not quite ready to hack off my front frame rails.
I have been waiting for someone to come out with a light weight winch mount solution, and hoping it would hold my factory fogs too.
So when Aberle Offroad introduced their one piece cast A356-T51 aluminum bumper I was ready to get one. It weighs less than 65lbs. Only about a 20lb difference over my stock set up with tow hooks and metal frame.
Here is their website for more info. http://aberleoffroad.com/jeep.html
I took tons of pics. :laughing:
All the stock stuff removed.
Some quick test fitting with my Bulldog 12k winch.
Here is the back side of the bumper.
Forgive the cheap calipers I was too lazy to go get the good ones out. This is the winch plate.
Top deck.
Bottom deck in front of sway bar bracket.
