Front and Rear Bumpers

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This is a write-up on my front and rear bumpers. The front bumper is completely finished but the rear is not yet finished, it is only done to the point of being able to provide the needed protection and offer extraction points. All of the unirail attachments are from 1/4 steel weather it is box steel (rear) or plate (front).

I use a multi-mount winch so that is why there is a receiver in the front and rear of the Heep. It works well and I have pulled a fullsize Chevy up a long hill with a friends 9000i. It was a long pull but the bumpers held fine.

Front Bumper

I used 2x6 rectangular tubing that is 3/16 thick. The shackles are from a trucking supplier (Six States) and are used to secure loads to the bed of a trailer, they are rated to an enormous tensile strength and are commonly used for anchor points. I supplied 3 passes with the welder to ensure proper attachment to the bumper face.

This is a close-up of the lower radiator protection and additional bracing. It is all 3/16 angle and expanded metal. I like this approach since it does not take away any approach angle and stiffens up the hole assembly even more.

This is the front corner and how I wrapped the bumper around the fender with 2x2 tubing. The bend in the 2x6 is courtesy of a 75 ton arbor press. Make sure that if you are going to do this make a couple relief cuts in the back side. It is worth it in my opinion since it provides a cleaner look and allows you to get just a little closer to stuff before the bumper hits.

This is how I mounted the bumper. 1/4 plate to slide inside the unirail. I used grade 8, 7/16 bolts in the four holes that are already in the unirail. I welded the nuts to the reverse side of the plate so I would not have to fish around in there with a wrench. Make the mounting plates first that way you can have them bolted down tight and tack the bumper to them. This will ensure a proper fit and will cut down on the need to make super precise measurements. I made the brackets out of cardboard first as well, it is worth it in the long run to take this extra step. The mounting points just happen to end up 32 1/4 inches from mount surface to mount surface.

Close up of the receiver that I mounted through the bumper. Single pass on the front and triple pass on the rear, since the single looks better that is why I did it on the front.

Here is the rear pretty basic for now but it will get the job done.

I mounted the receiver low like that because I occasionally tow a little pop up trailer and wanted to keep it at a usable height, shoot that is still 6 inches higher than stock, not counting the 4 inch lift on the Heep! 2x6 Tubing 3/16 thick is the bumper with 2x2 tubing 1/4 thick for the mounts.

That is how I attached the bumper to the unibody. Grade 8 7/16th bolts. I am going to put on some hardened washers since the non-graded fender washers bent up pretty bad squeezing the unirails. you could probably get 2 1/2 stock in there but it would be tight.