First Sledgehammer Repair to my Jeep

[Wabujitsu]

It was inevitable that it would happen, and I was emotionally prepared for it. While wheeling the other day, I dropped my rig into a precipitously deep hole and knocked the stock front bumper out of alignment, also bending the metal bracket one of the fog lights is attached to. It was a good excuse to finally remove the euro-plastic crap. A few whacks with a sledgehammer brought it all back into absolutely perfect alignment. I used to “fix” the bumpers on my FJ40 with a sledge, back in the day.

It’s a Jeep thing, I guess.

Incidentally, I did make covers for the light harnesses on the back of the bumper out of the euro-plastic. I used a table saw and a belt sander. They turned out very well, like factory stock! Glad to see my woodworking skills can work with plastic.

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[Wabujitsu]

By the way, I expected the stock bumper to be a bit more robust than it is.

 

[KnG818]

Pictures or it didnt count

 

[Kluk Ztopolovky]

what replacement bumper have you picked ?

 

[multicam]

Pictures or it didnt count

Seriously! Come on Jeff, you should know better!! And unless I missed it, you didn’t say if you have the steel or plastic stock bumper! Come on man! I know that using a sledge implies steel, but I’ve always had steel bumpers so I have no idea how plastic works, maybe you can sledgehammer them too!

 

[Wabujitsu]

what replacement bumper have you picked ?

I haven’t yet, and I’m open to suggestions!

 

[Wabujitsu]

Seriously! Come on Jeff, you should know better!! And unless I missed it, you didn’t say if you have the steel or plastic stock bumper! Come on man! I know that using a sledge implies steel, but I’ve always had steel bumpers so I have no idea how plastic works, maybe you can sledgehammer them too!

Tanner, I own a Sport. It’s plastic, but underneath the plastic is a steel skeleton. I had a straight shot at smacking steel with the sledge after I removed the euro-plastic wind thingies, mainly the bracket around the driver side fog light assembly. That is what I hammered on.

 

[Dagwood]

Proper application of the BFH tool will fix much.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Ya wants ta wheel, ya gonna bend the steel.

 

[IceBerg]

When I ordered mine I debated getting the steel bumper and when I saw one at the dealer I could tell it was a POS. Glad I saved that $900 and got a real bumper instead. I've pushed my LoD into rocks, hills, trees, and who knows what else and it just takes it.

 

[Maverick909]

i love my front Rampage bumper. all 3/16" steel with small bull loop and is winch ready as well as it is 10" light bar ready. its a full width that gives good protection. Even better quadratec still has it on sell. for 229.99. it fits both the JK and the JL's Rampage Products 99306

 

[Wabujitsu]

i love my front Rampage bumper. all 3/16" steel with small bull loop and is winch ready as well as it is 10" light bar ready. its a full width that gives good protection. Even better quadratec still has it on sell. for 229.99. it fits both the JK and the JL's Rampage Products 99306

Thanks Brian! What did you have to do to adapt the bumper to mount your OE fogs?

 

[Maverick909]

Thanks Brian! What did you have to do to adapt the bumper to mount your OE fogs?

i havent install my OEM fogs back in. i adapted two 6.5" amber LED flood lamps on the light bar mount and connected them to the fog light switch. i am looking to install LED head lamps and Fogs in the future. BUT the JK fogs fit right in and bolt directly. ill attach a photo for my setup. i will be going with an XRC smitty built 10K winch

 

[word302]

I haven’t yet, and I’m open to suggestions!

LOD

 

[GreyFox]

I'm looking at this Go Rhino, because I really like the clean look of putting my lights in the bumper. https://www.quadratec.com/p/go-rhino/rockline-winch-ready-front-bumper-overrider-jeep-wrangler-jl

But, I really like the LOD bumpers. I'd get it bare then take to LineX to coat it. https://lodoffroad.com/products/jeep/2018-jeep-jl-products/front-bumpers.html

Good luck and keep us posted on which one empties your pocket

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