so im debating on building a bumper or buying one. i just bought a smitty bilt xrc8 winch  cant wait to get it in the mail.

so anyway  the mounting required is 10" x 4.5" (4 bolts, 3/8")

 i was thinking on a steel rectangle tube 1/8 in thick but not really sure if thats thick enough?  i dont want anything fancy just a straight tube bumper with a winch maybe later put some bent tubing on it but i want it to be strong to handle a winch.

so i havent gone to my local metal yard yet but been checking out prices online for metal and its alittle more than i though it would be. if the local isnt cheaper it might be worth it just to buy a used bumper or buy new thinking ZOR or rocky road

I just got a new winch bumper from ZOR zuks off road in AZ,It is by far the best front bumper I have seen for the sami,and it wasn't all that expsensive.

 You can also try Shrockworks.com. From what I've seen they are very well engineered, attractive, inexpensive bumpers as well.

I built my front bumper from 2" square stock (1/4 or 3/8th thickness) and have the winch mounted through the front instead of from the bottom.  I used 2x4 steel to space it forward from the ends of the frame.


Full Size Picture

3 other Sammy's from the club use a 1/4" plate with braces coming down to the frame.


Full Size Picture


Full Size Picture

nice bumpers man. they gave me great ideas thanks
 so i was looking at the shrockworks. the bumpers are nice but i think zor products are very similar and cheaper.

  so i was trying to look at the pic you sent me and i couldnt figure out how u mounted them? i really dont want to weld the bumper to the frame incase i have to remove the bumper

my pop said i should just use my original bumper and cut the top tube and weld a plate with some support on it not sure how well it will look      heres a pic and the red arrow points how its mounted theres a plate that mounts to the frame it looks and to the bumper

i was thinking to asking my grandfather to fab a bumper up for me. im lazy sometimes

 

On my bumper everything is welded to the frame.  On the two Samurais they have a mounting plate welded to the frame.  Then the winch place bolts onto the mounting pads.  You could just use some heavy angle iron on your frame with bolt holes that go through it, then have your flat piece of 1/4" bolt to the angle iron.

With your current bumper you might have to move it forward to give you enough room to mount your winch.  It should be easy enough, I had the same bumper on my old YJ.  I actually mounted the winch up above the two tubes and then put the fair lead on top of the second tube.

oh i got ya. so mount the winch behind the bumper and have it go through the top and double tubes. thats a good idea my friend thank you

so the plate idea wont work due to the tube that goes from frame rail to frame rail
but i was thinking about building a thicker plate weld it directly to the bumper and just bolt it to the frame at the stock location.

heres some better pictures for ya.
  Thanks guys your really making this alot easier and giving me great ideas

I built my bumper out of 1/8" plate, and boxed the ends (which really firmed it up).  I had already welded the winch mount to the frame, and built the bumper around the winch mount.  The bumper is bolted on.
 
It is listed in the Build Diaries http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=22395.0

I traded for the bumper bending, so didn't have much for cost factor.  The ZOR bumper (Intoductory price) is a good deal.  I believe it is 3/16", and not boxed on the ends.

so i went to the metal yard today and i was disappointed in the prices of a square tube. they wanted a 3" x 4" x 6' 1/8in thick for 130 dollars so

 i was thinking about using drones idea and using my bumper extend it out so i can fit my winch between the bumper and the body and build a plate to weld to the bumper and build new brackets that are strong and weld it to the frame

If you check on the our club picture sight you should be able to get some good pictures of the way the Sammy's in the club have their winches mounted.  Enough to give you some good ideas anyway. 

http://picasaweb.google.com/CrawlersNW

thanks drone.
  checking out the pictures now.
im tracking my winch and said it will be here tomorrow  4wheelparts.com was very quick with shipping took only 4 days ( if it does show up tomorrow )

Man I think those guys selling you the metal are off on their calc's buy x10, should only be about 13.00 Buck's.

Man I think those guys selling you the metal are off on their calc's buy x10, should only be about 13.00 Buck's.

  I know I'm going to go there again. I'm thinking the lady gave me a stainless steel price but we'll see.

A good note i got my winch. it felt like an early Xmas. sorry no picks of the winch itself it was wrapped in plastic and i want to keep it in the box till this week. i always have that problem when u take everything out but it never goes in right after wards 

Shiny. 

i know shiny i couldnt believe how heavy the fairlead was. i went to pick it up and almost dropped it due to only using 2 fingers.

im going to try to get to the metal yard tomorrow but got to measure some stuff out. i wish the winch was lighter so it be easy to measure how high it should sit and etc. Also to it says its going to rain tomorrow