Smittybilt SRC bumper on a Ranger?

[99RangerOffRoad]

In a different thread someone mentioned adapting a Smittybilt bumper to mount on a Ranger. To me this sounded like a great idea.

http://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/8.htm

But before I go throw a couple hundred out, I was just wondering if anybody had any opinions of whether it would work or not besides the mounting.

Although then again, I guess if I am fabbing mounts I can make it fit.

 

[4.0B2]

i considered this...seen it used on a first gen, took some fab, but worked out.. wish i had pics of that old ranger.. but i don't.

but if you can fab mounts, why not fab a whole bumper??? lol. i've got less than $200 in materials of my front bumper..

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

Well I don't have access to a bender for all the tubing. And I doubt I could make it look that clean and symmetrical.

 

[4.0B2]

is this for a 99 ranger?

can you go to a 4 wheel parts or something and see if they'll bring one out to your truck? just have your stock bumper off when you go. that's what i did when i was considering this.. but i'm good friends w/ some of the guys at the one here.

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

Well I saw one on a jeep, and the only thing I was concerned with was the way the bumper curves back on the sides. Considering the inner width is not enough to wrap outside the body I would have to drop it down if it doesn't fit under the grille at the normal height.

I was really just wondering if anybody had experience modifying a bumper from a jeep to fit.

And plus I found a place where I can get the bumper $200 shipped, which makes it tempting.

 

[4.0B2]

find one in a 4x4 shop somewhere and measure it.. i'll see if i can get some of the MSJ guys to measure one inside the bends if they have one..

 

[4.0B2]

or- measure a random tj or xj or whatever you are looking the the bumper for- and see what the width of their body is at the front. i'd go for xj since its the closest the the right style body..

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

If I do end up doing it I will make sure to take pictures!


So the next person that gets the great idea to do it will either know it was a bad idea or a good idea.

 

[4.0B2]

someone has to be lab rat!

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

Although looking around I just found a guy selling front and rear for $300.

Even more tempting considering that is about $500 worth of bumper right there. And plus there is still a chance I can bring him down maybe even get the winch with it for $500.

Here's for hoping!

 

[4.0B2]

good luck! if nothing else-- its jeep stuff, you should get it and if it don't work- sell it.

 

[chrwilkins30]

I just bought one of CL for 15o with kc lights. plan to make brackets and the good thing is the frame is about a inch short compared to the wrangler so it should be easy. But thats on a first gen B2. hope it works out for ya.

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

Well I picked up a front and rear set for $250, I thought that was pretty damn good.

It looks like I have some options on mounting in the front. I can either fab up some bolt on brackets so that way I could just take it off real easy if I don't like it and plus I could use them to use any jeep bumper or I can modify the bumper and just weld it to the front cross member.

It isn't a very clear picture but the mock up looks decent, with a bracket though I would lower it a little, about 1/2" or so.

 

[4.0B2]

looks pretty good..

just spray some black paint over all that "inner" stuff before you mount the bumper. but it looks like it'll work pretty good.

 

[99RangerOffRoad]

The front looks easy, the rear looks like it will require slightly more fab work.

My idea is to use the rear end of a jeep frame, the cross member, to bolt the bumper to. I like the idea of bolt on in case I need to remove it or I end up not liking it. Might have to dump my class 3 hitch though as the new bumper also has a 2" receiver. Gives me a better departure angle anyways though.