Factory looking winch bumper help

[shawnpalmer]

I am trying to get a more factory look for the front of my Defender, don't ask me why. I guess I just like the crisp square look of the factory stuff these days, and I am looking for a change to the front end. I don't know.

Anyway, here is my problem. I currently have the ARB setup, with 12,000lb Warn winch. I want to keep my winch, but use the wrap around factory brushbar, and factory bumper. Okay, RN says this can't be done without using the low profile kit, which looks okay in their catalog, but not so great on some pics around here.

So I look at Mantec and really like the look of it.

The Mantec bumper looks like it would work great, but it will fit only a superwinch, which has red stuff on it, and I don't want that on my blue truck. Besides, I already have a very nice Warn 12000lb that is in perfect condition.

RN says mantec doesn't make one for my Warn. So, my option is to sell my 12 and buy a 9, which sucks.
Even then, the factory brushguard won't fit (so I'm told) because the lower bar on the brushguard might hit the winch.

Any suggestions?

[KevinNY]

Have rockware make you one with sqared ends like the factory unit or talk to Ike at www.pangolin4x4.com (http://www.pangolin4x4.com)

[evilfij]

Ike's bumpers rock. Also shipman's design makes some nice ones.

[shawnpalmer]

I have contacted Ike to see what he can come up with. He seems like a very nice guy. Anything else you think of please post. Thanks for the input!

[JSBriggs]

Ike's bumpers rock. Also shipman's design makes some nice ones.

Here are some pics of Doug Shipmans bumpers (Ships Mechanical) in PDX You can buy direct form him or from Jeff at recoverygear.
http://www.recoverygear.com/smsi.html


http://shipsmechanical.com/?page=contact


-Jeff

[wicks]

I think you are looking for a superwinch bumper or rovers north's copy of it (which I use).

[JackW]

One of our club members just listed this for sale:

http://solaros.com/smf_production/index.php?topic=2155.0

He brought in some of the WVA stuff from England in a container - good heavy duty pieces.

[Lyman]

i have a RN copy of the camel trophy super winch bumper for sale....i specially ordered it as a blank and i then cut the fairlead hole and drilled the foot print for an XD9000i, and welded on tabs for the factory A bar.... very good condition...never off-roaded, was on my garage queen 90 before i sold it...never even been in the rain... been in storage since 2000.... should have plenety of space for a M12...you may need to redrill the foot print holes... this is EXACTLY what you are looking for....

$350 plus shipping....

[chrisconnie]

At one time I wanted to do the same thing. I found a local fabricator that was willing to alter my stock bumper and wrap around brushguard to fit my S9000. He wanted like $325 to do the fab work.

I changed my mind and went with a Rockware after he pointed that while it might look nice and factory when done it would still be very weak. He talked himself out of a sale but I appreciated his honesty and love my Rockware.

Anyway, you could find a local fabricator to alter your stock brushguard to fit your winch. Cost would be pretty reasonable but you would still have a weak front bumper.

[shawnpalmer]

i have a RN copy of the camel trophy super winch bumper for sale....i specially ordered it as a blank and i then cut the fairlead hole and drilled the foot print for an XD9000i, and welded on tabs for the factory A bar.... very good condition...never off-roaded, was on my garage queen 90 before i sold it...never even been in the rain... been in storage since 2000.... should have plenety of space for a M12...you may need to redrill the foot print holes... this is EXACTLY what you are looking for....

$350 plus shipping....

How about some pics for me?

Follow-up Post:

.....Lyman I sent you an email.

Email to shawnpalmer@bellsouth.net

[evilfij]

Yes but the RN will not fit a M12000

[Lyman]

cut and weld then....no big deal... price is right...

[evilfij]

Price is definatly right!!!!

I think it maybe quite difficult to fit that M12000 in there if it is anything like the one I have.

[Lyman]

it fits a husky boat anchor....it should be close for an M12.... i told him to send me dimensions of his winch...i'll pull it out of storage (no easy task...it's behind 7 years of rover accumulation...) and measure it for him....

[sflash868]

I use a warn 8k with the stock bumper. Don't know if it will fit a 12K but it might. You have to mount the winch upside down but otherwise it works fine. All you need is an adapter plate and I happen to have an extra one I can sell to you. There is a picture of the front end of my truck somewhere around here let me look for it

Follow-up Post:

mine is the green SW
http://www.d-90.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6077

[Buckon37s]

I use a warn 8k with the stock bumper. Don't know if it will fit a 12K but it might. You have to mount the winch upside down but otherwise it works fine. All you need is an adapter plate and I happen to have an extra one I can sell to you. There is a picture of the front end of my truck somewhere around here let me look for it

Follow-up Post:

mine is the green SW
http://www.d-90.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6077


Off topic, but how have you not destroyed that thing?!

[vesparover]

I have a nice setup for a warn winch, and would trade for yours. I'll post some pics.
Thanks
Brian

[shawnpalmer]

I use a warn 8k with the stock bumper. Don't know if it will fit a 12K but it might. You have to mount the winch upside down but otherwise it works fine. All you need is an adapter plate and I happen to have an extra one I can sell to you. There is a picture of the front end of my truck somewhere around here let me look for it

Follow-up Post:

mine is the green SW
http://www.d-90.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6077

I wonder if that could work. Can you post a pic of the mount? does the roller fairlead attach to the mount?

[NashvilleRedD90]

I use a warn 8k with the stock bumper. Don't know if it will fit a 12K but it might. You have to mount the winch upside down but otherwise it works fine. All you need is an adapter plate and I happen to have an extra one I can sell to you. There is a picture of the front end of my truck somewhere around here let me look for it

Follow-up Post:

mine is the green SW
http://www.d-90.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6077What year is your truck? I was interested in one of those mounts but I was told your could not run one on a '97 because of the oil cooler lines (I think that was why but it might of been something else in the way)

[sflash868]

Mine is a 95. As Buckon37s alluded to, it is not as strong as your ARB set up. THen again I personally don't think it's quite as important since most of my wheeling is in the east. I will post a more detailed pic as soon as I can, the truck is the country and i'm currently working in NYC so maybe friday or saturday. As far as I remember, yes the fairlead does attach tot he mount. If you have a skid plate, you will have to cut a small hole towards the front of the plate in order to access the winch clutch lever. (winch is upside down) I'm not sure about the issues with mounting on a 97. I don't recall ever hearing that it was an issue. U might have heard that it can't be done right side-up as is the case with a 95, but flipping it over fixes all issues.

[Kev Baldwin]

Devon 4x4 in the UK do this off the shelf replacement that should do the job. Don't know whether they have a distributor in the US though.
http://www.devon4x4.com/shop.php?mode=productview&product=213