Rockware Install

[sherpamike]

Hey all,
I just got my Rockware front bumper in this morning. The bumper looks great. It looks and feels very beefy.

The stock bumper came off easily, but my problem lies in the installation of the Rockware. The installation looks straight forward, but I cannot seem to get the bumper to squeeze onto the frame rails. It's like the bumper is just a little too small, or the frame is a bit too big. The bumper didn't come with any directions, so I am wondering if there are any tricks to squeezing the bumper over the frame.

When I called Rockware, whoever is the D-90 “expert” was not there, and might not be back until after the holiday. I figured that with quite a few people on the board here who have a Rockware, someone could fill me in how to do this. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks,
-Mike

[tbmcneill]

Go Heels!!! :grin i love the 'hill' .... went to school there. too bad the deacons pulled it out the other day....

anyhow, i spread the bumper mounts using a crowbar and sledge. it will not take much .... then i had to use a sledge to 'seat' the bumper on the frame.
T

[TDI Guy]

Or you could spread the frame with a hydralic bottle jack or porta power if you have one. That is what I used to spread my frame for my TDI cross member...

[TwisteD90]

Or you can use a grinder and smooth the ends of the frame a little, it shouldn't effect the frame at all. I had the same problem and that's what I did to fit the bumper.

Good luck,

[sherpamike]

Thanks a bunch guys,
I ended up only needing a few millimeters for clearance, so I decided to try the sledge hammer technique. It actually only took a little "persuasion" to make a fit.
Thanks for your help and happy holidays,
-Mike

Troy,
It is great to find another Defender owner with ties to Chapel Hill. I am currently a student there, and am at home on winter break. Are you familiar with any good trails in the Chapel Hill area? I know about Kemp Road, and of course Uwharrie, and Tellico.
Rah Rah Carolina

[sherpamike]

I guess I have one more question....

If anyone has a winch with an external solenoid (like the Warn XD9000), where do you mount the solenoid? Once again, thanks.
-Mike

[rover4x4]

wherever you wanna.

[dmarchand]

Nice choice on the bumper Mike. Sounds like your experiencing the fine build quality and tolerances of an LR. For my Rockware, I did a little bit of grinding, then used a hi-lift to pull the rails in a tad. Then a bit of persuasion.

After you've mounted it, you do have the option of cutting the frame rail portions off, that stick out (because of the bumper design). This I have not done.

Matt at Rockware is the LR guy.

[Chaucer]

Hey David,

I'm considering getting a Rockware bumper too. Could you possibly take a profile picture of your bumper? I'm real curious as to what it looks like attached. I can't seem to find a profile pic of a Rockware.

Will

[dmarchand]

Will this do for you?
http://www.d-90.com/bio/art_vigil.html
http://www.d-90.com/bio/david_marchand.html


Rockware also has some decent pictures on their site www.rockware.net

[PT94D90]

Hey Will, check this out...

http://www.robisonservice.com/eventpix/mudrun/pages/DSC_2347-rl.htm

I'm leaning towards one of these as well.

PT

[dmarchand]

The guy with the yellow D90 has just the rockware blade, which is very cool too. Jorge and myself have the regular RW bull bar with light mounts.

Phil posted another pic of Jorge's bumper above, on the robison site.

[tbmcneill]

Troy,
It is great to find another Defender owner with ties to Chapel Hill. I am currently a student there, and am at home on winter break. Are you familiar with any good trails in the Chapel Hill area? I know about Kemp Road, and of course Uwharrie, and Tellico.
Rah Rah Carolina

Its a fun place .... one of the few places I would actually consider living if I ever left Boulder. As for trails ... I don't know of any beyond what you mentioned. Tellico was always where I headed outside of the Uwharrie Safari. The lack of trails was part of the reason I moved to CO ... along with the climbing, mtn biking, the snow skiing......!! :grin
T

[rover4x4]

we got all that here in NC just not on such a grande scale as you do out there.

[Chaucer]

Thanks for the pix guys!

[tbmcneill]

we got all that here in NC just not on such a grande scale as you do out there.
yeah, NC is good place, I love it. but, you're right, everything whispers; here in CO it roars ... CO is just NC X10 & has better snow. not to mention more sunny days than miami and san diego combined.:sunny

mike, glad to hear the sledge worked...:grin
T