Clever Video Showcases Some Low Budget DIY Bumper Building
Transform your Wrangler TJ or LJ on the cheap with some simple cutting and welding
If your second-gen Wrangler is starting to look a little tired, it might be time for a quick DIY bumper makeover. That’s doubly true if the Jeep in question is your wife’s daily driver. That’s exactly the position that Ben Ertel found himself in and as the saying goes, happy wife, happy life. Fortunately, Ben is a capable wrench who also happens to run the YouTube channel JK Gear and Gadgets.
The rear bumper is a DIY kit
Ben’s wife Cassie has a pretty clean looking LJ (Long Jeep) Unlimited, which is impressive on its own considering the way that LJ values have skyrocketed in recent years. At the rear, Ben selected a new all-steel bumper from Barnes 4wd. Per the Barnes website, the bumper is “Laser Cut and CNC bent here in North Carolina.”
In spite of clearly being a heavy-duty, quality product, this bumper costs less than $190. There is a catch, though. It’s actually a kit that comes in multiple pieces which require welding. Okay, there’s two catches because you’ve also got to paint it for looks and to stave off rust.
Ben is obviously an experienced welder and the finished result looks great covered in a few coats of satin black paint from a rattle can. However, the kit is also promoted as great entry-level project as well since less-than-stellar welds can be ground smooth before painting. If you don’t own a welder suitable for at least 1/4-inch steel, now might be a good time to make friends with someone who does.
The front stubby bumper is even easier
Moving on to the front, we’ll watch the ultra budget-friendly conversion to a stubby bumper. For the most part, this simply involves removing the bumper ends (a/k/a “milk jugs”), narrowing the steel center section, and re-mounting the bumper ends. Best, of all, no welding is requiring. All of the surgery can be accomplished with an inexpensive angle grinder with a cutting wheel attachment.
Ben narrowed the front bumper about 9 inches total, or 4.5 inches per side. Further narrowing is possible, but requires cutting part of the plastic bumper ends that are hidden inside the metal channel. As well, TJs or LJs with factory fog lights may require cutting the milk jugs to clear the light mounting hardware. Add a fresh coat of spray paint and you’ve got a trail-friendly front bumper for the cost of some elbow grease.
Photos: JK Gear and Gadgets/YouTube