G-Spot

I want to cut off the front bash bar, since it serves no purpose unless you have the electronic sway bar disco. Who here has done this? Did you just use a sawzall? Any pics?

derekls

No pics but I cut mine off to put a skid plate there. Super easy, sawzall, all the way cuts very easy.

Best,
Derek

G-Spot

Thanks, I'll be doing this sometime within the next week.

Zylfrax791

Bad idea. Its other name is "front crossmember" and yes it does serve the purpose of stiffening the overall frame structure. Its part of the ladder frame so I'd leave it intact if I were you.

G-Spot

Are you sure it adds structural support? It is attached with pretty weak looking tabs. I have to be honest, it appears to have little to no structural support. But hey, I could be wrong.

derekls

I am not 100% sure of the purpose it servers other than being in the way. But I replaced mine with a even better clearance and stronger skid plate, which mounts up at where it was and goes on back.


I will stick by what I said and it wont hurt anything if you remove it. Something that stiffens the frame shouldnt be able to be removed by a sawzall in 30 seconds.

riverzendz

I'm curious here. What is it "in the way" of? I've been under there numerous times and it has yet to get in my way.

derekls

In the way of installing a skid plate - for me anyways.

It also freed up roughly 2.5-3 inches of clearance in the front end to. The bash bar hangs down the skid doesnt.

derekls

Also like to point out - after cutting it off If I do see I need one, Ill weld one myself, because the stock was done very very shitty. No strength at all.

DFW Rusty

I think there are bumpers on the market that have skids that actually go over that crossmember. We built my bumper and now that cross member serves as extra support for my skid!

I wouldn't cut it off, atleast until you have something to put in it's place to stiffen it back up.