JWest Front Bumper

[RBSOB]

Minor accident damage incurred in February [less minor to the Ford van that cut across my front end!] is finally completed. I ordered a John West front bumper to complete the job and had a local shop apply silver powder-coat. Easy install with some help from the kids and turned out pretty well, I think. Now I will attempt to attach a pic... . my first effort so bear with me Jim G.

 

[RBSOB]

That worked so I'll try one more... .

 

[mstimac]

Jim,

Looks nice. I have had mine for a little over a year now. Had John send it to me primed then I color matched it to the truck. i am now thinking about taking it in to a local welder and adding a skip plate to the front of it. Kinda of a Pre-runner style to finish off the front and sides of the bumper. Did you attach the factory side mounts to yours? L8tr, Mike

 

[RO'neal]

Looks good! I am seriously thinking of getting one of these as well. Do you have any pics from the side so I can see how far it sticks out the front?



Thanks,

Ryan

 

[24V-DSL]

I like it.....

Source for this?... . website, etc.



Steel or aluminum? Weight?



Side pic if you can. I like the "understated" look..... without the jungle-gym stuff.



TIA

 

[RBSOB]

Mike, haven't attached factory side braces but hung onto them and may in future. Ryan and 24v I'll take and post side view later today, bumper protrudes 5" past grill, enough flat surface for mounting lights etc. but will not interfere with snow plow. It is 3\16" laser cut steel and weighs aprox. 110#. Dont know how to link Johns site but his e-mail is -- email address removed -- for more info and pics. Bumper draws a lot of attention and questions and should easily survive the type of impact which cost me $1300 damage and a week down time in Feb. Ford vans and deer may not survive so well since I did not go back to a "single use only" stocker Look for another pic or 2 tonight, Jim G.

 

[RBSOB]

Not a direct side view [I forgot to take a new pic before dark] but you get the idea of 5 inch "depth" of bumper Jim G.

 

[bholcomb]

Jim,



Glad the bumper turned out OK. I helped John some with it.





Mike,



I did something similar to what you are wanting when I put installed my bumper. I built a center skid/cover plate which bolts on to the the bumper and bumper brackets. Hopefully my picture works. (OK picture didn't work, but there is a picture of it on Sled Puller's site http://www.awdist.com/pull/westbumper.html )I haven't done anything to the sides, but I have been thinking about it.





Also, thankfully I haven't had to hit anything with it, but evidently the deer are scared. I've had two run into the driver's side of truck. Brian

 

[Sled Puller]

I was going to go red on mine, but that silver powdercoat has got me thinking... ... ... ...

 

[RO'neal]

Jim, thanks for the pics. How long did it take to get it once you placed the order?

 

[24V-DSL]

I'm still liking it.....

Jim... .



Are those your factory fog lights in the bumper? If not, what brand and size/diameter are they?



TIA

 

[JWEST]

Ram Bumpers

Wait just a minute Gene - you as much as promised me your bumper would be red, to match your truck!

If you go and paint it some other color, I will deny that I ever bought any Amsoil products from you...

 

[RBSOB]

R'Oneal total build time from order to delivery was about 3-4 weeks, very quick compared to some others I inquired about and I had a damaged front end so I didn't want to wait too long! 24V- those are the factory lights and John did a great job "inletting" the bumper and making brackets to aim and mount properly. I think you can order the bumper without light cut-outs. bholcomb- thanks for the help... I figured this must require some help. I wish I could attach a larger pic, the little thumbnails don't do justice to the silver finish and overall quality. Looks like polished aluminum and with my lower "driftwood" trim matches up very nicely. Sled Puller? Thanks again John, Jim G.

 

[Sled Puller]

Allright, all right, red this year, powder coat silver next.

 

[RO'neal]

Jim, thanks again for the info. You're right, that is pretty quick on the turn around time. Looks like it's time to get permission from the wife

 

[Seed Guy]

Not sold on it. That thing is not going to stop a deer or anything for going straight through the whimpy dodge plastic and into your coolers. As well as breaking expensive headlights. Sorry man maybe its right for you but it just doesnt float my boat.



This on the other hand will stop some stuff!

#ad

 

[Sled Puller]

From someone who has killed more deer with a truck than a gun, I would like to test that pipe out... .....

Oh, and there is still room for a few more lights... .....

 

[JWEST]

Bambi Killer Bumpers

Seed Guy,

The whole reason I am building my bumpers the way I do is: A. I can profitably sell mine for a fraction of the price of a jungle jim unit. Beautiful fabrication work, but way too costly. B. I hit a deer while going 55mph with my prototype bumper on the front of my Ram. The deer might have been 80 or 100#, and was dead before it landed on the other side of the road. I drove home, hosed the fur out of the bumper, loosened the bolts, adjusted the bumper and tightened the bolts. No damage to the truck or any components. If I had pictures I would show them off.

Take a look sometime at the frame rails where the bumper brackets bolt up. They are 1/8" thick, with slotted holes for adjustment. Which is going to give up first - heavy welded plate with 1/4" gussets or the 1/8" frame rails with holes and slots in it? Your choice.

 

[Ncostello]

JWest... do you offer rear bumpers. I hate my rear more than the front!

 

[esommer2500]

I've been messing around with ideas for making my own bumper without ripping off what has already been done. I like the top half of the tube bumper at the top of this page, but don't like the bottom part of it. I think I might try to hybrid a bottom design similar to the JWest with the top end similar to the tube design, but take the tubing out to cover the headlights as well. I have hit a couple of deer while they were on the bounce, so I need something to cover the grill and headlights too. The Smittybilt brush guard I have on now has worked well so far, but I want something heavier.



Eric