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[MoabRat]

Homedadr, my bumper design is a lot narrower along the width of the vehicle than the ARB (which basically wraps around the front fenders as far as I can see). Mine stops leaving the approach angle open at the wheelwell. I want to check for rubbing but find no evidence of it, even with our crappy Toyota paint. Where in your opinion is the impact being made? Maybe photochop an arrow or something in your pic so I can think this over better. Thanks for your homework.

EDIT: Therefore, my plan will be to let it happen and then just leave it. If there has to be flexion at that point, then thats what it will be allowed to do. I looked at all the parts anchored onto the body forward of that location on both sides, and absolutely none of it would suffer. There's the radiator (which is attached to everthing else by flexible hoses) the battery (attached with wires) and some various other tubes and wires that I can't see having a problem with additional flex. The air system is rubber. My ARB compressor is on top of the wheel well, but its connected with wires and hoses.

If there's annoying flex and rattle after that, I'll weld on some supports and destroy the flexion point... and I'll just see what happens.

It's only body metal.

Sound reasoning as always. Also an excuse at some point to get cool fiberglass parts. Surely I'm too deep with this rig to worry about it now lol, as are you Bellydoc from your list of mods. I would like to say though, I have at least several thousand miles offroad in my FJ which I've been using hard in Moab and other rough spots for a year and a half and I have none of the pre-crack distortion you describe. I feel very lucky. I'm sure there are a number of factors here contributing to the annealation in that spot, which I agree to be happening.