ARB rear bumper install -- Lots of pics

**FlyNdrive** · 06-09-2007, 07:56 AM

I received my ARB rear bumper on Monday. I was anxious to get to it this Saturday, but I had planes on Friday night I was able to get out of, so I thought I would start it and finish it on Saturday. It went so fast that I was able to do it in about 3 hours. I could of done it in 2.5 hours if I didn’t stop to take pictures and take off the trailer hitch. (Which may fit after all…keep posted.)
That also reminds me of the rumors of the rear bumper.
Yes! It will accommodate the rear backup sensors. Mine is one of the first 10 (pre production) so it does not have the backup sensor holes drilled. I am using a backup camera instead.
YES! It will fit 35” tires.
It may fit a class 3 receiver hitch.
NO it does not take away any departure angle (unless you install a receiver hitch)
For starters this rear bumper is a no brainer easy install even if you are doing it yourself as in my case.. You don’t have to stick to light beer for this one. (but remember there is cutting…) I give it a 4 out of 10 on the difficulty.
The directions are very clear and concise (as will all ARB instructions). At one point they are intimidating because of the cutting of the OEM bumper. Just to let you know now the cutting directions are approximate to the complex measurements in the directions. As long as you cut out the plastic sticking out and still keep the strength of the side panel you will be fine. It may be just as easy to approximate from the pictures instead of measuring every specific MM.
I am posting very detailed instructions for others to follow and hopefully keep forum members from paying someone else to do it for them. Hope you like them….

Remove the plastic bumper form the vehicle at the 4 bolts on the back of the step and the scrivet from the passenger side.

Unscrew underside bolts

Unscrew the end screws and keep for the ARB bumper

Pull the bumper back (to the rear) while pulling out to the side. The bumper comes right off.

Disconnect the backup sensor wires on the connectors and remove the bumpers. Pull up Styrofoam.

Remove bracket left and right.

Remove brackets and tow point from under the vehicle. While your down there look at all the room down there just screaming for a rear winch and an air compressor tank…..

With the bumper off pull out the clips holding in the rear bumper wings. And disconnect the backup sensors. (Wings are for sale if anyone wants them. The drivers side is scratched. If anyone needs the backup sensors let me know.)

Continued below...

CactusJK · 06-09-2007, 08:06 AM

So far looks good. Where are the rest of the pictures?

**FlyNdrive** · 06-09-2007, 08:15 AM

Welcome back....

This is where the install slows down drastically. This is the sections to be cut. Remember there is no rocket science here. As long as you are close and keep the strength of the panel there is no concern for an exact cut. Anyway it will be hard to “keep within the lines”. The directions say to use a hacksaw, electric hacksaw, or a miter saw. After about the most frustrating half hour I got my trusty pocket knife and made short work of it in about 10 minutes.

Re install the side panels. See how much is cut out. I put tape around the opening on the plastic panel in case of bumping the plastic with the rear bumper and scratching it, but there was enough clearance…….maybe too much…..

At this part of the directions it directs to remove the tail pipe rubber mount. I kept it on because with my experience with installing and removing the trailer hitch I can push it to the side and still torque in the bolts. With the bumper fitted the tailpipe will slip to the side and stay there on the other side of the bracket.

Bend down the last remaining tab. (it will not be used)

Attach the cage nuts as per the directions.

Rest the bumper onto the cross member.

Put in the shackle mount on first with the bolts and washers. I found that with the first fitting you can’t fit the spring washers on, so I put them on after the fitting and when I torque down the bolts.

Put in the spacer and put in the bolts into the frame using the provided bolts.

Torque all 8 bolts to 57 Ft Lbs.

Put the fitting cover on using 4 hex bolts (the black bar on top) and the aluminum traction top onto the bumper with the 6 hex bolts.

Here are the final pics the next morning.

Here is the gap

If I was to do this bumper again I could do it in about 2 hours.
I will take it off this afternoon and try to fir the class 3 receiver hitch under the bumper. I will let you all know if it works and supply pics.

-Ben

UPDATE-------

I added a rear winch

I have added a a Warn M8000 rear winch.

I didn't have may pics of the metal fabrication, but I made a cross-member out of 1/4" steel. I started with a 53.5 X 8" steel sheet and had it bent 2 1/2", up 5", and across the 38 1/2 " spanning the frame and boxed it in on the span with 3" of steel. I bolted the winch facing down. I also welded in a support frame for a 2 1/2 gal. air tank I will be installing tomorrow.

I would like to thank Greg "Tex" Cool "Weld" for helping me with allowing me to use his fabrication shop, welding the winch box I made, and having enough cajones to cut into my FJ.

Here are pictures of the rear cross-member being cut, boxed, ARB cut, and hawse fair-lead installed.

Sorry about the pics, but the only camera I had was my cell phone.

-Ben

**FlyNdrive** · 06-09-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

CactusJK previously said:

So far looks good. Where are the rest of the pictures?

Patience is a virtue my young Padawan Learner.

I don't type that fast.

**bernd** · 06-09-2007, 08:20 AM

Bumper and write up looks good.
Were did you get your gas can mount?

gsgmac · 06-09-2007, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the right up, they should include a rubber trim piece to fill that gap. I can understand wanting to keep the bumper away from the body, so it has room to flex, but that gap is a little much IMHO.

Again, thanks for posting. It looks good!

CactusJK · 06-09-2007, 08:27 AM

Excellent install writeup and pitures in the true tradition of how this forum started! Well done!

Quote:

FlyNdrive previously said:

Patience is a virtue my young Padawan Learner.

I don't type that fast.

Grim · 06-09-2007, 08:27 AM

Nice! I cant wait to see the hitch. Thats the deal for me. I need to tow.

**FlyNdrive** · 06-09-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

gsgmac previously said:

Thanks for the right up, they should include a rubber trim piece to fill that gap. I can understand wanting to keep the bumper away from the body, so it has room to flex, but that gap is a little much IMHO.

Again, thanks for posting. It looks good!

WOOHOO #100...... It only took me a year........

The gap is there so it can compress when using the Hi-Lift jack.

I will try something later and post it here.

-Ben

**FlyNdrive** · 06-09-2007, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Grim previously said:

Nice! I cant wait to see the hitch. Thats the deal for me. I need to tow.

It's bad timing. I purchased a Pop up camper on Thursday. I was worried when ARB said there was a delay in the hitch receiver. I would have to park it and watch it rot...

-Ben