[debFJVT]

So I want to tell the story of my Iconic bumper - I really truly love this bumper and am finally overcoming the old habit/reflex of cringing when going down steep rocky inclines - no bang! Well, maybe just the Iconic rear recovery points 🤣

 

[debFJVT]

Initial step was the most bizarre, partly because I was mid-way on a cross-country journey, heading for some hard wheelin in Moab....so it seemed just wrong to be tearing apart my FJ! But I knew we were in good hands with Iconic Fab :wink

Plasma cutter handily cut off the rear frame member, then ends of the side frame rails. This revealed less dirt and way less rust than I had imagined (good news on frame health!). After grinding down the edges, she was ready for a first fitting!

 

[debFJVT]

Looked like a good fit! Next we added the Iconic Fab logo plate :thinkerg: Then the tubes were welded to the open frame ends, and caps added to openings on both the bumper and frame (bumper sits higher than the bottom of the frame rails...hence improved departure angle). L brackets welded into inside corners for additional support/rigidity, with help from Buster :grin
Also threaded through the backup sensors.

 

[debFJVT]

Finally I got to slather on the RED :x Careful trimming of the OE bumper plastic preserved the mounting points for the OE bumper wings - essentially cutting away the central plastic area where there is now metal. Unfortunately I have no pics of that, just the closeup on Iconic bumper and the awesome finished product :rocker:

 

[FJess]

Nice work on the bumper Iconic! Loved the grinding pic Deb. :rocker:

 

[debFJVT]

Nice work on the bumper Iconic! Loved the grinding pic Deb. :rocker:

:rofl: We had a blast! I was happy I got to do some hands-on. Had planned on incorporating a welding lesson but ran out of time, and actually I’m glad all the welds are by Iconic Fab :thinkerg:

 

[debFJVT]

Update over a year later - I have managed to hit the rear bumper - I mean really hit - zero times :rocker: Guess that means I’m not running “hard” enough trails :rofl: But I’ve raked off or crushed the plastic wings numerous times so we are currently in process of designing metal wings, as close to OE in appearance as possible :smile

 

[Sanderhawk]

Update over a year later - I have managed to hit the rear bumper - I mean really hit - zero times :rocker: Guess that means I’m not running “hard” enough trails :rofl: But I’ve raked off or crushed the plastic wings numerous times so we are currently in process of designing metal wings, as close to OE in appearance as possible :smile

You know looking at the picture of your bumper wing taking flight I realized that your sig picture may be the picture of the last seconds your wing was still connected

 

[debFJVT]

You know looking at the picture of your bumper wing taking flight I realized that your sig picture may be the picture of the last seconds your wing was still connected

And you would be 100% correct :grin

 

[fidelityflip]

Update over a year later - I have managed to hit the rear bumper - I mean really hit - zero times :rocker: Guess that means I’m not running “hard” enough trails :rofl: But I’ve raked off or crushed the plastic wings numerous times so we are currently in process of designing metal wings, as close to OE in appearance as possible :smile

That's a great picture.. :rofl:

 

[Iconic_]

UPDATE: I've fixed all my tiny pics in this thread to large pics after the forum swap.

So glad you still love your bumper @debFJVT. I can't wait to test them out this summer. I just measured my departure angle with my 37" tires and 3 lift springs at 45 degrees.

For those curious, @Firemedic831 is currently building his own version linked here! My Rear bumper project

 

[longtooth]

This is great, Iconic...

You did what I was getting set up to do - take the crap off and make your own to suit your needs.
It's nice to see it worked out so well - I'll likely borrow from you this summer when I yank my undies off that bumper as well...

 

[Firemedic831]

Iconics Bumper is what got my gears turning

 

[longtooth]

I will pull some numbers today . I had to take out a second on my house to buy the stainless mounting hardware Shesssh

Yet you won't have to worry about your fasteners rusting tight and having to cut them off later. I pay more and even bought assortments of metric SS nuts and bolts just so I could replace as I mod. But you are right - they aren't like buying zinc coated, but you get what you pay for. And if you are going to bolt aluminum to steel, it's the only way to go with dissimilar metals...

 

[Firemedic831]

Wing mock up .

 

[Iconic_]

Who would be willing to chop up their frame to install something like this if I made a few of these bumpers? The design would be more bolt-in and removable, bolt on steel wings most likely. All the end-user would have to do is weld on a supplied tube between their frame rails, cut off the existing crossmember, and weld my sleeves onto their frame to bolt up a new bumper and drill some holes. Price would be around $750 shipped and unpainted sorta deal.

Cutting off the crossmember is the only way to get more clearance and is not an uncommon thing to do to other vehicles in order to fit rear bumpers. Right now the market is open for the FJ so I'm just gauging interest for now. PM me or reply here.

 

[RedBrickFJ]

If my welding skills were better, I'd be willing to do it. I don't trust my ability to create a good weld though.

 

[Iconic_]

If my welding skills were better, I'd be willing to do it. I don't trust my ability to create a good weld though.

Thanks for the reply. That is probably the only thing standing in most people's way with a mod like this. It should be possible with very basic welding and cutting on the consumer's end. I was hoping for more replies but since this is the case I will probably still get a prototype made and installed on an FJ in the next few months, post some pictures and go from there. "Build it and they will come" type of deal. Lots of hoops for me to jump thru before I get something like this into "production" and I have a few other projects I'm working on so I'm not in a huge hurry yet. I will probably have to sell thru other channels including the forum but I hope it takes off considering there is nothing like it at the moment at a production level for FJ's.