My TJM t3 Custom front bumper replacement

[ginericLC]

I'm working with a local fabricator to build a winch bumper for my 100 series. I'm going to replace my TJM T3 Classique with this. I'm adding round lights and some custom tube work on the top and tabs for accessories. He's building a second one for a friend of mine simultaneously but his bar work and lights are going to be a little different than mine. I thought I'd post up pictures of the progress thus far. I'm hoping to have a complete bumper before next weekend. And yest I'm selling my T3. It is for sale in the link in my sig line.

 

[Waggoner5]

That looks great Eric. I always liked the TJM clean look also.

 

[spressomon]

I'm working with a local fabricator to build a winch bumper for my 100 series. I'm going to replace my TJM T3 Classique with this. I'm adding round lights and some custom tube work on the top and tabs for accessories. He's building a second one for a friend of mine simultaneously but his bar work and lights are going to be a little different than mine. I thought I'd post up pictures of the progress thus far. I'm hoping to have a complete bumper before next weekend. And yest I'm selling my T3. It is for sale in the link in my sig line.

Looks great! And it looks like you used the T3C as a model...which, as Gary stated above, is a clean overall design especially for the 100 lines.

Are you going to be able to reduce the overhang measurement of the T3C? Do you plan to incorporate frame mounted recovery points apart of your new bumper design? What wall thickness are you using? Winch?

 

[ginericLC]

3/16" It is 2.5" narrower at the winch cradle than the TJM. The sides are upswept quite a bit more. I can't remember how much different it is I'm thinking 4-4.5" on the wings. And I gained about 2" under the frame rails. I am using a warn XD9000 but how it is built it will accommodate at least up to a 12k without an issue. It is having frame mounted pull tabs at the one seam. I'm also adding countersunk headlight washers and a bunch of other little do dads. There will be 4" Hella driving lights frenched in below the headlights. What happened was I was going in to modify my TJM with custom upper bar work and got to looking at it and decided I wanted more than what the TJM could handle so we decided to start from scratch.

 

[spressomon]

3/16" It is 2.5" narrower at the winch cradle than the TJM. The sides are upswept quite a bit more. I can't remember how much different it is I'm thinking 4-4.5" on the wings. And I gained about 2" under the frame rails. I am using a warn XD9000 but how it is built it will accommodate at least up to a 12k without an issue. It is having frame mounted pull tabs at the one seam. I'm also adding countersunk headlight washers and a bunch of other little do dads. There will be 4" Hella driving lights frenched in below the headlights. What happened was I was going in to modify my TJM with custom upper bar work and got to looking at it and decided I wanted more than what the TJM could handle so we decided to start from scratch.

So you are saying it is 2.5" less front to back overhang than the TJM? That would be very nice...I was thinking about applying Snooks mod to my TJM but too many other things have pushed it down "the list".

You going to offer a few of these for sale eventually if it works out?

 

[ginericLC]

He cut out pieces for 3 of the lower units, so currently there is an unassembled one just sitting. Each one is sort of unique, like mine having the headlight washers. There are a few little hurdles to overcome for someone who is interested in one. It is not 100% bolt on. You have to drill two holes in the frame and cut the original bumper mounts off the end of the frame horns. It is maybe 15-20 minutes with a hand grinder and a hand drill. from the front of the grill to the front of the bumper is about 2.5" narrower than the TJM and it sits flush with the bottom of the frame rail as you remove the original bumper mounts which hang down below the bumper. Why Toyota did that I'll never know.

I'm also going to have a custom skid plate made. That way I can get rid of the spacers used because of the diff drop. I'm going to have something laser cut into it. I haven't decided what yet.

I'm one of those people who is generally dissatisfied with having bolt on accessories. Yes they have their purpose, but I want my Cruiser to be unique. Already the fabricator is talking about a new rear bumper. And to be quite honest I don't foresee that happening. I'd take too big of a hit on dumping the Slee and the Slee functionally works for me. I have a whole other Cruiser project that I can spend money on making it unique. I'm just happy I'm finally happy that I'm getting the upper tube work done that I've wanted ever since I bought my 100.

 

[ginericLC]

An 08 Taco bumper the fabricator did for a friend of mine.

The TJM for comparison, note, I did not drill any holes in the TJM and I still have the hoop for it in brand new condition as I never ran the bumper with it or the rubber bumperettes installed.

 

[1loudLX]

sweet bumper!

 

[macneill]

That's hot! Nice job!

 

[Liam]

awesome. what was the total cost?

 

[ginericLC]

awesome. what was the total cost?

It really depends upon on options. The upper tube work is expensive if you get crazy with it. And my adding headlight washers added more work to it. I'll chat with him more on price this week. It will be $1000 or more I'm sure, less if you were to stick with a basic lower bumper without tube work. They can be powdercoated but I'm not getting mine powdercoated. I prefer to have paint as then if it gets scratched I can easily touch it up.

 

[yoter100]

man that bumper is SWEEEEET!!! sooooo your keeping the tjm and selling the custom rightttt???

 

[Liam]

It really depends upon on options. The upper tube work is expensive if you get crazy with it. And my adding headlight washers added more work to it. I'll chat with him more on price this week. It will be $1000 or more I'm sure, less if you were to stick with a basic lower bumper without tube work. They can be powdercoated but I'm not getting mine powdercoated. I prefer to have paint as then if it gets scratched I can easily touch it up.

i like the basic style bumper....the second photo...

that guy does great work..

 

[Adventure Teq]

That's pretty nice. Interested to see how it's mounted i.e. the backside. You did say it will have a winch right?

 

[ginericLC]

It is mounted through the stock recovery point bolts in the bottom of the frame and then the two vertical holes in the frame horn were punched through and a sleeve was put in. So it basically has 8 bolts holding it to the frame. I'm putting a Warn XD9000 in it. However, it should hold up to a 16.5 without too much trouble.

I went and picked up the Cruiser tonight the bumper isn't done yet. The tubing should be here tomorrow. He has both of the bottom shells done minus the lights and recovery points. I'm betting by Thanksgiving I'll have a new bumper to be Thankful for.

 

[pint]

WOW! I think that is by far the best looking 100 series bumper so far! Sounds like the function is going to be amazing as well.

 

[jaysdead40]

Any more progress shots or are you waiting for the final product. This could be on my list, since the wife is very pro-heavy bumper after our little incident.

 

[ginericLC]

Any more progress shots or are you waiting for the final product. This could be on my list, since the wife is very pro-heavy bumper after our little incident.

Hopefully we'll have the tube work done this afternoon or evening on mine. It is just that and the headlight washers and then paint.

Eric V.

 

[1loudLX]

niiice

 

[ginericLC]

It is getting better. I went and picked up the Cruiser so my wife can go shopping tomorrow. I sure hope nobody gets in her way.

There are just a few little things that need to be done. I’m going to go ahead and add a 1” tube to mount the driving lights on that will sort of match the lower grill line. I also need to find some new headlight washers as I could only find one of the ones I had off the 80 hood I parted out. It doesn’t make sense to start cutting into it until I know what I’m going to have to plug into the holes. And Vic wants to pull it off one more time to finish up the grinding and weld the backsides of the tubing. I’m getting excited. The second one is looking awesome too, but it isn't mine to post pictures of. I imagine they will both be completely done by the end of the weekend minus the light tabs which are supposed to arrive Tuesday. I shouldn’t have waited so long to order them.

More detail shots later!