How to straighten an ARB bumper

[BamaPaul]

So I picked up an ARB from the classifieds. Got a great deal on it because there was a big dent in the front of it.



I figured it would be easy to get it looking straight again but started looking online and everyone said that frame shops turned them down saying they are impossible to straighten. I thought I was sol after reading that on a couple of sites so I started thinking in how I could straighten it out.

I decided to get a piece of 1/8" angle and a bottle jack and try and straighten it in the drive way.



Even dented the ARB stated bending the angle, so I boxed the angle in with the rest of the stick of 1/8" and tried again. Success.



It took a lot of time, $10 worth of angle, a 4 ton bottle jack, and a big freaking hammer. I cut the angle into a 30" long piece and drilled holes for it to bolt onto the bumper and then slowly made 3 passes across the bumper where the dent was.

Honestly its not factory perfect but it looks good from 10-15'. If I want to get it perfect I could skin it with some 20 gauge and paint it black, but this is close enough for me.

Sent from my Droid thingy using IH8MUD

 

[Otamiway]

Good job getting the kinks out...

 

[inkpot]

I think I would of just put it under the rig, with a big chunk of 2x4 over the bend, and started jacking against the axle. I have had good luck using the rig as a jig before on other issues. Otherwise, I would of just welded in a piece of 1/8" thick for cosmetics. Your way worked OK too. Looks much better. John

 

[warpdriv]

Good job. When a BFH does not do the job, get more F and reapply.

 

[Cannon88]

Good work!

 

[86tuning]

Good tech! Hopefully I'll never have to do this

 

[jfz80]

Nice work. now do a writeup on straightening the section outside the frame rail

 

[BamaPaul]

Send me your bumper and I'll give it a shot

Sent from my Droid thingy using IH8MUD

 

[80t0ylc]

Nice find and pretty damn resourceful straightening it out! However, are you aware this is not a winch bumper? Just sayin - in case you were making plans. I've heard it was possible to mod it to mount a winch, but IIRC it's quite the mod. You could still mount a winch to the frame rails similar to the OEM style. Not sure if that ARB is strong enough for a fair lead. It's still good protection though, the way it is now!

 

[MANUCHAO]

nice job !!
Bottle jacks are the s***s !!

 

[1ststatecruiser]

This will raise prices on dented ARB bumpers lol, seriously though good job.

 

[BamaPaul]

I was thinking something like this for a winch mount https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/248559-non-arb-winch-bumper-converted-winch-bumper.html

 

[80t0ylc]

I was thinking something like this for a winch mount https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/248559-non-arb-winch-bumper-converted-winch-bumper.html

Interesting project. I think I'd PM the guy and ask him if he's using it & how it's holding up after the redesign. He hasn't updated since 5/12, so sounds kinda sketchy.

 

[Expolander]

Updated my build page with the latest pics..

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-...umper-converted-winch-bumper.html#post8220576

 

[BamaPaul]

I cut some T's into the ARB today so the hi-lift would fit it. Took about an hour and turned out good. One on each side and they hold the truck good.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

How did you decide on the height of the cuts? Does the upward sweeping toe on the hi-lift contact the bumper on the inside of the bumper or is all the weight supported on the face of the bumper?

 

[BamaPaul]

For the dimensions I used cardboard and started cutting out a T until I got to the point where it fit over the hi-lift. The lift doesn't hit anywhere inside the bumper and only makes contract at the point were the lift goes through.