Looks great. I have the Slee rear also. Great, great bumper. Would have definitely considered the front Slee bumper, but it was not around when I bought my TJM.
Front Bumper… (1 Viewer)
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Looks great. I have the Slee rear also. Great, great bumper. Would have definitely considered the front Slee bumper, but it was not around when I bought my TJM.
Yeah they made good quality stuff!
Markuson
SILVER Star
Crumple zones on the Sahara are, in my opinion/experience…too easy to crumple. Sahara in particular…only because I have personal with it. Also important to know is that the hoop on the Sahara in ornamental ONLY and should not be confused as a protective bar.
My TJM T13 is absolutely solid as a rock. Literally…to the point I’ve actually used it to intentionally move boulders partially underground…and it does not budge the T13. —I’ve Also smashed a full-size deer at highway speed in Moab… and I suffered only one very dead deer.
Fjrther…I had a guy in a 4Runner try to pull in to the gas pump ahead of me and he destroyed the whole side of his side panels/doors on my T13’s side wing. Thing didn’t budge..AT ALL. Its scraped it up, but I didn’t even take the guys info, because I knew I’d have it looking new in 10 minutes a home.
My Shara bar, on the other hand… (On my prior 100 series) crumpled the crumple zones from BAAARELY tapping someone in traffic.
Highly recommend the TJM T13 if you want strength.
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That’s a great endorsement, would one need to replace OEM suspension if they are adding this bar?
Markuson
SILVER Star
Adding a full steel bull bar like this would definitely be a good time to upgrade suspension—even more-so if you install a winch. I run a 12,000lb Warn in mine.
Personally, there are few bone-stock upgrades more noticeably helpful than suspension anyway…so definitely yes.
If you don’t want a lift, using the 3/8” front coil spacers is a reasonable way to offset the loss of front height from the weight.
Markuson
SILVER Star
True for leveling. I’m thinking more along the lines of adequately suppressing compression & rebound …especially with a winch. I dumno… Could make for some really bouncy road dips… Whatcha think?
Get proper springs to support the weight.
Markuson
SILVER Star
I don’t wanna beat the horse…but strong springs need shocks that can adequately suppress their stronger extension when you—for example—drive over a big pot-hole. If the shock can’t adequately suppress the extending spring, it will make a nasty bang as it hyper-extends into the hole.
Agreed, and there are some decent options for relatively low cost. OME IM FCP, Tough Dog and Dobinson all have good value options IMO.
Stiffer springs would be ideal. The TJM with a winch is heavier than my setup. I ran with standard rate springs with my lift with my TT bumper and winch and it handled very well. If someone is happy with the stock setup I don't think you necessarily have to replace the front springs to add a winch and bumper though - it's not like the rear springs which are 170#/in... the fronts are 600#/in so the extra weight isn't make or break for handling in my experience and the spacers will get you reasonably close to the original height.
Definitely try to see them IN PERSON
I am struggling with a front bumper as well, as i am not super happy with any of the offerings for the 200 at this time.
I love the Slee one, but dont want light cutouts (they look cheesy on such a nice bumper) and i dont want a "lightbar" (also looks cheesy on such a nice clean bumper). Lightbars also dont offer nearly the same amount of aiming and adjustability as individual lights.
ARB makes 2 variants, the "Summit" and the other variant, not sure it has an actual name.
Having had ARB bumpers on all previous cruisers, i was VERY disappointed when i ordered their "Summit" variant for my 2014 Tundra.
The fit, finish and quality was no where near what the other ARB variants were.
After lots and back and forth, i will likely order a Slee front, have it sand blasted, have fabricator friend fill in those cheesy light holes, and then have same said friend redesign the lightbar hoop to fit (2) LP6 or LP9s.
Or..... I might buy the Slee front to use a template for fab friend to redesign it slightly to be cleaner and to my liking, and then sell it... I dunno, i keep going back and forth
My .02
I am struggling with a front bumper as well, as i am not super happy with any of the offerings for the 200 at this time.
I love the Slee one, but dont want light cutouts (they look cheesy on such a nice bumper) and i dont want a "lightbar" (also looks cheesy on such a nice clean bumper). Lightbars also dont offer nearly the same amount of aiming and adjustability as individual lights.
ARB makes 2 variants, the "Summit" and the other variant, not sure it has an actual name.
Having had ARB bumpers on all previous cruisers, i was VERY disappointed when i ordered their "Summit" variant for my 2014 Tundra.
The fit, finish and quality was no where near what the other ARB variants were.
After lots and back and forth, i will likely order a Slee front, have it sand blasted, have fabricator friend fill in those cheesy light holes, and then have same said friend redesign the lightbar hoop to fit (2) LP6 or LP9s.
Or..... I might buy the Slee front to use a template for fab friend to redesign it slightly to be cleaner and to my liking, and then sell it... I dunno, i keep going back and forth
My .02
Just find someone locally to build something for you. I worked with Jason at Trail Tailor to design mine. He made some changes to his design to accommodate me (i.e. I wanted fog light cut outs in the center section facing forward).
I am fortunate to live in the Mecca of top notch fabrication and have several friends that do it for a living.
I've showed them pics and asked them both and both had the same replies.
They too dang busy to design or do anything from scratch but could easily and quickly modify an existing one.
Will see. Its pretty dang low on priority list
Markuson
SILVER Star
Ya… Part of my bias may have to do with the age/state of stock shocks being replaced. Lots of folks are dealing with IEM shocks that are past their prime. Also a fact that we all have different preferences about suspension feel.
If close to new, surely they’ll fare better.
PS. Happy Birthday Geoff.
True I hadn’t thought about wear. My experience adding the winch bumper was that the actual hit to front height was maybe 1/4”. So yeah very worn springs and shocks might make a difference for sure, but I bet in most cases they’re sufficient given the very high spring rate front.Ya… Part of my bias may have to do with the age/state of stock shocks being replaced. Lots of folks are dealing with IEM shocks that are past their prime. Also a fact that we all have different preferences about suspension feel.
If close to new, surely they’ll fare better.
PS. Happy Birthday Geoff.
And thanks Mark!
What shocks would you recommend? Want to keep stock ride height so I’m assuming stock springs are fineYa… Part of my bias may have to do with the age/state of stock shocks being replaced. Lots of folks are dealing with IEM shocks that are past their prime. Also a fact that we all have different preferences about suspension feel.
If close to new, surely they’ll fare better.
PS. Happy Birthday Geoff.
UPR LC
GOLD Star
Old Man Emu suspensions perform well with little to no maintenance. Either SLEE Off-road or Cruiser Outfitters can give you recommendations on shock and spring configs. I have been happy with my setup from OME.
