This version is MUCH better than the 1st version and I like it without the headlight loops also. The only thing I would change there is to go with a thicker upper bar if I went without the headlight loops.

That looks much better. If I could nitpick though, something still looks odd about the hoops around the lights and I can't put my finger on it. I wonder what would happen if you were to make the center hoop wider (maybe 2" wider at the bottom) and use a slightly thicker tube for the center section so the light hoops are smaller? Maybe make the center hoop vertical sections a bit more straight up too? Not totally straigt, just enough so the upper horizontal section is a bit wider and covers more of the bulge. Make sense?

BTW, I still think you should put cutouts in the bumper for fog lights, or at least offer it as an option. That was one of the things I really wanted when I got my ARB. Well, as of this past week I have them...hehehe! I've been cutting and grinding away to turn my ARB into what I really wanted.

I REALLY like this second setup. Also, I would think that it would add some rigidity to the bumpers wings.

I know that some of your competitors bumper wings have gotten tweaked out of shape and just looking at your version it seems that the headlight loops go far enough out on the wings to help stiffen them up considerably from being pushed upward.

Nice work Jim, keep up the effort and please realize you will NEVER please everyone.

Yep, second one is definetly looks more ordinary, while first one looked "one-of-a-kind" thing

Personally - i still would like mix of them both - when there is no sticking out of tube nor in central section, nor on headlamps

Great work Jim.

Thanks again for listening to our input.

I echo what ChuckH mentioned. That would be a bumper that I would look for.

All of the R&D will pay off with many happier customers.

I think you got it right this time. I agree that thicker tubing would "toughen" it up, both visually and structurally.

Good work, Jim!

Thanks guys, I think this one will be a keeper.

On the current pics, the center section is 1.75" and the headlight guards are 1.5". The 1.5" can be bent at a tighter radius, so it looks better around the headlights than the 1.75" on the first design.

I think I'll buy some 2" dies for the bender and see how 2" looks for the center section. The dang dies are $250 though.

It will probably be a week before I have the new dies and 2" tubing to play with.

Jim

2" center tubing more vertically positioned? perhaps with a radius at the top towards the hood bulge. Now you're talkin'.

Winch update. I'm now fairly certain the integrated winches will work with the bumper.

Also, an in-cab winch controller kit will be offered for a very reasonable price (~$30-35.00) which will let you control the winch from the driver's seat.

Jim

ChuckH, can you post a picture of your fog light mods to the ARB, I'm thinking of doing the same.

Thanks
Richard

Jim... here's my .02 cents.

How about slightly more thick tubing, and have the middle upright bars more vertical (more straight up and down).

With the way the 2002 grille is, the angle of the middle tubing looks better more vertical instead of slanted down from the middle to the outside like it is in your fab. It would also look better with the square headlight design with 2000-2001 Xterra's.

To illustrate I hope you don't mind the photo below to show what I mean.



Next, in the actual product, will the bumper line up better? Notice the tight fit in the middle and the large gap on the ends. I'm sure you are addressing this issue but I have not read about this yet. See photo below.

Yep! I had these PIAA 910 driving lights hangig from my upper bar and wanted to clean things up so that's what's in the bumper now. You can see from the picture I miscalculated the holes a little bit, but once I get things adjusted and cleaned up it should be fine. The 910's were a bit difficult to work with because of the bracket design and because the housing is wider than the lens. Because of the sweep of the bumper at the sides combined with the shape of the lights and the need to aim them forward, the cutouts had to be wider than they are tall. I used a hole saw to make them round and then used a grinder to make one side into an oval. Then I was able to get the right fit and make a template for the other side. Having the bracket at the top of the light allowed me to simply bolt them right through the top of the bumper so I didn't need to make any special brackets behind the cutouts. Getting the mounting holes in the right spot was another challenge...first one was a mess, but the second one I got right the first try. The lights have to stick out a bit at the sides so they the light doesn't just get trapped behind the bumper. Overall, I'm pleased with the results so far. As you can see I'm also modifying the mid section of the ARB to clean up the lines and will be using a hawse fairlead on my winch instead of rollers. Not ideal for the cable, but it will be neat and tidy and the winch will hardly ever get used anyway. I intend to get everything adjusted, cleaned up, and the bumper painted this coming weekend and can post another picture then.

The front of the Xterra is curved so there is no way around it in the front. I asked in the other thread and people said there's was the same with other bumpers. Out on the ends of the wings though it will be better. The bumper is sitting at a slight angle right now. It just need to be adjusted and re-tightened.

On the center section, I'll see what it looks like, but realize tube cant be bent the way you drew it, It would look more like the left side here:

Booya,

Short of curving the top of the bumper to match the truck grille(big money!), there's nothing that can be done about the gap issue you are noting. If you look at my ARB you will see the same gap difference...the front of the X just isn't flat across there. You really don't want the bumper tight on the sides anyway because the fenders will contact it if you get twisted up on an obstacle.

Your center bar design is pretty much exactly what I was thinking in my earlier post and I agree it would look better to have those bars more upright and the top bar covering the bulge better. Thanks for illustrating that!

Update: I see Jim beat me to it! I see his point about bending the bars but I still think they look better more upright even with a more drawn out bend. Maybe the base of the bars could still be moved outward more toward the lights to still better cover the bulge?

Hi Jim, as I wrote in my reply, the center bar design I'd prefer is similar to those of the ARB pictured above, more of a verical line. Keep up your fine work. Dan

The 2" tubing and dies are *supposed* to be here Friday, so I may have some more pics this weekend.

Jim

I agree with the last few comments, about having the middle vertical bars more, well, vertical.

The first design looks like the truck just visited Disneyworld... and left wearing a hat..

M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

I'm gonna take some sh*t for this but I'm gonna give my opinion here.
First the outside edges need to be rounded off and taken in about an inch and a half. IMHO it kinda looks like someone tried to mount wings on the front of the Xterra to stabilize it in flight.
I don't know, maybe I just to need to see the finished product, but if I was shopping for a bumper and I saw this one as it stands right now I wouldn't purchase it. I know, I know, looks aren't whats important but quality isn't everything either. I don't think any of us would have purchased an Xterra if we had not liked the way it looked the way we enjoy its ruggedness. I'm not bashing Shrock, from what I've read and seen from them they are if not one the most customer oriented companies and they also build if not the best products out there for nissans. This is just my opinion.

Oh and keep up the good work Shrock. Hell I dont have a 4x4 and sometimes when I see your attention to customer service I wish I did just so I could purchase some of your products to support your company.

Hell I dont have a 4x4 and sometimes when I see your attention to customer service I wish I did just so I could purchase some of your products to support your company.

Feel free to donate all you can to the -
Daddy needs new front and rear bumpers fund
First National Bank of Xterras
001011001001001101100010010011000

I'll see the funds are appropriated.

Hey Shrock i wish you the best
but at this rate of sugestions you will never make a bumper

btw, the bumper it self looks much better then ARB , the hoops around the lights dont look too good

Jim: Good lines for the beefy section and it appears the approach angles have been kept in mind with your design.

I think you're close with the nerf bar idea. But this bumper would really benefit if the bar were to follow the line of the center bar in the grill. I have seen some home made versions of winch bumpers and these did not have any bars around the headlights. Perhaps this may be an avenue that won't accentuate the round headlights as much. And this may be compatable with the square light design as well.

keep us posted on your progress.

Wade
Calgary Nissan 4x4 Club

Jim... thanks for the info. It's good that the outside edges can be raised and tightened a little at least.

On the tube; I see what you mean about the shape of the Xterra front end, since it concerns the initial design. Since you are trying to keep the bumper from sticking out too far, it's hard to work a tube design for it I'm sure.

I do like the bend on the left side, which you adjusted, in my basic drawing. I think you see though how that the two tubes in the middle coming up from the bumper need to be straight to a certain point. Bending towards the top does not look too bad.

The bumper looks good though. I just may get it without the tubing when it comes to production. Thanks again.

Jim,

This bumper looks great. Would it be possible to have these bars set wider so that the guards around the headlights are smaller?

I think it's amazing all the research and input you are taking. That is really unusual and cool. Makes me want to buy stuff from you!

Anyway, my .2 is that the first one is the best of all of them. It is unusual and looks custom built for the Xterra (if you're getting Xterra bumper replacement, don't you want it custom built?) I love the plan view, you took great care in adding alot of strength and dimensionality. That impressed me alot. It really adds to the look!
I don't think you should "normalize" the design as all your other designs are. If people want ARB or TJM, they can buy those already.

I would say refine and tweak the first one. As you know, a little play on the angles make a huge difference.
I think your first instincts are correct- it's new and photos lie a thousand times. With something different and no 3-dimensional reference, it is very hard to know how it really looks.
It is the only one, imo, that looks as tough as the ARB and TJM that others have on their Xterras while still looking cool in it's own right. It's not there, but that looks like the strongest direction.
Thanks for considering and continued success.

Hey someone liked the first one!

I think one of the issues with the first one was the differences b/t the drawings that many people liked and the way it actually came out. The bends were very sharp in the drawing and it gave it a more angular look . Unfortunately I cant bent real tube anywhere near that tight.

The real deal is completely DONE! It's going to the powdercoater this week, so look for the first pretty pics in a week or so.

I think many of you will like it. The 2" tube turned out sweet. I did tweak it a little from the last pic I posted.

Jim

Jim