I started a new thread since the old was was getting so big.

Here are first pics from various angles and the first tube design. This is the one I'm leaning toward, but I want to here what people think. It's different, so give it a chance to grow on you. Like many things that are new and different, it really does look better in person than in pics.

I'm going to do something similar to the tube on our Sammi bumper next.

next pic

another...

In the last two pics you can really see why I went with the winch with w/ a non-integrated soleniod to tuck it up under the grill. The limitimg factor on approch angle is now the frame.

Great work! Got my interest.I'm not really up for the bars. Perhaps its the bends or the diameter of the tubing. Looks stout!I wonder how it would look on the square headlight X (the better kind)

i'm very much diggin' the Bumper design although the light guards are a little "off" for me. I'd have prefered a less wide middle section with the raised center bar. I'll keep starin' at it though, maybe it WILL grow on me.

Do you mean non-integrated solenoid winch ? I don't think there's room for a winch with an integrated solenoid in there.

The tubing gives the Xterra a somewhat sad look due to the low center bar and angle of the uprights.You either match the angle of the grill cutout, or match the angle of the headlight edge.

The two different radii give it an odd look too, the outside bend doesn't match anything on the truck.

Since I already have an ARB I probably shouldn't comment, but I just can't hold it in...

Let me first start by saying I love your work and dedication to Xterra owners. But damn that upper bar is scary looking! It takes all that is bad about the front end of the '02's and '03's and amplifies it X3. To be honest though, I'm not sure how you can hoop around those lights and have a bar that looks good...the front end just isn't friendly to work with. TO me it makes the front end look like a CR-V or something.

OK, I kinda have an idea but don't have time to draw it right now. Might have time tomorrow, but basically make the light hoops a bit smaller and then curve the center part so it goes upward.

Please don't take my comments the wrong way...just figured you should know how I feel, uh, for some reason.

BTW, from the side it looks great.

Bumper = nice

Upper bar = ugly

It looks like the Xterra is wearing a pair of glasses or something. It's kind of dorky looking. Just my $.02

Yes of course. That's the point.

Looks like my original instict that this was a little radical may prove to be the case. We'll see.

More pics tomorrow hopefully.

I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone else.

The lower bumper section: you're done. Looks awesome.

The tube section: needs a little work / experimentation. Don't try too hard to fit the '02/'03 headlights.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who doesn't own a winch and I'm certainly not a winch expert, but I am looking to purchase one:

It seems that the growing popularity of integrated solenoid winches would be a limiting factor to this bumper. Where would you mount the solenoid and have it accessible?

That said, the tight, compact body of the bumper looks great and blends nicely with the truck.

I will add another vote against the upper bar design. My wife walked by as I was viewing the photos and said, "how cute - someone put glasses on their Xterra." How feasible would it be to set the attachment points for outsides of the bars on the side of the bumper, so that the bars wrap further around to the back - basically "protecting" the front of the fenders as well?

Hope this feedback helps. Feel free to shoot me an email if you want more.

I have to agree with everyone else on the upper bars... doesn't look so hot... one other question, though... does the lower part of the front of the truck curve up from the middle? It doesn't look like the bumper is anywhere near flush on the sides... I'm sitting here looking at my 01 and it looks flat, but on the new ones it looks curved... is that right? But I do love the bumper!!! Just not the bars... keep up the good work, though!

From the front it looks like it only needs to be tilted down to level out. I think that some of the bumpers are not aligned right. Mine is higher in the middle like that (but not as bad) and I thought that when I finally got a front bumper I would try to take a look at the mounting points to see if they are bent. I took it back to the dealership after I realized it and they could not do much to it and it did not bother me that much. I have seen others of the same year as mine ('01) that are level and some that are not (like mine). Since most of the winch bumpers have such a flat surface design it may highlight the imperfections that are not otherwise as noticable.

Yeah the bumper is flat and front of the x is curved. From what other have said, the earlier style is curved too, just not as much.

It does need to be loosened and tilted down a little. I've had that thing on and off so many times, my patience for adjusting it perfectly b4 tightening everything up is well...not there.

Bumper looks great, it would be nice if you offered the tubes with the same lines as that of the oem brushguard.

OK the next contender. I like this one way better. Looks MEAN to me.

Driver's view:

Without headlight hoops. This looks kinda cool too, but I think the tube needs to be a little bigger to do it this way. This would be a simple option to have available for anyone who likes it this way.

Second page pics look really good! I wonder how it looks on a '00-'01 X?

Def. like the second set of head light loops better. And agree w/ you. A larger center section would look better if you opted to go w/out the head light loops. All in all looks great though.

The newest pics look GOOD. I really like it without the headlight bars. We've been talking about a new bumper...that one be the one we chose if/when you start selling it.

I WANT ONE NOW

My only problem with the look is this. The tubing look kinda thin....it might just be the pictures but i think it looks a bit thin. Oh well Ill be ordering one soon when i get everything else sorted out.