2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Paint - UAJK

Since we now had a modified Jeep body on a modified Dodge frame, we couldn't just bolt on the standard Jeep bumpers. Luckily AEV and Fab Fours were able to share some of the digital drawings of the project so custom mounting brackets for the frame were ready and waiting for us upon arrival. However the front and rear framerails were left extra long and had to be trimmed with our Hobart plasma cutter.

These brackets are different from the standard JK bumpers since we're using the Dodge frame and we have a JK body. Also the bumper itself has been modified slightly to accommodate the upright Warn 8274 winch we chose for the front of our Rubi Wagon. Otherwise it is the same as your normal Fab Fours JK bumper made from 3/16-inch steel and outfitted with 1 3/4-inch tubes and hefty 1-inch-thick shackle-hanger recovery points.

The rear bumper with swing-out tire carrier was also modified to work with our Jeep/Dodge. With leaf springs we had to cut the bumper to clear the shackles, and mounting it farther away from the body meant a small filler piece was added. Due to the added leverage of our giant 42-inch spare tire, we chose to weld this bumper to the rear of the frame. Notice the AEV rear corner guards. These are stamped to fit nicely around the rear corners, yet are made of 1/8-inch steel to protect the tub from trail abuse.

The rear bumper uses a positive locking mechanism which is followed up with a safety pin. Plus we added a special brace with a caster to help support the 150 pounds of spare tire and bead-locked wheel that will be hanging off the rear end. In addition there is a locking pin that snaps into place when the tire carrier is open to allow easy access to the rear of the Jeep.

The front bumper looks great on the Jeep, especially with the 42-inch tires, and the 8274 sitting nicely down in the bumper so it doesn't block much airflow. We also installed one of AEV's heat-reduction hoods. This hood is aerodynamically designed to pull heat through the radiator and out from under the hood, and is specifically designed for engine swaps, and we think it gives any JK a much more rugged look. With bumpers on and paint drying, we loaded up the Rubi Wagon and headed towards Denver. We had less than a week to get it finished and a list of things that needed to be done, so we called all our friends in the area and recruited (bribed with pizza) them to come help us. See the conclusion in 30 days.