Why doesn't someone figure out a G55 front winch bumper?

colo77bronco

New member
The only negative I have found to this point about choosing a G55 over a G500 is the darn front bumper intercoolers. Why can't someone make a bumper that integrates them into the wings but allows for the tow-pin solution? Considering the financial status of G owners vs other brands (i.e. Jeep) you'd think someone would tap into a market where people have disposable incomes. Something that appeared to be stock but was reinforced for the winch attachment would be great. How much do you think it would cost to have a metal fabricator build something? It is amazing to me that in the 10 years since the Kompressor came out no one has solved this. Either that or it is impossible.
 

otiswesty

Regular guy
The only negative I have found to this point about choosing a G55 over a G500 is the darn front bumper intercoolers. Why can't someone make a bumper that integrates them into the wings but allows for the tow-pin solution? Considering the financial status of G owners vs other brands (i.e. Jeep) you'd think someone would tap into a market where people have disposable incomes. Something that appeared to be stock but was reinforced for the winch attachment would be great. How much do you think it would cost to have a metal fabricator build something? It is amazing to me that in the 10 years since the Kompressor came out no one has solved this. Either that or it is impossible.

I have a 463 winch bumper that also holds the bumper mounted intercooler behind the winch. I will pull it out in the next week or so and take some pictures. I may sell it locally or post it up for sale. It was originally mounted on my Europa import 1999 G500.
 

goodtimes

Expedition Poseur
Economy of scale.

How many people would actually buy that bumper, vs how many people buy bumpers for their Jeeps?

As the owner of a "small batch" manufacturing business, if I can't build 10 of something in house (20 if I have to outsource parts of it) I can't build one. The last time I outsourced some work to a laser cutter, the "first cut" cost me $300, the next 19 sets cost me $500 ($800 total for 20 sets). That was for a 8 piece set of hinge plates out of .080" stainless, IIRC.

When I looked at manufacturing bumpers a couple years ago, I couldn't justify the cost to do it right. I was looking at retail prices upwards of $2,500, & didn't feel that there was a big enough market to put that much money onto a shelf. Granted, I was not looking at building simple tube bumpers out of readily available stock (which would increase labor costs, but greatly reduce outsourced material costs - IE laser cutting).

Durable goods produced to repeatable dimensions are just expensive to make. If you're not selling a lot of them, it's tough to turn a profit.
 

colo77bronco

New member
I would be will to pay up to $3000 for a bumper that looks stock but is reinforced and has a removable winch plate and ability to attach tow hooks without question.
 

goodtimes

Expedition Poseur
I would be will to pay up to $3000 for a bumper that looks stock but is reinforced and has a removable winch plate and ability to attach tow hooks without question.

Finding one or two, possibly even three people that wanted one was easy - but finding 20 or more to justify putting $40 or $50,000 into a stack of 20 bumpers that fit a narrow range of vehicles that didn't have high sales numbers - that's tough.

If you're looking for something stamped or formed, rather than cut and welded (IE: anything that requires large or multiple radius curves - which is pretty much any bumper that looks like it belongs there), you can easily double or triple that investment.

That's one of the reasons manufacturers use plastic bumper covers over a conglomeration of plastic & metal bits for bumpers on modern cars. It's much cheaper to mold a plastic cover than to form a steel or aluminum plate to repeatable dimensions.
 

cols110

Observer
Sorry the G55 doesn't have an intercooler, it is an engine oil cooler, with some fabrication & extending the oil lines it would be possible to mount it down near the transmission cooler.

Use google it has been done several times before & then you can fit any winch bar you want.

Without removing the oil cooler the winch bar would have to sit to far forward for my linking, not to mention the reduced airflow over the cooler.

There is a thread I started a while back regarding on P3, I am not if I can post the link to it here.

This set up leave the oil coolers a little exposed for my liking but it wouldn't be to hard to get some protection fabricated.

get-attachment.php


http://www.pointedthree.com/disc/fo...21137&start=1&highlight=winch&highlightmode=1
 
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DUTCH

Curmudgeon
Thanks! I have been trying to join P3 for 2 weeks and their system is still not working for allowing new registration.

All you have to do is ask. Check you email. I took care of it for you.

DUTCH
P3 Admin
 
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swb

Observer
I am sure there are plenty of fabricators out there who can make you a one-off bar, possibly for way less than $3000. There is a huge offroad scene in USA, much bigger than where I am in Australia, and I have no problem finding good fabricators/welders who specialise in offroad metalwork.
Airbag compliance may be a problem however as much of their work will be for jeeps/buggies/rally and competition trucks.
It cant be that hard.
 

colo77bronco

New member
I am in Colorado Springs, CO. I am surprised that nobody mentioned that THOR makes a winch basket that bolts to the stock bumper. Looks like it would do what I need it to do. I wish it were detachable similar to the tow-pin set up though.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
I am in Colorado Springs, CO. I am surprised that nobody mentioned that THOR makes a winch basket that bolts to the stock bumper. Looks like it would do what I need it to do. I wish it were detachable similar to the tow-pin set up though.

Drive to CBI in Idaho Falls (see WarnerD9's bumpers);
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/40381-G-Wagen-Images-Feel-the-love/page8
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/40381-G-Wagen-Images-Feel-the-love/page9
 

cols110

Observer
I have not seen the Thor winch tray before, it looks quite promising but I would like to see it in the flesh to se how much it restricts air flow to the engine oil cooler & how it mounts.

If anyone has detailed photos of one mounted to a G55 I would be interested in seeing them.

I wonder if it fits a 9.5XP or just drilled for an EP/DV series winch.
 

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