It's done for now almost..*now with pics*

[05Mudiak]

I will sortta do this in order kinda and questions feel free to ask.

Starting with rear bumper
Sorry some pics are dark was working at night.

Bumper removed

Trailer plug tab cut off

After much cussing and working by myself. I finally figure out how to line up the top bolts. Line up the bolts on the drivers side first the use the hole were between the bolt hole on the passenger side where the tow hook bracket mouints to move the bumper to line up the passenger side bolts. You can sorta see the orange pry bar hanging in the hole I am talking about.

bumper installed

Front bumper. with ridge demon frame plates, Recon 10.5k winch and Piaa lights

brush guard removed

Grill removed (or is it grille?)

once grill is removed remove the skid plate. Then the bumper upper and lower sections comes off in one big piece with 2 bolts each side at the same spot the Thor bumper monts up to. As you may have noticed my skid plate is not off. It was being a PITA to get out being sandwiched between the lift bracket and frame. So I pulled the bumper first then convinced it to come out but no worries the thor plate slide right in almost like it was made for it

Frame plates welded on (had to grind the factory welds some and bevel the edge of the plate where it meets up the factory welds. Also the ridge demon plates do require some grinding on the top and lower outter corner to fit into the Thor bumper.

After mucho grinding on the plates the bumper is in place and grill back on to take some measurements.

bumper grill and light pods installed. pretty simple straight forward. Oh if you airbag sensor falls out when moving your A/C line it goes back in the round hole in the center support you unbolted to move the A/C line. took me a few mins to figure out where it went.

I didn't take pics of the winch install but with the Recon winch you do have to trim/cut some of the grill for it to fit. You can see where I had to cut this is the best pic I took of it. Sorry. Once it stays warm out I am going to pull the grill back off and smooth out the corners where I cut so you almost won't beable to tell it's cut. I hope.

PIAA lights installed & Finshed!!!

 

[Bigunit]

Looks great! Nice work.

 

[alrock]

Wow, both bumpers look great!

 

[3Hummers]

Looks great. Can you post a better shot of how close the tires are to the bumper? Looks like a lot of work with great results.

 

[06 H3]

Looks so damn good!!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[05Mudiak]

Looks great. Can you post a better shot of how close the tires are to the bumper? Looks like a lot of work with great results.

yeah alot of work but easy stuff the worst thing was grinding the Ridge Demon plates to fit into this bumper and cutting the grill to fit.

Sure no problem how do you want the pics there is a ton of room and I probably have some of the biggest tires in here minus a select few

 

[3Hummers]

Jeff, if there is tons of room that is what I was looking to see. Some of the pictures made it look pretty tight.

 

[05Mudiak]

yeah the pics are very deciving.

here see if these help

Tire straight forward.

this is the factory bumper bracket mount the bumper only sticks out past it 1/4" ish

full lock

 

[Zach]

Looking good :thumbs:

 

[cgalpha08]

Looks good!

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[M22KLARS]

That looks incredible!

 

[Pappibri]

Good job.. Looks great.. I was thinking of buying a Recon, but if I have to cut away some of the grill I think I will pass... If I had the whole setup like you I would do that but, maybe I can find something that works.

 

[05Mudiak]

Good job.. Looks great.. I was thinking of buying a Recon, but if I have to cut away some of the grill I think I will pass... If I had the whole setup like you I would do that but, maybe I can find something that works.

My next option was the Warn Vr series you wouldn't have to cut your grill for that. With the recon I knew it would be close and I am not scared to cut things everything is repairable

 

[skippy]

sweet

 

[Ron46]

looks good :cheers:

 

[SolidusJ]

Looking great!!!! Do you think with time and the right metal you could make a cover for the winch to make flush withe the upper grill?

 

[4speedfunk]

Nice job. A few comments...

1. All non-integrated winches (like those you're discussing), will fit the THORparts bumper if you relocate the control box up higher (out of the goo) and mount it to the vertical center support of the header panel...behind the grille. This might require some minor fabbing and longer leads between the box and the winch motor. Most winch companies have adopted a low-profile, solid state box (like the Recon), and shaving the grille is a good option vs. moving it to a new location. The stock grille is plastic and therefore cuts like butta...so its up to the individual if you want to start cutting. However, a couple wires and a drill will allow you to put your control box hidden from view (and not cut your grille). Taller integrated type winches or the Warn Powerplant won't fit for the same reason.

2. Frame reinforcements are not needed. The THORparts front bumper has sufficient mounting points, and the leverage that occurs with add-on shelf type winch plates is drastically reduced due to the winch being mounted behind the ends of the frame. You can hang your H3 from a tree if you feel ballsy enough to try it.

3. The THORparts bumper is intentionally designed to locate the winch very high and fully exposed. Yup...its ugly but, the trade-off is that you can properly feed the winch line onto the drum, instead of wadding it up inside a concealed-type bumper. I think a removable winch cover-plate could be fabbed to fit it. This would help keep the winch free from vandals and also keep it protected from the weather. Ask a BA or DOI owner about winch maintenance...its not quick or easy. In most cases the winch (and sometimes the bumper) must be removed. By having everything fully exposed...you can make winch repairs quickly on the trail (when you need to). I learned this the hard way after a few trips with my BA bumper. Winches do require repair, and its nice to be able to have full access to them without crawling around underneath the vehicle.

4. I welcome anyone to grab a welder and customize the THORparts bumper. Its not meant to be everything to everyone...but, its a very sturdy platform to build from. So...start cuttin!

 

[SolidusJ]

Nice job. A few comments...

1. All non-integrated winches (like those you're discussing), will fit the THORparts bumper if you relocate the control box up higher (out of the goo) and mount it to the vertical center support of the header panel...behind the grille. This might require some minor fabbing and longer leads between the box and the winch motor. Most winch companies have adopted a low-profile, solid state box (like the Recon), and shaving the grille is a good option vs. moving it to a new location. The stock grille is plastic and therefore cuts like butta...so its up to the individual if you want to start cutting. However, a couple wires and a drill will allow you to put your control box hidden from view (and not cut your grille). Taller integrated type winches or the Warn Powerplant won't fit for the same reason.

2. Frame reinforcements are not needed. The THORparts front bumper has sufficient mounting points, and the leverage that occurs with add-on shelf type winch plates is drastically reduced due to the winch being mounted behind the ends of the frame. You can hang your H3 from a tree if you feel ballsy enough to try it.

3. The THORparts bumper is intentionally designed to locate the winch very high and fully exposed. Yup...its ugly but, the trade-off is that you can properly feed the winch line onto the drum, instead of wadding it up inside a concealed-type bumper. I think a removable winch cover-plate could be fabbed to fit it. This would help keep the winch free from vandals and also keep it protected from the weather. Ask a BA or DOI owner about winch maintenance...its not quick or easy. In most cases the winch (and sometimes the bumper) must be removed. By having everything fully exposed...you can make winch repairs quickly on the trail (when you need to). I learned this the hard way after a few trips with my BA bumper. Winches do require repair, and its nice to be able to have full access to them without crawling around underneath the vehicle.

4. I welcome anyone to grab a welder and customize the THORparts bumper. Its not meant to be everything to everyone...but, its a very sturdy platform to build from. So...start cuttin!

Right on, maybe if I had the cash to make it happen I would do it, I'll save up $1000 for the bumper and make some type of cover. Can we get some side pictures and and upper views?

 

[H3TBone]

Just so you know, I'm stealing this, except with the Search and Rescue BG. But...I'm not copying. CJ pointed me to this thread while discussing this very idea. Look great!

 

[benlaud87]

i have the thor front bumper with the search and rescue brush guard if you are looking for pics

 

[JonBishop]

I'm super jealous!!! That thing looks super awesome!!! Good job on it!

 

[JoshuaL]

Man your truck has come along way and man that thing looks so bad ass!!!

 

[05Mudiak]

oh now I have to figureout placement for the factory backup camera the wife is demanding it gets put back in. :huh:

 

[Dennis]

Man your truck has come along way and man that thing looks so bad ass!!!

x2 ...no bout adout it, freakin awesome!

 

[4speedfunk]

Mudiak. Two more things I noticed in your photos...

1. The leading edge of the front skid should be on top of the bumper. I did this to reduce the chance of it hooking on something and possibly getting bent down. The angles that are formed into the skid, are such that the two overlapping pieces of metal fit tightly when the skid is on the top. You might notice the way you have it right now, that the lip of the skid does not fit truly "flat" against the bumper. To fix it...you'll need to pull the skid off and install the captive nuts to the skidplate and not the bumper...then reinsert the bolts thru the bumper and tighten them onto the skid (backwards from how it is now). Its not a big deal and clearly it will fit either way but it will fit tighter the other way. Might be less prone to popping & squeaking, too.

2. Grab a can of black spray paint, and open your rear hatch door. Mask off for overspay, and shoot the door jamb (along the bottom) to hide where the bumper meets the body. Because you're truck is white...you got a real ugly contrast back under the shadow of the hatch door. I have many customers with yellow, red, and white that have done this and it hides the contrast very nicely. Once again...its a minor item but, I thought I would mention it.