ProtoFab Bumper

I purchased my ProtoFab (www.protofab4x4.com) front bumper directly from ProtoFab via the internet.  It arrived in flawless condition with no scratches or mars in the fine semi-gloss black powdercoated finish.  I had them weld on an extra set of light tabs during construction for a pair of anticipated KC fog lights.  Installation was relatively straight forward, there were no real tricks to pass on or problems encountered.  I decided to use my own hardware which I purchased at a local hardware store (Grade-8 bolts/nuts/washers).  The vacuum canister has to be relocated during installation (see my decision on placement in the pictures below) and the bumper comes standard with a bracket welded for attachment near the stock location.  I chose to place it elsewhere to hide it from view and to allow room for the KC fog lights.

This is a picture of the stock bumper prior to removal.  I chose to keep the center spoiler segment intact.

Jeep Cherokee minus the stock front bumper.  If you look closely, you can see the small vacuum line for the canister just left of the left horn.  At this point, I wasn't sure how it was going to look as the ProtoFab is mostly tubes, this is a lot of front end to cover up with just tubes...

Here is the new ProtoFab bumper in place.  It wasn't really that heavy and I required no help installing it.  At this point, it was clear that the front of the truck looks more uniform and less cluttered by my decision to keep the center spoiler section in place.  The discerning eye will pick out my location for the vacuum canister (look in the center hole), and the location I chose for the PA speaker for the Uniden CB Radio.

Here is a closer view of that vacuum canister and the PA speaker.  Getting that PA speaker properly aligned and centered over the hole required some extensive bracket fabrication using some 1/8" x 1" aluminum bar obtained from Home Depot.

Side view of the finished ProtoFab front bumper.  I was very pleased with how it turned out.  The frame brackets that come with the bumper inspire confidence that this bumper will withstand the stresses of winching once the Warn winch is installed.

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