im not sure whether or not you need to build it up for the m8000. heres what steve did http://www.sonoransteel.com/tjm.html

I remember filthy saying that someone took a peice of angle iron and bolted it through the frame rail or something like that, in order to strengthen it up

 

yea i read steves writeup and just shot him an email. i know that the closer you get to a 90 degree pull the more stress you put on the winch/bumper, but would i really need to do anything to the bumper/frame for just simple straight line pulls?

 

this is straight from TJM

"Most steel bull bars are designed to have a winch fitted directly to the bull bar, and do not require winch frames. The steel bull bars that do require winch frames are called "recessed roller" bars. This type of bull bar is a special design required for airbag compatibility on some vehicles.
All Aluminum bull bars require a steel winch frame to support a winch.
All winch capable bull bars fit up to a 9000 lb low mount Warn or Ramsey electric winch. Some bull bars such as the Ford Super Duty bull bar can accept a larger winch. Call your TJM Distributor to inquire if a larger winch will fit in the desired bull bar"

http://www.tjmbullbars.com/faq.htm#faq2

 

thanks! looks like i will wait and see to put the winch inside the bumper if it will fit, and perhaps use a snatch block everytime to half the stress on the bumper.

 

I believe as far as I've seen I'm the only one to put fogs down in that general area. I did not put them where you are suggesting though. You will need to fab up some brackets and weld them to the bumper. What I did, was to put the lights on the bracket that attaches to the frame.




Now I know that it's not the safest spot, but my truck doesn't see rocks, only sand so it works fine for me. The lights are hella micro ff.

Note the lovely NE rust from salt. Soon to be painted.

 

Pete,

that looks pretty good. i actually have a set of those fogs because i bought that fog light kit from performance products before i had my tjm. they are just sitting in the bumper now in the backyard. Do you have any more pics of the brackets you fabbed up? maybe a closer up pick of the front? thanks for you help and you runner is awesome man, truly awesome. oh yeah, one more question, how's the light output? specifically, does the bumper hinder the light spread or anything? i'm assuming no since they are fogs and shoot their light low and wide, but just curious, thanks again.

 

I didn't have to fab anything at all. The 96-98 TJM mounts have a gap between the bottom of the bracket and the bottom of the frame. It gives just enough room to drill a hole to mount the light.



The light is not blocked by anything, and is nice to have. Since in reality the lights on top of the TJM really only can be used sparingly (they blind everyone) the lights down lower can be used almost always. They don't bother most people when you drive by. They have a nice pattern down low making the road bright right in front of the truck where the regular headlights get cut off by the bumper.

 

I would be worried about wheeling with the lights exposed like that.

 

i agree. I dont want to ruin 160 lights on a rock. As soon as i make up my mind about which fog i want, ill get a pic up.

 

I haven't had a problem yet, but yes they are exposed. I actually have spare parts for the lights because of a good e-bay deal I found back in the day. If you look at the side view, the TJM bracket covers the light from a forward hit. But other than that

Haven't had a problem yet, other than a rock hit on a snowy road trip up north skiing. But that happens a lot around here, as my windshield currently looks like I was in a drive by. Since I drive a lot in snow, I have had to replace my windshield nearly every year.

 

How you going to mount the lights? You'd have to have them flush or recessed to keep them protected, and there's nothing back there to mount them to.

And yes, I was the one who put fogs in where the stock TJM turn signals are. I think a couple other people have done it as well.

 

I mounted my old fog lights from my OEM bumper on my T-17 using the same bracket as Li_Runner. Works fine and when they get crunched i will put 4 PIAA 001 Solitaire's behined the bumper in the holes. Ebay about $30-$40 a pair.

Eric

 

Eric(filthyrich) and I were discussing the fog light situation ( cant make up my mind) and we came up wtih another idea.

1.


2.


here

 

what happens when you mount the winch in there? that spot won't work. If your goign to be cutting holes in the bumper, cut them on the outside of the rubber bumper stops.

 

I'm 99.99999% sure i wont be getting a winch. The conclusion was that if we cut holes on the other side....the direction of the light would be skewed b/c of the angles....if that makes sense

 

do you guys think it will look bad with a 2 sets of lights almost right on top of each other.....yes yes...im a street queen

 

Those would only last me one trip offroad before I'd tear them off. I plan to re-do my turn signals and I'm gonna add fogs next to them. To deal with the skewed angle, I'll simply fabricate a shroud to angle them correctly.

 

I agree. Thats why i wnated to do the idea in post #33

 

I thnk these would be the easiest to mount:



Performance Products sells em'

Get yourself a hole saw and youre set.


Lamm

 

okay I edited his photo to show how I plan to do mine