4X4NOW   TJ
Buildup
Bumpers/Skid Plates/Body Armor

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If you've seen my old Bronco II, you know how much body damage a rig can sustain on the more difficult 4WD trails.  Its expensive and heartbreaking every time you loose a rocker panel, fender flare, or worse.  Ground clearance, traction, and the ability to crawl very slowly without killing the engine are all important in avoiding damage and are being provided for in the 4X4NOW TJ.  Another problem with the Bronco II was that the fender flares stuck out past the tires. I've lost track of the number of times I had to re-attach or replace those fender flares.  They were the first thing to contact trailside boulders or rock walls and they always "lost."  With the 35 X 12.5 BFG MTs the tires stick out a couple inches past the stock flares.  In tight spots the tires will contact side obstacles instead of the flares - this also tends to help keep the body away from these side obstacles.  All these improvements reduce the frequency and force with which you come into contact with the rocks but do not eliminate that contact.

Cross Enterprises Rear Bumper / Tire Carrier

I choose the reasonably priced and very well made modular Cross Enterprises Trail Mate Bumper System rear bumper and tire carrier.  The tire carrier is a heavy duty design attached to the the TJ frame through the bumper.  Cross Enterprises also makes a Outback Rack that I may add at a latter date.  The Outback Rack design works with up to 35" tires.

The Cross Enterprises design is conservative.  The bumper is constructed of 2x 4, 3/16" rectangular tubing and 14 bolts hold it to the frame of the TJ.  Only 4 of these are predrilled.  Some are difficult to get a wrench on from the TJ side of the bumper.  I found that a "wobbly" flexible joint and an extension for my 3/8" ratchet helped tremendously.

The tire carrier is held securely in place by a large pin with small pull handle on top and a cotter pin underneath - another conservative feature to insure it doesn't vibrate up and swing loose on the trail.  With the cotter pin removed it swings out very smoothly and easily to provide full access to the rear of the TJ.

I ordered the model with a receiver hitch and receiver shackle.  I'm pleased with the rugged design, attractive appearance and utility of the Cross Enterprises Trail Mate Bumper System.

For an excellent article with more installation details and photos see the Sam Houston's report on installing the same Cross Enterprises bumper and tire carrier on his 1998 TJ.

For more information contact:

Cross Enterprises
http://www.4X4NOW.com/4wsfce1.htm
3833 Old Conejo Road
Newbury Park, CA 91320
(805) 499-8169
FAX: 805-376-9643
Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00 p.m. P.S.T.

Tomken Front Bumper / Tow Bar

I wanted a short front bumper.  I remember how hard it is to get your front tire on some obstacles (such as the Golden Crack on the Golden Spike trail in Moab) with a full length bumper.  The bumper tends to contact some of the more extreme obstacles before you can get a tire on them.  I also wanted a bumper that would facilitate towing the TJ.   As most of the trails I do are 500 miles and more (one way) from 4X4NOW headquarters, I plan to be towing the 4X4NOW TJ to most events.  The Tomken Stubby Bumper and Tow Bar were ideal.

Installation is quick and easy.  The workmanship and finish was excellent.  And there shouldn't be any problem getting a tire up on the other side of the Golden Crack.  I plan to put D shackles in the tow bar mounting holes while on the trails.

For more information contact:

TOMKEN MACHINE
http://www.tomken.com
36580 U.S. Hwy. 24 No.
Buena Vista, CO 81211
Phone: (719) 395-2526
Fax: (719) 395-4037

Tomken Gas Tank Skid Plate

The Stock TJ gas tank hangs down behind the rear axle, below the bumper with substantial potential to get deformed or punctured by a rock as the rear wheels drop off an obstacle.  The stock protection seems all to thin for confrontations with sharp pointed boulders.  There is no stock protection for the side of the fuel tank.

The Tomken TJ gas tank skid plate is made from 1/8" thick stock and weighs in at over 40 lbs.  Part of the welds are left open to allow water to drain out but the remaining opening looked a little thin to me.  For insurance I drilled an additional hole in the bottom at each corner.

Installation is a very straight forward bolt on.  The Tomken skid plate conforms very closely to the TJ gas tank so very little clearance is sacrificed by installing the extra protection.  The new skid plate also gives protection to the side of the gas tank.

For more information contact:

TOMKEN MACHINE
http://www.tomken.com
36580 U.S. Hwy. 24 No.
Buena Vista, CO 81211
Phone: (719) 395-2526
Fax: (719) 395-4037

TeraFlex Steering Gear Skid Plate

The steering gear box is another vital component that is left in harms way in the stock TJ design.  It protrudes just below the bumper with its thin end cap just waiting to be punctured.   I don't know how many times I saw a Jeep back off after trying a tall rock ledge to check his steering gear.  The bumper cleared but the steering gear box didn't.

TeraFlex makes effective and easily installed protection for the TJ steering gear box.  The steel plate is held in place by three bolts.  The first is the lower bumper mount.  The second goes through an existing hole in the stock frame and the third is self taping bolt that you drill a hole for in the stock cross member.  The resulting 3 point mounting appears very solid and should be worth its weight in avoided worry not to mention a tow home if the steering gear were otherwise damaged.

For more information contact:

Tera Manufacturing
http://www.teraflx.com/index.html
7055 South 700 West
Midvale, UT 84047
Phone: 801-256-9897
Fax: 801-256-9879

Off Your Rocker Panels

The most common form of body damage is a dented rocker panel.  Heavy duty rocker panel protection is a must for the serious 4-wheeler.  Nerf bars take away from ground clearance and sometimes serve more for looks than for real protection.   Serious confrontations with a boulders have been know to bend them up into the body.   The most effective protection is made from angle iron and bolted to the rocker panels.  Off You Rocker Panels makes template cut 3/16" diamond steel plate steel panels that are not only effective but add to the appearance of your 4X4.  I prefer the diamond plate over the smooth polished steel versions since I don't expect the inevitable rock scratches and gashes to show as well on the diamond plate.  The black Off Your Rockers are easily touched up with a little black spray paint.

To insure tight contact with the bottom and sides of the Jeep body I used a floor jack and two C-clamps while I drilled the holes for the cap screws.  I used 14 on each side including some behind the flares.  Placing them in two rows on approximately 9" centers resulted in a neat looking pattern.

The Off Your Rocker panels are template cut and protect from wheel well to wheel well.  That means they go under the flares.  This leaves a small gap which can either be left alone or filled with silicone caulk.  I chose to fill the gaps and expected it to be a time consuming and tedious task.  But it went very quickly.  I used masking tape on each side, filled the gap with silicone, smoothed it with my finger and pulled the masking tape.  The gap is no longer noticeable.  You have to look for the black silicone caulk to see it.

The Off Your Rocker panels are rolled under roughly an inch to increase their strength and protect the bottom lip of the Jeep rocker panel.  They are reasonably priced, stout, well made and attractive.  I don't doubt the owner's claim, "I guarantee that these are the strongest and most durable on the market and they look AWESOME!!!!" - Dan Duffy

For more information contact:

OFF YOUR ROCKER Panels
http://www.4X4NOW.com/4wsbioy.htm
744 Toulouse CT.
PO box 462
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone/fax
650-726-3008

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