Need MWC help with bumper coating/ and driving lights.

willsmysticcobra

willsmysticcobra

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Lake Zurich IL
Hey guys, I am pretty new to the jeep scene so a little incite will be much appreciated. Picked up a Nates 4x4 pre runner bumper for my black 99 xj. I have used the sites search option and it seems like the most common "paint" to use on a bare steel bumper is to wipe it down. prime it and treat it with a "hammer" paint or coating. Which have you guys used in this cold, salt ridden area of the country we live in? And is your reccomendation readily available at autozone or home depot?

The second question/advice needed is on driving lights for the bumper. I have been eyeing hella 500`s as well as a few different piaa driving lights. What do you guys run and is there a significant light advantage going from a 55w bulb/lens to a 85w?

Thank you all for your much needed advice/ expertise.

76168_10150090927785926_576175925_7724418_6872790_n.jpg
 
a lot of companies ship metal products with a light coat of oil to prevent surface rust. as you said it needs to be wiped down (with chemical) to clean this off. then your going to want to etch prime it. autozone should carry a can for less than $10. plenty in one can. then i always bed line my bumpers but with your jeep being black... idk, thats a personal taste. might look odd if its the only bed lined part on the jeep. the nice thing about bed liner is its easy to touch up if need be.

beyond that... the bumper will probably last longer than the jeep up here in the MW.

welcome.
 
as mentioned above, make sure that you wipe the bumper down very well with a degreaser/prepall before applying the primer and paint. Use a self etching primer and a decent quality paint, not that $.98 a can crap from Wal-Mart. I have had good luck using the self etching primer from the auto parts store and I just by the same brand of paint as well so that way I know they are compatible. I have used primers before that did not bond with another brand or type of paint and it was a peeling mess.... You can also use Rustoleum primer and paint and get along fine. This is all assuming that you are wanting to use rattle can primer and paint verses a spray gun set up? I might add that as a paid member to the site you will have access to the tech forums and the advanced search features that reveals much more information as well :thumbup: Look around a while and I hope you want to join and be part of the MWC, we are the best damn chapter in NAXJA!! :thumbup:

Cheeseman-OUT
 
Last edited:
I use the Hella 500's on my trail rig, I've really never 'used' them but they're on my rig. they're a good little thin light that's cheap. I bought my from ebay for like $55 shipped to my door. Piaa's are nice lights, more costly, but why do you buy clothes from the mall store other than wal-mart? personal taste. I'm a cheap bastard when it comes to things like lights that you really don't use that often and that are on the front of the vehicle where 95% of all accidents happen.

Fore 'membership has it's benefits' Wheeler
 
That's a pretty sweet looking bumper! What they said as far as paint goes... As far as lights, I went with a $10 pair of fog lamps from Harbor Freight and they do a damn good job for the money.
 
Like everyone said. Wipe it down good, use a self etching primer IN A WELLLLLL VENTILATED AREA! And your paint color of choice, I went with semigloss black from an automotive color supply here in town its abut $5 a can for CEM paint. As for driving lights I picked up a set Of Lightforce striker 170's for mine and they are badass but are also EXPENSIVE if you don't get lucky like I did. As wheeler said a set of Hella 500's will be your best bang for your buck! I had a set in my first rig.
 
Last edited:
I have the Hellas on the front of Goldie and have never even taken the covers off. They are simply on there bc my son gave them to me for fathers day and he picked them out himself and told me where to mount them on teh rig...I sure am glad that he is a true wheeler by birth and experience (he is 4 :D ) and knew where they would look best instead of telling me to mount them on the gas door or something like that :D They are slim like Dan mentioned (but not "like" Dan :D) and they are cheap. Liek $60 at Wal-Mart. Thos eLightforce lamps are nice, but dont go messin with a guys lights while he is sleeping in the tent next to his rig and has a loaded gun...inside joke there from the Redbird trail clean up.
 
XJ&CHZ4ME said:
but dont go messin with a guys lights while he is sleeping in the tent next to his rig and has a loaded gun...inside joke there from the Redbird trail clean up.
Click to expand...

Bastards! :laugh:
 
she did indeed, and we need 5 years of back child support plus interest. She said something about wanting the video back also? :dunno:

Sorry Will, back on topic. I might also mention if there is any light finishing that needs to be done on the bumper before paint, use a lightweight body filler and it will smooth over any imperfections etc and make it look a bit nicer. If your gonna wheel it and not really care, then dont waste the time on body work.
 
Paint: Flat black Rustoleum
Lights:
Floods: 4" tractor rubber housings with 35W "Flood" sealed beams
Driving: Same housing with 4" 50W "Spot" sealed beams.

Rev
 
i have the same bumper i used rustolum primer and paint, its time for a repaint though the rust is starting to come through were there was rock chips and trail scrapes

this time around im gonna bedline it

its a stout bumper, did you buy it new?
if so when you mount it make sure all you gaps are even and the bumper fits right when i got mine i heard story's of the bumper sitting crooked and not lining up right since i got mine he suposedly made his business better and actualy responds to customer service

i have pushed mine on some rocks and scraped it along some trail obstacles and its still holding

oh one more suggestion is to get a new power steering bracket, i believe the dealer either wants big bucks or they were on back order i cant remember. either way its aluminum and it bonds to the bolts so it can be a PITA to get them out, two company's i can think of that sell them are JCR and C-rock there both steel and a better design than jeeps original set up

http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2...ROD&Product_Code=XJSTSPC&Category_Code=XJMISC

http://www.c-rok.com/sb.html

if you click on the C-rock pic you can see what the stock one looks like
 
Appreciate the feed back... a lot guys. I will follow your leads on prepping and surfacing my bumper.

I have pretty much settled on a lower cost KC HIlight set up but have one question/opinion needed. Should I go with a "long range beam" or a "driving" beam". In my mind the driving beam is going to be a more wide spread beam of 130w light opposed to a more concentrated focused beam of the 130w long range beam.

I frequent Wisconsin a lot with my family for hunting/ outdoor events and a lot is off road trails to get to our stands. Again feedback is super appreciated!

~Will
 
I would go with a driving beam, there is no need for a long range beam in the midwest. Now if it were the dessert I'd say go for those.
 
I am a big fan of H4 conversions (AutoPal E-Code housings and Sylvania Silverstar bulbs, both cheap on Ebay) and fog lights. The H4s have a very good high beam, and the fogs fill in nicely. It's really easy to mow down Bambi at night in the rain if you can't see off to the sides well... Cheap and easy to replace is another bonus.
 
Low cost KC's are just that....low cost.

Trust me on the lights, if you go spot you will need to shut them down when anyone comes toward you, or you come up behind someone.....honest 5+ Miles reflective range, and 1 mile actual light.
If you go flood, they will toss a nice round cone of light with about a 50' range.

I run the spots on my work truck to avoid deer in upper WI and the UP.

and the best part...they are cheap and last forever.

Rev
 
X2 on what Rev said....the tractor lights are the shizz and they are cheap and readily available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
1999 XJ 4 door lifted on 35s with Dana 44s & extras – under 76K miles
Replies
10
Views
6K
Anak
Anak
D
Need help, guage lights out, keyless entry? and some other stuff
Replies
5
Views
542
danny_v_l
D
Back
Top