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abebehrmann
03-17-2014, 07:56 PM
This is a review of my new custom Virginia fabrication bumper. But first a little backstory on why I purchased it.

So I needed some front recovery points in order for me to go wheeling with a local jeep club...



I first considered the factory tow hooks and brackets. I kinda liked the looks of them and I've heard they hold up pretty well as long as you don't pull towards the side when getting extracted. My problem with these was I really wanted something that would tie the front two "frame rails" together to help strengthen the front of the unibody plus they only have the one use, vehicle recovery.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/896FC4DC-E976-46E8-B15D-C58E2FF81765_zpsqwzigjef.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/896FC4DC-E976-46E8-B15D-C58E2FF81765_zpsqwzigjef.jpg.html)

This led me to consider a front receiver hitch. I found one made by CURT that with shipping would be ~$150. This would work for recovery and had the added benefit of adding a bit of structural rigidity to the front end as well as being used for other tasks such as removable winch mounts, backing trailers into driveways, etc.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/14C920D5-BA33-4851-B688-D139D19D0805_zpsooose3qy.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/14C920D5-BA33-4851-B688-D139D19D0805_zpsooose3qy.jpg.html)

The problem was I didn't really like how far it hung down in front, reducing the approach angle. I also learned that I would have to ditch my front skid plate in order to install it, something else that I didn't really want to do at this point in my build. It was at this point that I started looking around for an aftermarket front bumper with an integrated 2'' hitch. Unfortunately pretty much all the ones I looked at were out of my price range until I remembered seeing an affordable winch bumper on XJTalk made by virginiafabrication.com. They were selling a complete winch bumper with hardware and shipping for $225! This was only a little bit more than the front receiver hitch I was considering, had two recovery points on each side, would add rigidity to the front, and had the added benefit of being a multi-tasker.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/BC803643-C6A7-41A9-B00E-A7EA75B8054B_zpsjlpyecmt.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/BC803643-C6A7-41A9-B00E-A7EA75B8054B_zpsjlpyecmt.jpg.html)

The only problem was I didn't have a winch to put in it and wasn't planning on adding one for a few years at least. I don't really like the look of a winch bumper with no winch in it so i continued searching.

Virginia fab also sells a super stubby non-winch bumper for $90 shipped.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/A14064A7-2F08-4324-ABD3-7E29ADC3C3B9_zps4wqpud9q.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/A14064A7-2F08-4324-ABD3-7E29ADC3C3B9_zps4wqpud9q.jpg.html)

I really liked the look of it with the front skid plate plus I've been known to favor stubby things in the past...

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/9A91AF9D-18C2-49E9-98A4-AC42904CB439_zpspbzhyerj.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/9A91AF9D-18C2-49E9-98A4-AC42904CB439_zpspbzhyerj.jpg.html)


Unfortunately it didn't have the front recovery point(s) I was seeking. Luckily his website says if you have any custom needs just email him to see if he could help, so I did just that. I asked if it was possible to get a front receiver hitch built into the super stubby bumper so I'd still have a front recovery point but wouldn't have to deal with a hitch hanging down real low in front. Within hours he emailed me back with a quote and pictures of similar bumpers he had built. He could make me a super stubby bumper+receiver hitch with a 10 bolt frame tie in (just like his winch bumper) for less than his winch bumper and for just $50 more he would add 3/4" D-Ring tabs with D-rings included. Here are some of the examples he sent me.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/36FF35E0-E5BA-480C-A0B8-0DCE2D41A2ED_zpsogszlxjz.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/36FF35E0-E5BA-480C-A0B8-0DCE2D41A2ED_zpsogszlxjz.jpg.html)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/E23C9181-B6D2-4F55-8BAD-5F35794E6D4B_zpsvgmtufkg.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/E23C9181-B6D2-4F55-8BAD-5F35794E6D4B_zpsvgmtufkg.jpg.html)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/BA00730C-A7E5-4E66-A4BA-521293388C10_zpslu3anqxo.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/BA00730C-A7E5-4E66-A4BA-521293388C10_zpslu3anqxo.jpg.html)


Seeing as D-rings themselves are about $15 a piece this seemed like a great deal, so I chose this option. I contacted Lucas about ordering this bumper and again he promptly emailed me back within a couple hours. He said it woulakd be ready to ship in 5-10 business days. After about 6 business days he emailed to apologize and inform me that he had a loss in the family and that he would try to get my bumper out ASAP but it might be a couple days late. I wasn't too worried about it and told him to take care of his family, I'm on no deadline to get this bumper installed. I was very impressed that he took the time to explain the situation instead of just shipping it out whenever. My bumper shipped out only 3 business days later than expected, not bad in my estimation for a custom made bumper. When it arrived two days later it looked AWESOME!

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/31969A7D-074A-41D0-8CA8-CE52DF375307_zpskbb9kxft.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/31969A7D-074A-41D0-8CA8-CE52DF375307_zpskbb9kxft.jpg.html)

It was already painted with spray bed liner and included all the hardware and D-Rings as promised. The welds and construction of the bumper looked very nice, the back side of the bumper was boxed in with 3/16 steel, and the d-ring tabs were made of solid 3/4" steel welded all the way around in front and back.


http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/317ACA02-E640-4950-8488-957891B42FF4_zpseroexv0r.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/317ACA02-E640-4950-8488-957891B42FF4_zpseroexv0r.jpg.html)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/53806FA4-134F-4E36-92BD-9276D0ADA0C6_zpstqeycnft.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/53806FA4-134F-4E36-92BD-9276D0ADA0C6_zpstqeycnft.jpg.html)

I know pretty well, that when I'm being pulled out in the future, that just about anything else in the system is going to break before the bumper pulls apart. In addition to all the things I actually purchased, he also included this awesome 4"x30' 20,000lbs tow strap and can of spray bed liner for touch ups on the bumper at absolutely no extra charge and as an apology for the late shipping of the bumper.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/1C15ECB7-AB55-470C-A0FA-FAC64381ADEF_zpsyhwzib2x.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/1C15ECB7-AB55-470C-A0FA-FAC64381ADEF_zpsyhwzib2x.jpg.html)

To me, the email apology was more than enough but this was just above and beyond what he needed to do. Needless to say, I am a very happy customer. I can tell you that I would gladly purchase another bumper from Virginiafabrication.com and will recommend them to others searching for one.

Here's a few pics of it all installed:

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/photo8_zps57672a78.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/photo8_zps57672a78.jpg.html)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af15/abebehrmann/1805FEE6-580B-4FA4-9288-484DF25FEF67_zpsojtxp3ko.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/abebehrmann/media/1805FEE6-580B-4FA4-9288-484DF25FEF67_zpsojtxp3ko.jpg.html)

You can find a complete install write up here: http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17312

Mudderoy
03-18-2014, 02:17 AM
Nice welds! Thanks for the review!

XJ Wheeler
03-18-2014, 08:46 PM
Great review Abe! I've already recommended his bumpers to some local guys but this gives me even more confidence in doing so. Awesome deal too by the sound of it. Customer service is just as important as quality!

Sent via messenger pigeon - i talk, he types.

Brasscatz
03-18-2014, 09:10 PM
Sounds like in a few years when the jeep fund isn't depleted I need to see about a custom bumper for me :D.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 because my microwave couldn't do it

abebehrmann
03-19-2014, 08:02 AM
Thanks guys. I was really impressed with the build quality of it. I know that usually, "You get what you paid for" so I was a little skeptical at first when I saw the price of his bumpers. But everything was exactly as promised and all welds look really nice, even the packaging for shipping was done well so when I opened it there were no scratches or dings. Lucas couldn't have been easier to work with.

jimmixj
03-19-2014, 08:22 AM
Thanks Abe! Looks like I found my next upgrade!