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So I loved the Baja Forged front bumper when we saw it introduced as one of the Ford builds at the show last year. It is really the only front bumper that my wife and I could agree on. So many bumpers look like a bad underbite, this one is tucked! We also needed a winch as we run with a group of jeeps on out of state off-roading trips and we were the only ones that could not self recover. Luckily preorder for the Baja Forged Crawler Bumper started this spring. We were doing a big trip at the beginning of July. I talked to @BAJAFORGEDBronco on whether the bumper would arrive in time. She said it would and I dropped my order. As with everything, supplier delays made their first run a couple weeks behind schedule. Sara knew when I was leaving for my trip and picked it up from the powder coater herself and expedited shipping to get it to me with enough time to install. Wiring the winch was definitely the most time spent in the project as the bumper install is relatively simple.
Now a couple notes:
- I have the 2.7 and the winch is in front and slightly high on the intercooler. In order to get this tuck, you have to remove the intercooler shutters. (OMG OMG!) No issues, just capped off the plug and not even a dash notification about it. I think plenty of air gets around the winch and in fact the skid plate has a cut in "Baja Forged" that allows airflow directly to the intercooler. I had no issues even at slow speeds up and down mountains. Im not worried about it.
- This is their first run of this bumper. I had to add a hole that was missed and adjust another. No big deal.
- I used a Warn Evo VR 10K-S. Not all winches will fit, its tight. (she told me she runs a 12K and it fits). You have to remove the control box. I remote mounted mine in the engine bay on a homemade mount where a lot of people mount their compressors.
- There is no room for the clutch handle, again this think is tucked. I clocked the clutch handle to the forward position with no issues.
- I set mine up to flat tow with some LOD Offroad frame tie ins. They don't advertise the bumper as flat tow capable but after inspecting it (and towing it 2500 miles) I have no worries. Although I do still check the shackle points and welds often to make sure not fatigue issues.
- The front camera still works just fine. You can see it in the camera, especially the 360 view, but not an issue.
We then drove (towed) from Florida to Rauch Creek, PA. Completed even some Black Trails on stock Sasquatch suspension, crawl daddy being the favorite. Then down through Bald mountain Jeep trail in VA and Hurricane Creek Trail in NC. Finally spending 3 days in Windrock, TN before heading back to Florida. If you get a chance in Windrock do trail 22 from the trailhead and then go up 26 for a very enjoyable moderate trail. Anyway here are the pics:
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