[3TV]

I use my Rhino for back country exploring, which sometimes requires the use of a winch to safely get to your destination. I wanted a winch bumper that was light in weight, had an excellent approach angle, and had that "race" look to it. Pro Armor makes a race bumper that fit those criteria, and has a winch mount incorporated into the bumper. I like the minimalistic design of the bumper, and really think that in this case "less is more". Less bumper to get hung up on, less weight on the front of the Rhino, and more ground clearance all at the same time.

Here is what the Pro Armor winch bumper looks like mounted on my long travel Rhino, with a Warn 3.0 winch installed.

Approach angle is excellent.

One of the nicer aspects of the Pro Armor race bumper is that it can also be used along with a Lonestar Racing frame gusset / differential support bracket, which can be seen nestled in behind the Pro Armor bumper in this picture.

3TV

 

[3TV]

To test the Pro Armor bumper and Warn 3.0 winch we took the Rhino to Wild West trail, in Cedar City, UT. Wild West is a challenging Jeep rock crawling trail with numerous obstacles that require a winch to concuer. Here is a picture of the first obstacle, that is right at the start of the trail. It is called Riff Raff Rock, because it keeps the riff raff out of the trail. We tried it in the Rhino without the winch, and promptly stood the Rhino right up on its rear tires, with both front tires straight up in the air. A quick shift to reverse was required to keep from going over backwards.

Just a small tug with the winch does a marvelous job of keeping the front end down, and turns an impossible obstacle into an easy climb.

This is pretty much what the first half of the trail is like.

 

[3TV]

The second half of Wild West trail is gaurded by a hillclimb called Big Ugly. I can't count how many broken Jeeps and rollovers I've seen on this hill in the last ten years. I personally have tried to climb it with four different built Jeeps, and have never made it without winch assist. I have only seen one "jeep" make it without winching, but have seen a number of competition rock buggies go over the top.

We made it this far without using the winch on the Rhino, which is as far as I've ever made it with a Jeep.

Warn winch to the rescue once again.

 

[3TV]

Up and over the top.

Overall I'm very happy with the Pro Armor bumper and Warn winch combo. Together they make my Rhino far more capable than it has been in the past. I would highly recommend them to anyone that uses their Rhino where a winch is necessary.

3TV

 

[GRIZZLYWIZARD]

Very good writeup! ;;t;;

 

[BATTLEGUN]

3T That Rhino is just sick and that bumper really sets it off. One great write up on it as well. It's great to have a write up with pictures to help tell the story.

:coolpics:

 

[1Bad1000Xxc]

Great pics and a great writeup 3TV. I actually like that bumper more than the one you took of when you put it on a diet.

Buster

 

[BATTLEGUN]

I really wish they would make something like this for the grizz! Can you tell me how it bolts up? Measurements maybe? Wondering if a welder and some scrap metal could make this a possibility?

 

[3TV]

The Pro Armor bumper bolts to the frame in the OEM bumper mount locations. There are L-shaped pieces welded to the ends of both the upper and lower tubes. The upper L-shaped bracket has a bolt that goes into the frame from the center, and the nut is underneath the Elka remote reservoir in this picture. The lower L-shaped bracket has a bolt that goes down through from the top, and a nut underneath the frame keeps it in place.

There are mounting tabs welded to the upper tubes of the Pro Armor bumper that a winch mounting plate bolts to. The winch mounting plate has two sets of holes in it, one that fit the smaller (<4.0) winches, and another set that fit the 4.0 winches. The winch just bolts to the bottom side of the winch mounting plate. Pro Armor has two different skid plates for the front of the bumper, with the only difference in them being the size of the hole in the center of the skid plate. The hole is shaped like a shield, because that is Pro Armor's emblem, but the winch compatible skid plate has a big enough hole that the fairlead fits through it.

3TV

 

[3TV]

This is the exact same bumper, but without the winch mounted to it, and with the non-winch version of the skid plate.

 

[1Bad1000Xxc]

Man, that's a hell of a dip job on those plastics. :headbang:

 

[Koko]

Absolutley gorgeous machines/scenery/and pictures!

 

[BATTLEGUN]

The Pro Armor bumper bolts to the frame in the OEM bumper mount locations. There are L-shaped pieces welded to the ends of both the upper and lower tubes. The upper L-shaped bracket has a bolt that goes into the frame from the center, and the nut is underneath the Elka remote reservoir in this picture. The lower L-shaped bracket has a bolt that goes down through from the top, and a nut underneath the frame keeps it in place.

There are mounting tabs welded to the upper tubes of the Pro Armor bumper that a winch mounting plate bolts to. The winch mounting plate has two sets of holes in it, one that fit the smaller (<4.0) winches, and another set that fit the 4.0 winches. The winch just bolts to the bottom side of the winch mounting plate. Pro Armor has two different skid plates for the front of the bumper, with the only difference in them being the size of the hole in the center of the skid plate. The hole is shaped like a shield, because that is Pro Armor's emblem, but the winch compatible skid plate has a big enough hole that the fairlead fits through it.

3TV

Wow...looking at that I don't see how it would ever work on my Grizz. BUT all hope is not lost. That is so simple in design, but very hot! Once I get my quad back together and ride the living crap out of it, I just may start fabricating my next mod. :toothy10:

 

[Gunny]

Look'in Good Billy Ray !!!! ........ ;;t;; :icon_thumleft: ;;t;;


Later ...
:headbang: