ARB Bondi Deluxe Bumper Install

[APTOutdoors]

THANK YOU! I have this bumper on the way for my JTR. Will be installing a Smittybilt X20 Gen 2-S - pulling it from my landrover. Am debating whether to leave the factory LED fogs in the plastic rubicon bumper and sell it as a whole unit - otherwise I don;t think there is much resale value in a plastic rubicon bumper with no fogs... any thoughts? What did you do with your factory bumper?

I just moved my fogs over to the new bumper. I think you're probably right on the resale value of the bumper itself with fogs, but most folks looking to buy a secondhand stock bumper were either in a wreck or looking to transfer their fancy bumper somewhere else.

Sponsored

 

[OC4X4]

Just installed mine. Can anyone tell me if I can add Steel shackles to the red recovery points?

 

[syreeves]

Just installed mine. Can anyone tell me if I can add Steel shackles to the red recovery points?

I think you can hang them. Some people would say you don't need them for normal driving. But - rubber isolators.... then the response is a screaming chorus of mall crawler hate.

I don't plan to have anything hanging there for daily driving b/c theft and rubbing eventually creates rust. But that is my $0.02...

 

[jtrubi21]

@APTOutdoors I recently installed the ARB Deluxe Bondi Bumper on by JT Rubicon 2021 but wasn't able to install the two inner screws on each side that mount the bumper to the chassis. HOW did you manage to do that lol??? My ratchets just won't fit in that tight space in between the bumper and all the steering components!!!

 

[APTOutdoors]

@APTOutdoors I recently installed the ARB Deluxe Bondi Bumper on by JT Rubicon 2021 but wasn't able to install the two inner screws on each side that mount the bumper to the chassis. HOW did you manage to do that lol??? My ratchets just won't fit in that tight space in between the bumper and all the steering components!!!

I used a ratcheting box wrench for the really tight areas. Most bolts I was able to hand fit blind while laying under the bumper having two friends hold it into place. Once I had bolts begin to index and thread I could get a regular ratchet or ratcheting box wrench on the heads and tighten them down. Definitely a pain in the ass but not undoable. Lowes has Kobalt brand ratcheting wrenches cheap, and I've needed them for similar situations on my Wagoneer.

 

[jtrubi21]

@APTOutdoors Omg that's a great idea, thanks a lot man!!!

 

[Gadgetech]

I’m considering this bumper however space in my garage is pretty tight. Would someone mind measuring the distance from the grill to the farthest point forward on the Bondi? The factory plastic bumper appears to be around 10.5” deep (don’t go by my camera angle ?).

 

[syreeves]

Thanks again for the build info - my Bondi Deluxe finally arrived and I am sending it out for Rhino Lining on the outward surfaces. I don't rock crawl so I'm not worried about hanging up and sticking from a rock. I'm more worried about corrosion from ordinary woodland abrasions and our annual salt bath up here in Minnesota. I have to say this thing is BEEFY - and I love how they pulled the tube through the bumper. Hope to have this on over Labor Day weekend - got my winch (SB 10K X20 gen 2 synthetic) and my DD SS3 Pros in yellow. That's going to take some work I suspect but I hope I got the right brackets. Also having my RH 4x4 angled down sliders rhino lined at the same place. Those will go on after I'm done with the bumper.

 

[yrwins]

Got it setup with the arb lights.

 

[JWOOD]

Ok all, I got the Bondi bumper and Zeon 10-S installed today on my Rubicon. With huge thanks to APTOutdoors, the install was mostly as expected. A couple notes to add to APT’s great write up for anyone else who goes down this path.

• The instructions talk about installing the whole bumper without mention of installing the rope/cable on the winch. You need to install the rope BEFORE installing the bumper. There is no way you could install/change a rope with the bumper in place.
• Similarly, if you like the look of the button head screws on the top of the bumper (instead of just holes) you should install those before installing the bumper. They CAN be installed after (as me how I know) but you can imagine the pain of getting the nuts in place.
• Speaking of which, the upper, inner bolt on each side of the chassis plates is hell to get to (the rest are easy) but if you have a variety of socket extension lengths and wrenches it can be done. You have been warned.
• Now, just for you Rubicon owners:
  • You will need to remove the brackets on each since that held the factory steel skid plate, or they will interfere with the ARB bumper. No biggie, but if you are under the car trying to figure out why the damn bumper won’t pull flush to the vehicle you will cuss when you realize this. LOL.
• Finally, in answer to my own question previously in this post, the grille guard does NOT interfere with the trail camera. You cannot see stuff quite as close to the vehicle as when stock, but this is really more due to the winch. Camera still works great.

Again, big thanks to APT for his great write up and pics. Helped me a lot!



Cheers,

Ian

Any possibility that you could snap a picture of the trail cam view? I want to pull the trigger on this bumper but am curious. I like the AEV too with the camera relocation bracket.

Sponsored