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Topic: Detours backbone System install

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firehawk
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Detours backbone System install
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The Backbone is supposed to be here Monday, so I stripped off everything on the front end today.  Mark at Detours had to extend the d-ring mounts out to clear the WP bumper as it extends out 2" further than a stock bumper.  I've got all the steeringbox bolts broke free, so the install should be pretty easy... I hope.evileye



I will post up more pics as the install goes along.

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Chris99XJ
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well i cant wait for pic's cause i dont even know what this backbone system is. But im sure it is nice

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BL_cherokee
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I am very interested to see the back bone on an aftermarket bumper

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firehawk
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Chris99XJ wrote:

well i cant wait for pic's cause i dont even know what this backbone system is. But im sure it is nice




Here is a link to Detours website showing the Backbone.  He's redesigned it some, and some of the pic's show the "older" design.

http://www.detoursusa.com/xjbackbone.php

 



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firehawk
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The Backbone and winch arrived today.rofl.gif  I can't really do much of a write up on it.  The Backbone took about 30 minutes to bolt up.  Everything lined up perfectly, and came with all the hardware needed to bolt it up.thumbsup.gif  You simply tilt the front down to allow the brackets to clear the fender braces, slide it back and install the bolts.  I will have to take a die grinder and carbide burr to the two holes on the frame on the passenger side that take the two 1/2-13 bolts to remove some sheet metal that is blocking about half the hole.confused.gif 

Here is the Backbone bolted up.


Here it is with the winch mounted up.  Only problem I had with any of the install was with the two front square nuts that are used to bolt the winch down. I had to grind one edge down some to allow it to go back into the slot in the winch far enough to screw the bolt in.  The back two were fine.confused.gif


I had added a pair of angles that tie the frame and the radiator support together.  The 3/8" bolts supplied with the Backbone are not long enough, so I will have to get some longer bolts.  No fault of Detours.

If you don't want, or want to spend the cash on a winch bumper, THIS is the way to go.  Hat's off to Mark at Detours!thumbsup.gif



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aci4369
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Looking very good.  So all the pics right now are just with the back bone on right??? Are you going to add a bumper or just leave it like it is?

-- Edited by aci4369 on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 01:31:07 PM

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firehawk
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aci4369 wrote:

Looking very good.  So all the pics right now are just with the back bone on right??? Are you going to add a bumper or just leave it like it is?

-- Edited by aci4369 on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 01:31:07 PM




I will reuse the WP bumper I have now.  I'm in the process cutting the brushguard off, and will have to cut some of the top off to fit with the Backbone.  I think I can use the mounts that are on the bumper, but will have to cut some welds and bend the mounts out and reweld them.

 



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Chris99XJ
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Oh, I see now
Sweet, That look's cool

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threeEs99
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Thats a massive winch. What pull is it?

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firehawk
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threeEs99 wrote:

Thats a massive winch. What pull is it?




It's an 8000# winch.  The pic's make it look bigger than it really is.

As soon as I can, I'm going to ditch the wire cable and get a synthetic rope.  That way I can get rid of the roller fairlead too.

 



-- Edited by firehawk on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 09:12:50 PM

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firehawk
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Another update.smile.gif

I got the bumper rough cut out today. Needs a little more trimmed here and there but this is what it will look like. I'm going to cut the mounts off, move them out
1/4" or 5/16" and reweld them. I want to be able to mount everything up this weekend to make sure it all fits before I get the bumper sandblasted.




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threeEs99
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I was looking at getting the backbone a while ago. After seeing it on yours it may make its way back on the to do list.

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bmyohn
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looks good. are you planning on rewelding the d-ring mounts back to the original bumper to make it a little stronger?

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firehawk
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bmyohn wrote:

looks good. are you planning on rewelding the d-ring mounts back to the original bumper to make it a little stronger?




No, the Backbone has it's own d-ring mounts.  I'm considering welding a piece of angle to the back of the center part of the bumper to help stiffen it.  It really doesn't need it though.  The bumper is made from 3/16" steel, and the ends are supported at the same place they were before.  The WP bumper is not a HD bumper anyway like some others are.  I knew that when I bought it, I just liked the looks.


UPDATE:
The WP bumper is on!party0031.gif Everything is mounted up for the time being. I still need to do some minor cutting, and straightening up of a couple of the cuts.

I cut the bumper mounts off and rewelded them on this afternoon. I sanded down some of the powdercoat that peeled up from the heat and rattled canned the bare metal for now. Dosen't look too bad. When we send some parts at work to be sandblasted I will take the bumper off and sent it with them. Soon I expect.

Bummer is my daughter has the digital camera with her in Florida, so unless I can find an SD card reader for the other camera, I won't be able to post up any pic's until next week.brickwall.gif

IMHO, it does look good!rotfl2.gif

 



-- Edited by firehawk on Friday 27th of March 2009 08:01:37 PM

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firehawk
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Here it is all mounted up.



All that's left to do is some minor work on the cutouts on the bumper, get it sandblasted and repainted.

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