PUREJEEP 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler Crawler
Stubby Front Winch Bumper Installation Write-Up

February 22, 2007 wayoflife Bumper Mods, Jeep JK Write-Ups 17

Jeep JK Wrangler PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper

 The PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper was the very first hard core aftermarket front bumper to be released and in my opinion, still one of the very best that is offered in terms of quality and price. It’s clean and simple utilitarian design is exceptionally functional, provides extreme approach angles and is proportionately sized to match the JK’s new broad look. Essentially, it gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t.Unfortunately, I didn’t have a PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper to install myself but thanks to Chris Bader (piginajeep) and the on-going build-up project that 4Wheel Drive Hardware is helping him to do on his Jeep JK Wrangler, I think you’ll find this installation write-up to be complete and contain everything you need to install one on your JK. Of course, because this installation write-up was done as a collaborative effort, you will see that some of the photos taken are of my White JK Rubicon Unlimited and the rest are of Chris’ Rescue Green 2-Door X but aside from that, everything else should be the same.

What You Will Need

• 3/4″ socket
• 18mm socket
• Ratchet
• Torque Wrench – Ft. Lb.
• 12″ Ratchet Drive Extension
• 5/16 Allen Bit or Wrench
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Flathead Screwdriver
• Small Pry Bar
• Needle Nose Pliers 

What You Will Get

(2) Grade 8 Bolts
(8) 18mm Nuts
(8) Washers
(2) Flagged Nuts
(2) Spacers (or 4 Spacers)  

Optional Equipment

(2) PUREJEEP D-Ring Mounts 
   

Instructions
1. Begin the installation of your new PUREJEEP Jeep JK Wrangler Crawler Stubby Front Bumper by unscrewing the 4 plastic screws securing the factory air dam to the bottom of your front bumper. A phillips screwdriver will be needed for this job.
2. Once unscrewed, you should be able to pull out both the plastic screw and insert with little effort but if you find that your screws are just spinning (as several of mine did), you will need to wedge a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar between your JK’s plastic bumper and air dam to help you force it out as shown in this photo.
3. Now, climb under the front of your Jeep JK Wrangler and using a phillips screwdriver, remove the remaining 2 plastic screws securing the air dam to the lower cross member. As before, if these screws just spin in place, use a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar to help you force them out. Your air dam should now be free of your Jeep and it can now be discarded as it will no longer be needed.
4. If your Jeep JK Wrangler came equipped with factory fog lights, climb under the front of your Jeep, look up behind the front bumper, locate the wiring harness plug, lift up the clip and then pull it off as shown in this photo.
5. Using a pair of needle nosepliers, pry off all the fog light wiring harness connectors on the back of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s front bumper.
6. Using an 18mm socket, remove the 4 bumper mounting nuts (2 on each side) located next to the inside of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s frame rails and fog light holes. 7. Using an 18mm socket, remove the 4 bumper mounting nuts (2 on each side) located next to the outside of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s frame rails. 8. Remove the backing plates off the bumper mounting studs as shown in this photo.
9. Carefully pull off your Jeep JK Wrangler’s front bumper off the frame rails. If your JK came equipped with factory tow hooks, grab and use both of them to carefully pull your front bumper off the frame rails.
10. Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the 2 plastic screws securing the top plastic cover in place.
11. Again, if you find these screws to just spin in place, use a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar to help you lift up the cover off the frame rail and force the screw out.
12. With the factory front bumper completely off your Jeep JK Wrangler, it’s time to start installing your new PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper. If you purchased one with a winch plate, begin the installation by lowering the winch plate portion of the bumper between the frame rails so that the leg extensions point down towards the lower cross member and the 8 holes on the vertical face of it line up to the holes on the front of the frame bumper mounts.
13. Loosely secure the leg extensions of the PUREJEEP winch plate to the base of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s frame rails using the flagged nuts and grade 8 bolts provided with the bumper. The nuts have been flagged so that you can slide them up through the bottom of your frame rails and hold them in place while you fasten the bolts to them (see photos above).14. If you purchased the optional D-Ring mounts, place them over the mounting holes on the front face of your PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper and then slip 4 of the supplied allen bolts through both the D-Ring mount and bumper.
15. On the backside of the PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper, slide 2 spacers (1 stacked on top of the other) on to the 4 protruding bolts so that the bumper itself is sandwiched between the D-Ring mounts and the spacers.
16. With the help of a friend, lift up and install the PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper onto your Jeep JK Wrangler frame rail bumper mounts and then secure it loosly in place by fastening the supplied nuts onto the ends of the allen bolts.
17. Using a 5/16″ allen wrench and 3/4″ socket, tighten all 8 PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper mounting bolts to 65-70 ft. lbs. of torque. Then tighten the bolts securing the winch plate lower leg extensions to the base of the frame rails to 65-70 ft. lbs. of torque as well.

That’s it, you’re done. The front of your Jeep JK Wrangler now has the optimum protection you need and is ready to have the winch of your choice installed including the all new WARN PowerPlant.Please let me know if you have any questions.

Additional Photos

 

 

17 Comments

  3. Thanks for the great write-up. I like the look of the factory hooks. Would it be possible to retain them with this installation?

  8. I just Purchased the Warn PowerPlant HP. I should be installing it this weekend! It will fit nicely between the frame rails.

  9. I like the look of this front bumper but I have fog lights and see there are no holes for the fog lights. What is done wiht those for this installation? Could the wires be used for some KC type of lighting?

  11. I’ve got my first jeep. While waiting for my 08Jk to arive I’ve been planning lots of mods. I can’t thank you enough for your reviews they have helped me make decisions which way to go with my upgrades. I just installed one of the purejeep stubbies. I’d like to sugest you make one mod in section 11. The new bolts don’t fit through the top outside holes unless you drill them out. I used a 9/16 drill bit.

    thanks again for your site.

  12. I WANT TO GET A BUMPER WITH A HITCH MOUNT FOR MY 2008 JK .IF I REPLACE MY BUMPER WITH A DIFFERANT ONE WILL THERE BE ANY PROBLEMS FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM?

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