As has been discussed in some of the tow hook and sump protection threads many of us would like some sort of prerunner to protect the bottom of the radiator, ACC camera, washer bottles and QL compressor that are exposed when the front airdam is removed. Here is a pic of what is being exposed when the airdam is off:
The Rocky Road Outfitters pre-runner looks like a good start, but it has some drawbacks. It requires the winch mount to be installed, it doesn't cover the washbottle and compressor, it doesn't make provision for the ACC (I guess you could just disconnect it), and it looks a bit messy.
Ideally the pre-runner would integrate with tow hooks, Chief products is working on something along this line.
Bill said:
We've got 2 products in development to protect this area of the WK2. One sits behind the air dam, for WK2 owners that like to keep the stock look, but still have protection for this vital area when they remove the front air dam. The second is a replacement for the front air dam, similar to your mockup. I'm hoping to have some more information available for everyone in a month or so, once we've finished the launch of the website.
Here is an idea I came up with, I thought it could be secured to the tow hooks (maybe replacing one of the mounting plates or attaching to the middle plate in some way), and with the same screws securing the leading edge of the sump plate.
I quite like the idea they used on the Compass True North concept, so it is inspired by this:
Alright, got bored again, and was thinking about airflow, and changing the angle so there isn't too much upward effect on the aero. Here's what I came up with. Not exactly what I had in mind, but best I could do with photoshop. The idea is a squarer cross member, then run a hoop square up from that which contains mesh and the hooks. It could also be cut out for the ACC camera to pop out of, then some sort of pressed/molded steel plate under the cross member to the sump plate for protection.....
Yeah, I like the mesh part, but not sure about the cross-member arrangement.... I might go back to the original one and see if I can work some sort of mesh air flow arrangement into that....
Problem is that there isnt enough approach angle which i think should be more put into consideration because if you have a high enough angle you wont need heavy duty protection because nothing will hit the front so you are secure both ways.. but the way i see it.. both of your arrangments are very close to the stock air dam
I don't think so, the first arrangement opens up far better approach angle infront of the wheels, and the angle provides a fair bit more clearance at the front. It will depend if you decided to install it infront or behind the lip of the upper bumper, if you wanted to set it back behind the lip, again you would improve your clearance by a fair margin. But where ever you set the bar, it is approx 45 degrees from the approach line, compared to the original 34 degrees.
I don't think so, the first arrangement opens up far better approach angle infront of the wheels, and the angle provides a fair bit more clearance at the front. It will depend if you decided to install it infront or behind the lip of the upper bumper, if you wanted to set it back behind the lip, again you would improve your clearance by a fair margin. But where ever you set the bar, it is approx 45 degrees from the approach line, compared to the original 34 degrees.
Well i plan on throwing that useless airdam and i have the 2012 so the shape before that another question is will it protect the air suspension computer and the washer bottle
The earlier bumper shape sits a bit lower, I'm not sure what Bill has planned, but I thought that you could adjust the height at the mounting point to sit a bit lower or higher, depending on the model year.
The idea of the pre-runner is to protect the air suspension compressor and washer bottle. Rocky Road do a pre-runner, but it doesn't cover these parts.
How about this for an idea... fabricating a shorter washer bottle this one is too big anyway and finding a safer well cooled place to relocate the air spring computer then youd have easier designs for the bottom part all together and ypu can simply make an upper angled plate like the ones on wranglers to open the entire space infront of the tire.. and in the middle you put a prerunner plate
I'm guessing they are all US models? No number plates (except on one) and even that one wont pass or laws for being displayed correctly. How else can our Government extract money from you ( errr save lives) unless they can read your plate ?
We've completed initial design and engineering for the WK2 Lower Front Guard and I'm expecting a prototype in the next 7 days or so. If everything looks good, I'll start a new thread with some further information (and photos) so everyone can follow the progress up until release.
The WK2 Lower Front Guard is not a replacement for the front air dam. It will bolt on behind the front air dam and provide full protection for all of the critical components behind the front air dam - lower radiator, windshield washer bottle, suspension controller & ACC Camera. It was designed to provide protection for these components off-road while maintaing the stock appearance of the WK2 on-road. This means removal of the OEM front air dam for off-road use will still be recommended.
We are also working on something we call the WK2 Pre-Runner. This is designed as a replacement for the OEM front air dam, but is taking a bit longer to complete considering it must accommodate numerous other design challenges, (i.e. ADR compliance, parkings sensors, ACC Camera, aerodynamics, visual styling, etc.). I'm committed to developing a prototype of this product, but I still have some concerns about commercial viability. I believe many WK2 owners interested in off-roading will choose the traditional Bull Bar, or if they prefer to maintain the OEM look, will choose the WK2 Lower Front Guard. I'm not sure how many will fall somewhere in between. Having said that... somewhere in between might be the sweet spot many WK2 owners are waiting for. I'm still conducting market research to make my final determination.
I'll be creating threads with further information for the WK2 Lower Front Guard & WK2 Pre-Runner soon. For now, if you want to register your interest, you can go to the product pages we've setup on Chief Products website and enter your email address.
The WK2 Lower Front Guard is not a replacement for the front air dam. It will bolt on behind the front air dam and provide full protection for all of the critical components behind the front air dam - lower radiator, windshield washer bottle, suspension controller & ACC Camera. It was designed to provide protection for these components off-road while maintaing the stock appearance of the WK2 on-road. This means removal of the OEM front air dam for off-road use will still be recommended.
I think this would be perfect. To have the vitals protected and still keep the original look by being able to put the airdam back on afterwards would be great.
My latest effort on this idea, still not sure what Bill will come up with, I'll look at that, but if it doesn't work for me I'll probably be looking at getting something fabricated toward the end of the year.
I'd probably powder coat it black, and fit mesh to the inside of the bar to protect the radiator, and maybe a small plate to close off the bottom to the cross-member below the radiator.
Mounting it while retaining the hooks is the challenge. But if I can get a mounting bracket made up that allows adjustment of depth, it could be fitted as a nudge bar with the air dam on, then slide it back 50mm with the air dam off, maximising the approach angle. Also got to check it doesn't interfere with parking sensors....
I don't think anyone "interested in off-roading" would entertain the thought of removing the lower dam when heading off road unless what's underneath would keep you out of trouble with Mr. Plod. The reason is that you can't practically carry the lower dam, so you've got to leave it at home. Therefore, on the highway between home and the off-road bit, you'll be driving a pig ugly car which in all likelihood will not be presenting a frontal profile acceptable for road use. If you could swing it, great... but I can't see it being possible. It's going to be pointy and simply non-compliant without the plastic over it.
Personally, I believe that if you want to capture the off-road market who don't want to obscure the upper frontal styling of the car, you'd be best directing your resources to designing a hornbag looking lower dam replacement.
I've had the thought to call ARB to see if they'll do one of their bars without the hoops... "Sahara Bar" style.
Yep, but I see something like this as visually acceptable, as it fills the hole left after removing the airdam, and protects what's under it.
You will still have the edge of the upper bumper exposed, I was thinking of running some rubber edging around that to hide it.
I really like the saguaro bumpers on the WH, but I don't think it will work so well on the wk2. The uneek bar on the MY13 looked good with a single hoop, but I'm not a fan of the MY14 version. I think a nudge bar would work, if you can recess it back where the airdam sits, so that approach in improved. You could fit it after removing the air dam for a trip, or if you can get the mount to extend a bit, it may also fit over the airdam when not going on a trip.....
Or I might give up on the idea and get the uneek bar....?
Mark Yaxley is there ever going to be a nudge bar ( not full bulbar) for WK2 that has a plate that protects the washer bottle? I need somewhere to hang lights & also need to protect my washer bottle & don't want or need a full bar. If you can make 1 I reckon you will sell heaps...I definitely will get one
I honestly believe that there's a commercial level of demand. It's a good looking vehicle, but exposed to damage if you try to explore its quite reasonable potential. Many of us fit or option in ~$1k of underbody protection, and I think that virtually everyone who's done that and isn't fitting a bull bar will at least want a Jeep Garage spec Armoured Airdamn.
I'm sticking with the additional "n" damn it.
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