TJM T17 Front Bar fitted to my KK

[btalyor218]

After seeing PommieDownUnder's KK with a TJM bar in other threads, I thought I would have a go at fitting one of these bars to my own KK. (Also, TJM's in NSW aren't as accomodating as those in QLD :D so I had to do it myself, or go on a road trip...)

I thought I'd take a few photos, and give a brief rundown on my experience, so that others could see what I did and maybe build up the courage to also have a go.

I was lucky enough to find a bar on Ebay for $399
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-d.ak/hphotos-ak-ash3/40245_426614803964_1309510_n.jpg

First of all, I had to remove the original bumper, as decribed in this thread from Diggerfreek on Lost KJ's

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=41683

https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-c.ak/hphotos-ak-prn1/40525_426614993964_2066121_n.jpg

Then I had to slighty modify the mounting bracket. It would appear that the chassis rails are the same width as a KJ, as there was very little modification needed.
This is what it looked like before and after - just had to remove about 100mm with the grinder, and leave a space for the tubes to the Automatic fluid cooler;
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-h.ak/hphotos-ak-prn1/40525_426614998964_1461419_n.jpghttps://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-b.ak/hphotos-ak-ash3/40525_426615003964_4188859_n.jpg

Then I got to fitting and drilling the holes. There are 4 underneath on each side, and 2 on top. the front 2 holes underneath were already there, I just had to widen them slightly.
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-d.ak/hphotos-ak-prn1/40525_426615008964_6257369_n.jpg
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-f.ak/hphotos-ak-prn1/44471_426615083964_8186952_n.jpg

Once the holes were driled, the bracket was fitted!
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-g.ak/hphotos-ak-ash3/44471_426615088964_2541316_n.jpg

Then, the bar was fitted, and I trimmed the side fenders with a grinder (Carefully:cool:) and cut the black splash guards.
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-a.ak/hphotos-ak-ash3/45027_426624548964_6055632_n.jpg

I then mucked around cutting the original bumpers, to fill the remaining gaps, and re-intall the factory indicators. I managed to keep it in 1 piece :mrgreen: and finished it off with some rubber capping from Clark Rubber.
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-c.ak/hphotos-ak-ash3/44471_426615098964_1894005_n.jpg

Then I wired up the lights, and this is the final product!
https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-g.ak/hphotos-ak-ash3/40059_426624563964_8010206_n.jpg

All up, it took a day and half to complete. I'm stoked with the finished product, and even more chuffed because I saved heaps of money on the bar itself, plus a good $500 on installation by doing it myself.

Next job = A nice pair of spot lights for that new bar!! :p

Ben.T

[Gi Frog]

Hi All,
Nice buy good fit looks good.
Cheers
Gi frog

[Arrow]

Great job, Looks good. If I was going to keep my KK I would fit one of these. I would try and fit the driving lights in the gap left from the front guards just for something different or fit one of those new LED light bars to the flat light mount.

[Wazzajeep]

That looks fantastic! Would you be able to post a photo from underneath showing the bar mount and where the cooler lines are now running.

Cheers

[btalyor218]

Thanks guys,

Here is a photo from underneath (the best I could do, anyway)

You can see the 4 bolts on the left chassis rail, the same is on the right
The automatic cooler lines tuck back into position where they were located before.

https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-b.ak/hphotos-ak-prn1/44413_427254538964_6083007_n.jpg

If you'd like any more pics, just let me know, and I'll do my best to provide.

Ben.T

[Wazzajeep]

Ben,

Thanks for the picture, just what I needed.

Cheers

[MtnLuvr]

Good posting and good looking KK Ben.

Do you feel like the mounting weldment blocks off airflow to the bottom of the radiator and the power steering cooler? It kind of looks that way in the photo from below.

[btalyor218]

Do you feel like the mounting weldment blocks off airflow to the bottom of the radiator and the power steering cooler? It kind of looks that way in the photo from below

It deffinately doesn't have the exposure that it had before, but it still gets good circulation from the 2 ventilation holes either side of the licence plate.

One beneficial thing is the protection it now has. I was always worried that I was going to rip the factory nose off and do some damage to the radiator & power steering cooler when I'm whipping around on the sand dunes, but it now has some solid protection - so I can dune away with some confidence :)

[kitrino_tj]

it looks pretty good, well done for doing it yourself

[Bryan]

I called TJM and they don't make the T17 bar for the KJ any more even though its still listed on their online Jeep catalogue.

Took a chance & tried Ebay, as luck would have they still had one left which I ordered. I'll try and fit over the Christmas break because even with the detailed "How to", I'm still useless when it comes to working with my hands so it will more than likely take me 3 days or more.

Either that or quickly makes friends with someone with panel beating knowledge.:D

[btalyor218]

I just installed my XMAS present..... A 9500kg winch :p

It's only a cheap chinese one from Super Cheap Auto, but for what I'll need it for and the amount of times I'll need to use it, it should be OK.
I suppose for $368, what do you expect? ;)

https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-d.ak/hphotos-ak-prn1/162868_487575143964_5690725_n.jpg

https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-f.ak/hphotos-ak-snc6/165394_487575718964_3093441_n.jpg

It was quite easy to install, as the bar was 'winch ready'.

It's starting to look quite beasty :0=
Can't wait to see it after I get it lifted & change the rubber....

Ben.T

[Bryan]

It looks great Ben.

I'll take some pics of my roo bar & post it up. I need to figure out how to wire up the bar indicators without starting a fire:D. I also just finished installing the two way and surprise, surprise it works.

I got my lift kit from CRD STU and I'm very happy with it.

Once again many thanks for your invaluable advice.

[CRDSTU]

Mr T that looks great!!

Well done with the self install.

Lift time :cool:

[VladKK]

Nice work Ben, but yeat I agree, it's time for a lift now and some descent muddies. :cool: :D

[Nemesis]

that looks fantastic :)

[glend]

It deffinately doesn't have the exposure that it had before, but it still gets good circulation from the 2 'high lift jack' holes either side of the licence plate. :)

Just so someone doesn't actually try to use a high lift jack on that bar and maybe kill themselves....

Those are Not "high lift jack" holes. That bar is aluminium and you cannot use a high lift jack on that bar. The holes in the front of the steel carrier are for the fairlead mount. The large recangular cutouts in the face of the bar (either side of the winch fairlead knock out section) are for ventilation, or possibly fog light mounting but are not a rated jack point. You could possibly weld a steel plate onto the steel carrier that could be used for a high lift jack point (with the appropriate bracing and cutout).

[btalyor218]

Just so someone doesn't actually try to use a high lift jack on that bar and maybe kill themselves....

Those are Not "high lift jack" holes. That bar is aluminium and you cannot use a high lift jack on that bar. The holes in the front of the steel carrier are for the fairlead mount. The large recangular cutouts in the face of the bar (either side of the winch fairlead knock out section) are for ventilation, or possibly fog light mounting but are not a rated jack point. You could possibly weld a steel plate onto the steel carrier that could be used for a high lift jack point (with the appropriate bracing and cutout).

Glend,

Thanks for pointing that out.

I thought I read somewhere on the net that they were points designed for high lift jacks...

If they were designed for ventilation, it'll explain why the ventilation is still good after installation ;)

I've also edited the original post, in case someone doesn't read the entire thread.

Ben.T

[Big Dave]

Just spotted this on Ebay for anyone who is interested in doing the same thing. I know they are hard to come by. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TJM-Jeep-Cherokee-KJ-Alloy-Bullbar-2006-onwards-/320756069740?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aae8d356c

[CibbyDoc]

Glend,

Thanks for pointing that out.

I thought I read somewhere on the net that they were points designed for high lift jacks...

If they were designed for ventilation, it'll explain why the ventilation is still good after installation ;)

I've also edited the original post, in case someone doesn't read the entire thread.

Ben.T

Ni Ben,

Saw you car at the Mall yesterday. That bar look very impressive indeed

Cheers Doc

[btalyor218]

Ni Ben,

Saw you car at the Mall yesterday. That bar look very impressive indeed

Cheers Doc

Thanks Doc! Was it you that left the note asking about the Transformers Badges?

[CibbyDoc]

No mate, not me...but now that you mention it my son would be really keen to know?

PS that bar looks great with the RED of the jeep.

[VladKK]

Did they fix your bar up properly Ben? Usually with these alloy bars you shouldn't be able to see anything if done properly. :)

Cheers Vlad... :D

[btalyor218]

Doc, the Transformer badges are from eBay. Look up 'Autobot Badge' and heaps of them will show up. Last week someone left a note on the windscreen asking me where I got them from.

Vlad, the bar has come up a TREAT!!! :) It was fixed by the bullbar centre in Blacktown, and came up looking like a brand new one!

[VladKK]

Vlad, the bar has come up a TREAT!!! :) It was fixed by the bullbar centre in Blacktown, and came up looking like a brand new one!

Glad to hear it mate, I guess all you need now is that snorkel that's just about finished... lol

Cheers Vlad... :D

[CibbyDoc]

Vlad you know better than anyone........ ITS NEVER FINISHED!

Accept for when the wife say's it is.

[VladKK]

Vlad you know better than anyone........ ITS NEVER FINISHED!

Accept for when the wife say's it is.

hahaha yeah very true that! :cool:

[Fouros]

they fit on pre facelift KJ's as Well ;)

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=93&t=39550

[glend]

I see there is another TJM bar for sale on ebay spotted by the KJ guys here:

http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109146

Ideal for a KK as shown in this thread.

I know this bar, it was sent to me and I returned it because it was damaged. So if you can fix it there is a good buy there for you.

[jackaroo100]

Hi
The bar & Winch looks fantastic, I emailed the photo of your bar to TJM perth, they contacted TJM's headoffice in Eastern states, & stated that above bar is designed for Jeep wrangler & I could have issues with Air bag deployment.
As a result I still have not got the bar yet. ECB in Perth does Roo bars , but for KK looks very below ordinary & is not winch compatible.

[Bryan]

I've done mine, closely following Ben's pics and instructions, but I can't seem to get a professional looking fitting with the rubber trim.