Removing bumpers

[Lost Jimny]

Hi Guys,

I have an 04 Jimny with airbags and i am looking at removing the front bumper permanently so i can relocate my recovery points.
First question is it legal to drive around without the front bumper? i.e. will it get a warrant?
And what effect will this have offroad?
I have done some googling on this but with limited success.

Nick

[mudbugga]

So long as there is no protruding bits (classes as external projections) that could cause injury, you should be fine.
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/virm- ... or-4a1.pdf

Bumper removal.....
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/virm- ... or-4a1.pdf

see table 2-1-1 (bumper bar removal and change)

That's the latest version of the VIRM as well.

[Lost Jimny]

Heres a photo from a South African forum i found of a Jimny with the bumper removed:

I would assume the beams at the bottom that stick out from the chassis would be classed as protruding (which is actually where i wanted to put my recovery points).
I guess thats a no-go then.

[mudbugga]

It wouldn't take much to make a bar to cover the chassis ends.

Most Jimny's I've seen have had the tow points added and the bumper is still on.

Found this.......
http://www.offroad-armory.com/jimny.html

[benorange]

you will prob find if you have air bags you wont be able to take bumper off due to frontal impact laws. you will have to get a airbag rated front bar eg arb. if you make your own you have to get it tested and that includes putting it through a crash test to make sure you airbags go off. this means then you have to fix all damage to truck as well

[Lost Jimny]

I pulled the bumper off and had a look. My bumper consisted of 2 parts. By removing the small part of the bumper underneath it just reveals the chassis inside but is still covered entirely by the bumper and nothing is protruding. I think this will be all good. The wife even got pulled over today for a licence, warrant and registration check and the cop had no issues with it. I will post photos when i have a chance.

The next plan is bolt the recovery point directly to the chassis. But of course things are never that simple. The bolts that come with the tow hooks are not long enough.

So, where can i get decent high tensile bolts from in Christchurch?

And is there a certain/minimum grade they should be?

[mudbugga]

Blacks Fasteners, Paykels, Fastening Supplies, George Henry's.
Any engineering supply store.

Best to get the highest rated bolts you can (10 or 12 if you can)

(edit: If you plan to put the bolts through the entire chassis width, put some crush tubes in there first.)