HAYNES OFFROAD
aka Wreckless
Well after much waiting (and months of pre-production teasing from Jeff), I finally have my Baja V2 installed! Of course, I couldnt leave well enough alone, and had to put my own ideas into the bumper as well.
So im sharing.
Starting with, I had SVC weld ALL of the platework. When i say all, i mean every single inch of the platework seams were welded. Even though i like the "stiched" look, i was afraid of road salt, rocks, sand etc... getting trapped in-between and eating away at the finish. Needless to say, after welding a mile long worth of seams, SVC's welder wasnt too thrilled.
Next, I HAD to have some flush mount lights. This bumper just screams clean lines, and i did not want to ruin that with some lights dangling off the sides or underneath. Well there in lies a problem, dually sized flush mounts will not fit between the top and bottom tubes. So after some research, I found and decided upon Baja Designs S2 lineup, which includes a flush mount version. So i got 2- S2 amber driving beam ordered, along with a dual light harness, 2 flood lenses to swap out, and a set of clear lenses.
After painfully waiting 2 days for the UPS man to deliver my lights, I finally got them in, and unboxed them. WOW, these things are tiny! Down to buisness, I immediatly got to work tearing the lights down to swap out a optic, now each light has 1 flood and 1 spot, with a amber lens (got the clears just in case i didnt like the ambers for everyday). Swapping lenses and optics are super easy, and i am really sold on the UService system from Baja Designs, 1 light can be transformed into whatever you may need down the road. Turns out this beam combo is perfect, but more on that later....
Now to get these bad boys into the bumper. Which requires cutting into this brand new, perfectly good bumper. Masking tape is your friend, and you'll see me using quite a bit of it throughout the entire install. Tape helps to protect your working surface, and makes for easy pencil lines. I usually aire on the side of caution, and tend to use tooo much tape haha. Baja Designs includes a template, which is close, but i found i needed to take out a little more material to get them to fit proper. Otherwise install was perfect.
Awesome, perfect fit and look. Now, where to mount the plate!? With the lights mounted, theres no room between the hitch and lights to mount it. Hmmmmm.... Hitch mount? Naaa, too much hassle when you need to use the hitch. What about mounting all the way to the side on the tubing ends? Nope. What about V1 style? Boom, idea. ordered needed parts and wait another painful 2 days for UPS man.
Yessss... Delivery.... initial mock up looks good and should function well. Just need to mount it without a big ugly bracket. No problem. Bent up some flat stock, painted it, and bolted it to back plating.
Awesome, now to install on the truck.
Start by unhooking all wiring harnesses, sensors, plate lights etc...
Then loosen and unbolt oem bumper. 3 bolts on each side. A extra pair of hands to help lift the bumper is good idea. I, of course, iron man'd the entire install.
With the SVC Baja bumpers you will need to cut the rear frame mounts, as they only use 2 of the 3 mounting holes. Not a big deal. Tape it off, draw your line, and your set. I cut mine to look as factory, and as smooth as possible.
SAFTEY FIRST! If you dont have a sheild, buy one, theyre like $10. Seriously. Do it. Gloves help too.
Cut the mounts down, and round of the edges to rid of any burrs and give a smooth look and feel. Prime, and paint.
Now time for the dovetail. Tape off area, and start tracing your desired lines. Leave about 1/2" behind the fender to fit weather stripping.
You know you go hard when you got rocks lodged in your tail light!
Cut your line, only 1 layer to cut through, except for boxed end toward tailgate, which you can see when you look under. Touch up paint the bare metal, and affix weather stripping. I used a bead of silicone for extra weather protection.
Woo hoo, time to mount the bumper!
I am 110% happy with the outcome. Turns the raptor rear end from street truck to baja inspired. the amber lights work exellently As area flood and dust/fog marker lights And show up extremely well on the back up camera.
Special thanks to the guys @svc, and BajaDesigns for making those awesome little buggers.
-Joseph Haynes
So im sharing.
Starting with, I had SVC weld ALL of the platework. When i say all, i mean every single inch of the platework seams were welded. Even though i like the "stiched" look, i was afraid of road salt, rocks, sand etc... getting trapped in-between and eating away at the finish. Needless to say, after welding a mile long worth of seams, SVC's welder wasnt too thrilled.
Next, I HAD to have some flush mount lights. This bumper just screams clean lines, and i did not want to ruin that with some lights dangling off the sides or underneath. Well there in lies a problem, dually sized flush mounts will not fit between the top and bottom tubes. So after some research, I found and decided upon Baja Designs S2 lineup, which includes a flush mount version. So i got 2- S2 amber driving beam ordered, along with a dual light harness, 2 flood lenses to swap out, and a set of clear lenses.
After painfully waiting 2 days for the UPS man to deliver my lights, I finally got them in, and unboxed them. WOW, these things are tiny! Down to buisness, I immediatly got to work tearing the lights down to swap out a optic, now each light has 1 flood and 1 spot, with a amber lens (got the clears just in case i didnt like the ambers for everyday). Swapping lenses and optics are super easy, and i am really sold on the UService system from Baja Designs, 1 light can be transformed into whatever you may need down the road. Turns out this beam combo is perfect, but more on that later....
Now to get these bad boys into the bumper. Which requires cutting into this brand new, perfectly good bumper. Masking tape is your friend, and you'll see me using quite a bit of it throughout the entire install. Tape helps to protect your working surface, and makes for easy pencil lines. I usually aire on the side of caution, and tend to use tooo much tape haha. Baja Designs includes a template, which is close, but i found i needed to take out a little more material to get them to fit proper. Otherwise install was perfect.
Awesome, perfect fit and look. Now, where to mount the plate!? With the lights mounted, theres no room between the hitch and lights to mount it. Hmmmmm.... Hitch mount? Naaa, too much hassle when you need to use the hitch. What about mounting all the way to the side on the tubing ends? Nope. What about V1 style? Boom, idea. ordered needed parts and wait another painful 2 days for UPS man.
Yessss... Delivery.... initial mock up looks good and should function well. Just need to mount it without a big ugly bracket. No problem. Bent up some flat stock, painted it, and bolted it to back plating.
Awesome, now to install on the truck.
Start by unhooking all wiring harnesses, sensors, plate lights etc...
Then loosen and unbolt oem bumper. 3 bolts on each side. A extra pair of hands to help lift the bumper is good idea. I, of course, iron man'd the entire install.
With the SVC Baja bumpers you will need to cut the rear frame mounts, as they only use 2 of the 3 mounting holes. Not a big deal. Tape it off, draw your line, and your set. I cut mine to look as factory, and as smooth as possible.
SAFTEY FIRST! If you dont have a sheild, buy one, theyre like $10. Seriously. Do it. Gloves help too.
Cut the mounts down, and round of the edges to rid of any burrs and give a smooth look and feel. Prime, and paint.
Now time for the dovetail. Tape off area, and start tracing your desired lines. Leave about 1/2" behind the fender to fit weather stripping.
You know you go hard when you got rocks lodged in your tail light!
Cut your line, only 1 layer to cut through, except for boxed end toward tailgate, which you can see when you look under. Touch up paint the bare metal, and affix weather stripping. I used a bead of silicone for extra weather protection.
Woo hoo, time to mount the bumper!
I am 110% happy with the outcome. Turns the raptor rear end from street truck to baja inspired. the amber lights work exellently As area flood and dust/fog marker lights And show up extremely well on the back up camera.
Special thanks to the guys @svc, and BajaDesigns for making those awesome little buggers.
-Joseph Haynes
