Sweet! Thanks for the feedback and keep it coming. I think both of those bumpers look good. They also both have skid plates. We could make the skid plate a bolt on option, but it would be stronger if it was incorporated into the bumper. Those both also have the crossmember removed, so both are "some fab required". As far as the price of the finished product, I really can't say just yet, but If I can't make great quality product and sell it much cheaper than what's already on the market, I won't sell them at all. We've crunched the numbers, and I believe it's possible.

 

One more thing....do we really like those big honkin', gaudy brush guards?

 

RTE gives you the option of blade or full bar with brush guard. I would say most people that buy winch bars like the brush guard.

 

Most people prefer spending the extra $200-300 for the brush bar over $500+ in damages when they hit something off road

 

I agree that most people think they want the bull bars and brush guards. But they are gaudy and honkin'. The DII is not like a D90. It's not as refined as an LR3/4 but that was definitely the direction LR was going with it. Roof racks, giant plate bumpers, brush guards, and even a winch with a big roller fairlead are a bit anti-thematic. I mean, Connolly leather and winch bumper that looks like it belongs on a gantry crane? I'd say the DII has a bit of an identity crisis. But based on the current conditions, if you want to sell stuff, I'd say that more people are modifying toward the Romper Stomper style than the direction LR was working. But there will always be a bit of a dilemma. I suppose it's even worse with the LR3 (see some of the stuff T44 has produced for it). Supposedly this will all be resolved with the 2016 Defender, which JLR has said will be "nothing like the DC100," but will still not please the traditionalists, and yet be so good that many people will forget about what they had in the past. If it is what they've claimed, I would expect the aftermarket to explode. As it is, it seems to be floundering with the few survivors living off replacement parts sales.

 

I would argue that the D2 is just a nicer D1, not defined by a huge makeover like the D2-LR3 switch. D2s still have some of that classic look that D1s have, so personally I think they look pretty good kitted out

 

That was excellence...bravo. I personally think the big brush guards look stupid, but as previously pointed out, I'm not making it for me. I'll look into adding a brush guard...or at least at stinger/bull bar of some sort. I think you can have fashion and function...Just add a little driving skill and a good spotter, and the need for the brush guard goes away. If you're in that much of a nasty spot, how much do you really care about your ride.

 

uh...if it weren't for the door handles...........

 

More inspiration for you!

http://www.tacticalrovers.com/D1_and...ont_Bumper.php

 

That Tac Rover Bumper looks pretty good....still with the big brush guard. It's the closest yet to what I'll be shooting for. Oh, and I've been shaving door handles for years....we can handle it dude!