Preparing our '97 Grand Cherokee for the trail is going to require the installation of numerous protection components, such as bumpers, rocker guards, skidplates, and differential guards. We decided to start on the nose of the Grand for a few reasons: obviously for front-end protection, to drastically increase the amount of wheel and tire space within the fenderwell, and to increase the approach angle of the vehicle.
We visited Charles D'Andrade, owner of Rover Accessories, at his new shop in Lawndale, California. Charles is a connoisseur of fine four-wheel-drive vehicles, equipment, hardware, and adventure - we love this guy and his shop. He is an authorized dealer and installer of products for ARB 4x4 Accessories. His business and lifestyle revolve around the high-end segment of our sport. He is all about preparing vehicles and enthusiasts for adventure. His showroom is themed with elite recreational sporting endeavors such as fly-fishing, wing shooting, deep-sea fishing, land navigation, and, of course, every model of Land Rover he can get his hands on.
Charles set us up with two high-quality systems for our Grand: the ARB front bumper with IPF's new 900XS halogen lights and a Warn 9.5xp winch. The installation of the ARB bull bar on the Grand Cherokee entails quite a bit of work in regards to removing the factory bumper. Follow along as we highlight some of the installation steps for you.