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AEV Bumpers for Every OccasionBlack and Tan From the February, 2013 issue of 4 Wheel Drive By Tyler Adams Photography by Tyler Adams
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For a company that started as a twinkle in Dave Harriton's eyes back in 1991 with the purchase of his new '91 Canyon Blue 4.0L Jeep Wrangler YJ, American Expedition Vehicles has come a long way. Officially established in 1997, AEV has been releasing new Jeep-specific products from the beginning, celebrating their 15th year in business in 2012. Producing industry leading products from the very beginning, such as the TJ 112-inch stretch kit, TJ and JK Brute pickup conversions, cutting-edge wheel designs, and JK Hemi swap conversions, to the full line of JK products from the 2007-to-present model years, AEV covers the full spectrum of TJ and JK models. Fast forward to 2012, and Dave and his crew are still developing products that fill the void. Case in point is AEV's new JK tubeless front bumper and rear bumpers that made their first appearance with the unveiling of the Call of Duty MW3 edition '12 Jeep Wrangler, at the 2011 SEMA Show. This special edition JK was a head turner in Vegas and was available to a select few. Based on AEV's innovative front tubular bumper design that's been in their stable since 2007, the new tubeless front bumper design carries the factory-look theme to the next level. Moving toward the rear, AEV's integrated rear tire carrier bumper is a mix of form and function. Both ends round out the Jeep Wrangler to perfection. To the casual observer, the AEV front tubeless bumper appears to be original equipment. But, when you take a closer look, with its 1/8-inch steel outer shell and 3/16-inch steel substructure, this bumper is built to take whatever Mother Nature can dish out. Not all full-width front bumpers are created equal. AEV's front tubeless bumper increases the side approach angles significantly and seamlessly blends in with the factory front fenders and bodylines. Again, AEV's bumper design takes fit and finish beyond factory-spec. AEV's rear bumper and tire carrier system was initially released in 2009, but it has been continuously evolving over time. It's basically the Swiss Army knife of rear bumpers. Along with accommodating up to a 40-inch tire, there's no longer the need to cram your Hi-Lift Jack, Pull-Pal, 5-gallon water jug, multiple jerry cans, and shovel into the interior space of your JK. Remove the cartoon-like factory... Remove the cartoon-like factory plastic bumper, recycle! Begin installing the tow loop brackets and winch plate. New for the 2012 rear tire carrier is the 10.2-gallon fuel caddy, which pushes the range of off-road exploration to the outer reaches. Topped off, that's a full 34.2 gallons of fuel for the long haul, with a JK Unlimited. No other tire carrier on the market offers this kind of innovation or versatility. It frees up a massive amount of storage space inside your JK for multi-day camping trips. The rear bumper tube design is strong yet lightweight and increases the departure angle over the factory bumper by more than 5 inches. Located in the corners are two 2.4-gallon bumper water tanks, which are located between the chassis-mounted tubular protection and body. With camping in mind, the plumbed water tanks are available with an optional hand pump. Provisioned into the water tanks are mounting holes for the new '12 AEV mudguards. We were amazed at how much abuse these mudguards took on slickrock drops and ledges at the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. Follow along as we assemble AEV's latest masterpiece.  Set the winch on the winch...  Set the winch on the winch plate to test fit. Trim the factory vacuum pump bracket arm (chalked portion) approximately 3 inches to clear the winch. Assemble the supplied vacuum pump bracket on the winch mount, which relocates the vacuum pump behind the winch. The power steering line will need to be slightly bent upward to allow clearance for the vacuum pump wiring.  Bolt the winch plate and fairlead...  Bolt the winch plate and fairlead bracket together and align the winch mount. Place the winch onto the winch mount and bolt to spec.  Before installing the factory...  Before installing the factory foglights into the bumper shell, carefully set the bumper shell onto the frame to make sure that everything lines up. Remove and install the foglight brackets, lights, crush can covers, and stainless-steel mesh screens.  AEV’s 1/8-inch-thick steel...  AEV’s 1/8-inch-thick steel front skidplate bolts up to the front bumper effortlessly and protects the sway bar impact beam and steering components. Integrated into the skidplate are two dedicated lift points for a Hi-Lift Jack. Warn’s all-new-for-2012 9.5 cti-s winch includes a polished aluminum hawse fairlead and new Spydura synthetic winch line, rated up to a 9,500-pound line pull.  Remove the factory spare tire...  Remove the factory spare tire carrier, recycle! Install the AEV tailgate bracket using the factory bolts. Center the bracket horizontally and vertically on the bolt holes by installing two bolts and hand-tightening first, then adjust the bracket and tighten all of the bolts. The 2010-and-up models will require the left corner of the plastic “exhauster” trimmed to fit the AEV tailgate bracket.  Install the tire carrier spindle...  Install the tire carrier spindle housing. For proper fitment, shims are included to help align the spindle housing. Bolt up the zerk fitting into the housing with the zerk facing down.  The spiral-cut bronze bushings...  The spiral-cut bronze bushings fit snug into the spindle housing, tapping them in with a block of wood. Be sure that they are seated fully and never use a metal hammer or the bronze will deform.  On the bottom of the spindle,...  On the bottom of the spindle, install the bronze washers, steel retention disc, and use the fine thread 1/2x1-inch bolt and washer to firmly attach the tire carrier into the spindle housing.  Setting up the turnbuckle...  Setting up the turnbuckle linkage takes a bit of finesse, but you’ll enjoy a rattle-free connection once it’s adjusted. Adjust the turnbuckle linkage once the threaded ends are set in position so that the horizontal tube of the tire carrier is fully seated into the saddle block. Once it’s seated, tighten the linkage an additional 1.5 full turns for a default adjustment. If everything goes well, you should be able to feel tension on the tailgate about 1.5 inches from its fully closed position.  With an extra hand, evenly...  With an extra hand, evenly place the rear bumper, corner tanks (loosely in place), spindle housing, and rotation bracket into the rear of the Jeep frame at the same time. Once all of the bolts have been started, make sure that the bumper is level from side to side and rotate the tire carrier to ensure a proper connection. Replace the shim pack and adjust if necessary.  Lubricate the O-rings and...  Lubricate the O-rings and all components thoroughly with axle grease and re-install the tire carrier to the spindle housing. Re-install the turnbuckle linkage to the assembly.  The optional splashguards...  The optional splashguards install in less than 10 minutes by securing with stainless-steel bolts into the threaded inserts that are provisioned into the corner water tanks. They keep mud and debris from flinging all over the rear bumper and, more importantly, help meet local highway standards for tread coverage.  The cross-link polyethylene...  The cross-link polyethylene 10.2-gallon fuel caddy takes advantage of the empty void behind the spare tire. No need to lug around two 5-gallon jerry cans on long adventures anymore! Notice the high mounting position, isolating the fuel caddy from trail impacts. There’s a convenient built-in step above the “gasoline” warning decal, which allows easier access to roof racks.  The fuel caddy comes in handy...  The fuel caddy comes in handy on long trips when fuel stations are few and far between. The convenient siphon shaker and hose easily transfers fuel between the caddy and factory fuel tank.  Tap and drill a 5/16-inch...  Tap and drill a 5/16-inch hole and insert the J-bar and tighten the nut knob to secure. Remove the hinge bolt on the opposite end of the Pull-Pal and insert the supplied roller. Lift the Pull-Pal onto the Hi-Lift/Pull-Pal mount, setting the roller into the hook on the accessory mount frame.  Remove the factory Hi-Lift...  Remove the factory Hi-Lift footplate and replace it with the AEV Hi-Lift/Pull-Pal footplate. Lift the jack onto the accessory mount by inserting the footplate tab into the frame slot. Slide the stud knob through the washer and Hi-Lift bracket arm and hand-tighten into the U-nut. For 2011-and-newer JK Wranglers, it’s imperative that you close your rear window before shutting the tailgate, or the Hi-Lift/Pull Pal will break your window and ruin your day.  Integrated into the AEV tire...  Integrated into the AEV tire carrier is a handy shovel holster, accommodating a fullsize shovel for digging out vehicles or building sand castles. We dropped in Extreme Outback Products’ new Ultimate Overland Recovery Shovel. The three-piece ultimate shovel features a multi-core, steel-reinforced fiberglass shaft, reducing the chances of snapping handles while digging out a buried vehicle.  Let it flow! The optional...  Let it flow! The optional rear water tank pump kit is one of a kind. There’s no longer a need to carry a 5-gallon water jug in the back of your JK, which gobbles up precious interior space for camp gear. Great for washing your face, hands, etc., while on multi-day outings, the pump kit includes all of the tubing and fittings to plumb your integrated corner tanks together.  We couldn’t resist installing...  We couldn’t resist installing Outback Adventure Products’ compact camp table for the JK, called the Trailgater. Installation takes less than 10 minutes and is an easy bolt-on. This is another one of those Swiss Army knife–like products, made of 14-gauge food grade stainless steel. New for 2012 is an improved hinge design and spring latch. Best of all, it’s completely rattle-free! Optional cutting board materials are bamboo or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).  Let there be light! We installed...  Let there be light! We installed Lazer Star’s 10-watt, single-row, 24-inch-wide LX Discovery series LED lightbar, with 1,000 lumens per LED. The low profile of the LX Discovery, at only 2.56 inches for the single row, neatly flows along with the lines of the AEV bumper and fits perfectly between the JK’s seven-slot grille. The LX Discovery provides HID-like output while using a fraction of the power. The Combi beam provides flood illumination with spot beam distance.  The “mast” is a convenient...  The “mast” is a convenient place to bolt up a CB antenna, whip flag, and rear light. We installed Lazer Star’s 10-watt single LED, with 1,000 lumens of powerful light in a compact package. It helps illuminate the campsite for those late-night arrivals after a long day on the trail. The AEV rear bumper/tire carrier is the Swiss Army knife of rear bumpers. Before the install, we had to strap down our fuel, water, Hi-Lift, and Pull-Pal onto a hitch-mounted cargo carrier. Now, all fluids are safely self-contained on the exterior of the vehicle, and our recovery shovel, Hi-Lift, and Pull-Pal are securely positioned on the tire carrier, freeing up much-needed interior space.
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