Stingers

[DesertCrawler]

I have had some people ask how my stinger is mounted to my jeep. First, I had some mounts waterjet cut that matched the warn winch mount. Second, I made the stinger and welded it directly to the plates. I welded one nut inside of the tubing and there are 2 bolts on each side for the stinger. I heard the theory is that when your vehicle is upside down the only thing touching the ground is the stinger and the roof. The reason mine is so short is because the future plans is to make a roof rack. The added height of the roof rack should make the hood miss the ground when up side down. I wasn't directly centered with the car when I took the pictures that's why it looks crooked. It would be a good idea to make your stinger longer than what mine is. Here are some pictures:

[hurleyup Jr]

Those mounts look familiar...

[1990JEEPXJ]

definitely crooked   :P. looks great. i also thought the purpose of one was to prevent an end over end tumble. we could both be right though.

[DesertCrawler]

Thats also true.

Hurleyup jr, Those are the same mounts that your dad has.

[4x4grey88]

Pardon my ignorance but I thought that a stinger was to help one crawl larger rocks, kind of wedging the stinger to raise the front end of your Jeep to get a wheel on the rock. The stinger in the picture wouldn't seem to protect the front end of the Jeep all that much if it rolled over. Granted it would protect it a small amount but you would still smash down the hood on a roll over. They do make bigger guards to protect in case of a roll over.

They both look cool though.

[DesertCrawler]

I read an article in jp magazine that described what the purpose is for a stinger. They said it was to protect the hood in the case of a roll over and that when upside down that the hood should not touch the ground. It also should help in stopping an indo from happening. If thats wrong I'm sorry, its just what I read.

[StvDiego]

Actually you're all correct. Go back in history to the advent of the pre-runner and desert racing (and even before that to flat-track and 1/8 mile racing) and you'll find the early "stinger" bumpers in off-roading.

Early on in racing the hoop style bumpers were just that, bumpers to protect racers running up behind a slower vehicle and to give some "spring" and not damage the frame. And because they hung out so far to the front they also allowed easy access to the front end for repairs and was a nice place to sit while ducking under the hood. The style also gave a handy place for extended skid plates and light mounts and gained a lot of popularity in baja racing and the style was picked up north of the border, think pre-runner...

Since then the stinger has evolved into various forms and functions. In rock-crawling the front stinger can allow a rig to push and lift the front end on a severe approach angle to get the front wheels onto the rock (better have some power and built axles...). Conversely a rear stinger can allow the back end to slide off a rock on severe departure angle.

And yes, a stinger can, in some instances, prevent an end over roll, but conditions have to be just right. or, in some rock areas, Moab comes to mind, a front hoop offers some protection on large rocks when the front end drops into a slot or crack in the rocks.

On a side-roll a tall enough stinger can offer some protection to the front end, but, on a Jeep TJ for instance, the hoop would have to be very tall to provide a contact point high enough to prevent the corners of the front hood from contacting ground and protect the corners of the plastic factory radiator (you need three pivot-points, the hoop and the corners of the front roll-bar to clear the hood). A dedicated bumper/radiator hoop (like the Currie) is a much more reliable insurance policy for a side-roll than a stinger.

The biggest function served these days tho is "The Look."

So the answer is, "E", all of the above  ~rockon

[Big boy]

I looked up the words "StvDiego" in the dictionary today and the definition was "man of much knowledge" it also said "Stvdiego.....he's the man" ~punk ~rockon ~clown

[StvDiego]

Actually I just make it all up as I go along  ~clown

[MoparBrent]

So it's kinda like an essay? You just B/S the whole thing? HAHAHAHA just kidding  ~punk

[05MoabTJ]

Thanks to ON-THE-ROCKS I have a nice new stinger/hood hoop custom fab'd.  Built not bought.   ~rockon  It is a design i have been thinking about for awhile now.  I personaly don't like the long pointy stinger sticking way out and way up, I just wanted to protect my winch and radiator/hood area in case of a flop or roll. 

[StvDiego]

I like that  ~punk

[Metal Twister]

BEEEEEFY! ~clap ~punk

[05MoabTJ]

I like that  ~punk

Thanks Steve, it welded to the Currie V bumper nicely.

[StvDiego]

It's nice to see a design that makes sense, is functional, and looks good too

[ON-THE-ROCKS]

I liked the way that came out ,I think im going to build one for my self now ~gunsmilie

[hammeredtoys]

That is looking nice! Good work!!!

[N8CJ5V8]

I'm now a strong believer in Stinger style bumpers.  I'll have to admit, at first I wasn't sure about stinger bars, but after last weekend I am now a big fan.  Last weekend out at Super I was following around a rock buggy that had a wheelbase of somewhere between 102 and 105, oh and the motor was mounted in the mid/rear.   I have a very short 68 inch wheel base CJ5, oh and a stinger.  The buggy went off the steep ledge and I decided to follow, not a good idea.  I've heard that when dropping off steep ledges you should put your rear axle in neutral if you can so it doesn't kick you over, and try to use your pedal lightly when you hit bottom to pull your rear down with the front axle.  I had just gotten twin sticks and was able to, so I tried it.  He made it look very easy and from my view it didn't seem like all that far of a drop, so off I went.   I was immediately vertical and could see my front stinger get buried about a foot deep in the sand.  My initial thought was OH         , then I was welcomed with a delightful shower of water, ice and beers (most of them empty at this point) over my passenger shoulder.  My cooler in the rear was catapulted open and shot out everything inside into the cab and onto the hood.   I did remember to gas it a little and it helped pulling me to level ground.  But, most of all it was the stinger that saved my butt from going completely end over end.  If the stinger wasn't there I would have ended upside down.  SO I no longer care what other people's opinions about stinger are, they are functional, they will help protect you from an end over end accident and if you roll to the side it will help protect your radiator and grill area, and I do think they look cool. 
Take a look at the picture of the stinger.  It was completely black prior to this; you can see that the paint was blasted right off, luckily it didn't bend.           

[Big boy]

It's a good thing you have it and glad you didn't get hurt, I'm sure the ice cold water was a shocker .

[StvDiego]

You spilled beer ???