Grant posted on December 25, 2011 10:56
A few notes on the bumpers I put together for my '94 Pickup.
Form follows function, not a lot of glitz on this vehicle.
Both use 6X4 3/16 rectaungulat tube for the main body. The front has 3/8" plate mounts as there is only one mounting plane. Rear has 1/4" plate mounts as there are two mounting planes.
Both have eyes for 3/4" anchor shackles and accept my super farmer style removable winch mount.
I'm still working on the front brush guard, as it may integrate with a few other things. SO far though, for the expense involved the basic bumpers work well.
Pictures tell the story best.
Raw materials - part of why I chose the 6X4 was because I got it as drop material - it had a twist to it. Bonus.
Front Bumper
Blank canvas. Not a lot of stock mounting locations available.
To create a solid mount, I trussed the front cross member with 2.5X.25 angle, and welded 3/8" frame mounts over the angle and back along the frame. Not visible, there is also a 1/4" plate bolted to the bottom of each frame end at the tow hook mounts; these plates are welded to the frame mounts and cross member truss. The 3/8" bumper mounts, which extend up from the cross member truss, bolt to the frame mounts so that the bumber itself is removable.
Tacked up basic platform
Finished front bumper body with turn signals and end caps. Brush guard still to come.
Spraypainted and with winch installed.
Rear Bumper
Uses the same 6X4 tube, and accepts the winch as well. I cut the bottom valance to allow straight through mounts from the frame, and because I eventually will put storage and air tanks between the frame rails accessible from above the bumper. The frame mounts are 1/4" plate bolted vertically and horizontally to the frame; the vertical portion extends to the rearmost crossmember, and through the bumper body to the shackle mounts. The two sections are jointed by two pieces of 3/8" plate (one vertical, one horizontal) and a piece of 4X3X1/4 angle spanning between the frame mounts.
Leveling the frame mounts
4X3 angle spanning between frame mounts
Completed rear bumper, winch cradle being fitted up.
Spraypainted for now. There is a bolt-on receiver hitch that mounts above or below the bumper. The 6" depth of the bumper provides an excellent step, actually has better departure geometry than the stock bumper, but is low enough to protect the lower quarter panels.
I can add a swing-away gate for tire carrier, fuel cans, etc and have enough protection that they would not be the first points of impact when I drop off a ledge, and could use a highlift without opening the gate... but a gate is far in the future, if at all.