Zelephant

Sub'd! Nice original design! I'd like to see someone try it with a Trail Gear winch plate bumper base.

jasharp

Ah, Ok I think I see -- like a pop-top beer can. I admit I did not consider that. And I can certainly get to work on some additional top brackets.

MudHippy, Wabbit, many thanks.

MudHippy

No problem.

It'll save you some time in the long run. Having to bend it straight again if it got tweaked would be a PITA you don't want to deal with, if you don't have to. It does look plenty strong though otherwise. Should hold up real well. And let me tell ya from experience, you're glad you used 1/4" and not 3/16".

jasharp

Took your guys' advice; made a day of it this weekend. Added some brackets from some C channel I had, I think 3/16" thick. Put a plate across the front of the frame for some extra support; also drilled holes to use the upper factory brackets, and added a 1/4" support down the middle. Hopefully all this will get me closer to where i need to be. Pics --

brackets/frame support (further filled in on the ends after this pic.):



test fit (getting new bolts for all):



and a lousy pic of the plate wrapping under, bolted in under the tow hooks:

coops2k

nice job, need to watch this and see any improvements you might do

jasharp

Tried it this weekend, everything went ok. No issues with the plate or mounting, pulled well at angles, etc. Few electrical issues; my ground probably need to be improved, sort of got a click - buzz when trying to reel it back in unloaded once (free-spool out and back in had it going again.) After 4 or 5 steep pulls fairly close together it tended to want to bog down the truck, even with heavy throttle...

At any rate, plate held up well. First use here, should have tried to get a few pics further up the hill where it was a bit more exciting:

MudHippy

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Cool

Think "high steer"

ToyoTech559

looks good.

jasharp

You said it.

The old push/pull is wearing me out! So far though I've been lucky and not damaged the stock tie rod. I have some high-steer arms I picked up for cheap, and an IFS steering box. Been trying to round up the links on the cheap too from somebody's part-out, etc.

Had talked to my local shop here about making some; would be considerably cheaper than ordering new ones, but would be with standard/US thread and prob chevy 1-ton ends... which means the trail-gear arms' FJ80 tie rod end taper doesn't quite work. Im not exactly sure the difference. If larger maybe they could be reamed to match? I have not found anyone that has tried this, though someone surely has. Some running the 1-ton ends, but using different arms.

coops2k

Very nice job

tlrskunk

Buy the weld in inserts that fit the FJ80 ends and drop the weld -in inserts at the shop to have them weld them in for you.
I think Trail Gear sells the weld in Inserts.

jasharp

Indeed Trail Gear has them, $21 a pop. Sky Mfg also has some, can get 2 L and 2 R with jam nuts for $45.

TG:


Sky:


Sky's seem quite a bit shallower, but nice and thick. Half the price too, so that might work.

. . . . . . . .

In the meantime, I noticed some gear oil seeping out the ends of my rear axle (had thought it was mud, but then it never dried.) Found a mess in the drums:





Both bearings were pretty bad, passenger side sounded like gravel. Managed to get them replaced and everything reinstalled and at this point need to refill fluids and bleed the brakes. Just in Time for GSMTR (going down thursday!)

There are full write-ups elsewhere here so I wont belabor the point, but a few quick things if you haven't tackled this job before...
- Make friends with someone that owns a press (or rent an apartment from them. ) I know we did one a few years ago without one, but man I don't want to again.
- Try to help yourself to his seal puller and some of those c-clip pliers while you're at it. Not necessary, but can help cut down on time and labor.
- This blue o-ring...



It's supposed to be Do Not Reuse. I would have anyway but mine were destroyed. Parts store(s) didn't have any reference for them, or anything close. Found these at Tractor Supply in a variety pack for less that 5 bucks. One was identical, and one was darn near. Both fit fine.


Thats about it. Feel like i should have noticed sooner; had pulled the axles when I had the diff out recently to get it welded. Bearings and seals seemed ok. Since then its been rougher and noisier and I assumed it was the difference in it not being open and blah blah blah yes I guess thats really just an excuse. Hopefully this will last me a good long while.

jasharp

...maybe more temporary than I thought...

yoder519

bummer!!!! looks like one of my days of wheelin, when you hit a rock/tree and it leaves a small dent, then you throttle out and it leaves a smash. that was a great idea thought. easy fix though. loose the bumper or leave itt cuz nothin is sexier than a beat yota

94pickup954runner

very nice work. I am still trying to figure out how to mount my winch on my rig

tlrskunk

Any video of this carnage happening???

Bummer about the front end though.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Nice hadn't seen this approach before.

Sin

Great thought with the stock bumper...sorry bout your truck though!

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Nothing a little Armor All won't fix