MaK92-4RnR

Ever since I installed my front bumper its been rather "loose". So I figured Id pull it off and see if I can perhaps reinforce it a bit and make it much more sturdy, while still being a bolt on. So anyway, heres my scoop.

I pulled the mount completely off the bumper itself. so here is where I am



But Im confused about these holes. They are located on the frame of the truck.





And the Bumper mounts also have holes that line up perfectly as well. Heres the same pictures but with the mount on.





But the frame itself is completely boxed. So whats the point of even having those holes there? I remember my bumper coming with a piece that I couldnt figure out where it went.

If you look in this picture below, you can see the two silver pieces that are attached to the mounts, those are the pieces im refering to. but theres no possible way to attach them onto the truck itself. and they will not fit inside the frame, as theres no way to get them there, also, theres no gap on the mounts itself.



Im considering just welding this thing on, and drilling a 2" hole where the skid plate bolts up to on each side of the mount that way the skid is still removeable.

Any input would be nice. Thanks.

GranVille-4crawler

yeah my mc bumper utilized those weird holes as well but for some reason mc wanted to be slack and so they didnt line up... so i said screw it and just welded it on. are your holes not treaded or have a nut tackwelded to the underside?

MaK92-4RnR

They are not threaded and dont have a bolt tack welded. I shouldve took a video of how loose the bumper is. I had every bolt in and was still loose. Im thinking i might just weld the mount on and call it good.

GranVille-4crawler

thats what I'd do man. mc really screwed up on their jig when they made mine, i had 4 bolt holes that didnt match up. 2 of which that were on the 1/2" steel plate that is the base of the bumper. welded it on and a good thing i did. that weekend after i got it went wheelin and my buddy blew out a cv going up the most difficult trail so i had to winch him up the rest of the mountain.

BeMiceElf

iTrader: (1)

I know its different, but when I put on my warn combo kit it had two brackets that uses the two holes on the front of the frame and the two on the top of it also. The two on the top were a complete pita. If I am looking at the picture right, you are only using the four holes on top of the frame and not the ones on the front. Maybe I am looking at it wrong though.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

How many bolts do you have securing your TJM?

:wabbit2:

MaK92-4RnR

8 Bolts.

2 here and on the other side.


and 2 on each tow hook.

MaK92-4RnR

So heres what Im thinking about doing, since i can figure out how to make this thing secure...

Weld where the red boxes are.





and then since my Skid plate will be a pain to take off, I figured id drill these holes out so that its easy to get to the bolts on the skid.



and objections?

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Why not figure out how to secure it using those holes on the top by either putting a nut on the backside or drilling through the frame?

Installed a lot of TJMs and never had any issues with them not fitting well and snug.

:wabbit2:

MaK92-4RnR

of course, Id rather it be bolt on. The only way i can thing of is getting a tap and di set and threading it... but other than that I cant see a bolt/nut the correct size getting in there. there would be no way to hold the nut on the other side, and wouldnt tighten.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Any other places where you could drill through the bumper and frame to put some more bolts through? Once you weld it on there going to make it a PITA to take it off if you need to do so.

:wabbit2:

MaK92-4RnR

well the bumper will still be able to come off, but the mounts will obviously be there. I was only gonna tack weld or stitch weld it. a grinder could take it off in no time.

corax

Wait up . . . are you NOT using the 4 holes that face forward on the cross-member? Try putting it back together with those and see how it feels - when you say "loose" do you mean by just grabbing it and shaking, or while giving a tug with a strap?

scuba

http://www.mcmaster.com/#nut-certs/=be76hp

RMA

mak those 2 holes .. you can put nuts under them .. look on the outside of either one .. outside under through the body mount area .

MaK92-4RnR

which ones are you talking about? Im using possible mounting location except the two on top of the frame because I dont see any possible way to get a nut/bolt on it.

MaK92-4RnR

Wow, now i just feel like a complete idiot. you just solved my problem. Thanks robert.

I thought the entire frame was boxed, including the area where it branches off the frame for the body mount

RMA

Lol!!!

MaK92-4RnR

wait though... hmm... Im thinking about this more and more. It would really be beneficial if i had that silver plate that came with the bumper still. because, when i put the bumper on. it plates/boxes off the opening of the body mount. if i had that plate, the bolt was tack welded to the plate, and would be stationary... I could probably do it, but might take me awhile.

BeMiceElf

iTrader: (1)

Those are the two (on either side) that I was talking about. You can get a washer and nut on the underneath it, but it is a pita. Well it worked on my 95 pickup. I doubt they are much different.