smithe213

Been lurking here for a real long time and finally took the plunge and signed up.

So I'm planning on building a plate bumper for my 1994 truck with 1" body lift. I have done a ton of searching here and elsewhere for inspiration and have some 3/16" steel I plan on using for the bumper and 1/4" for the brackets. I don't plan on running a winch permanantly on the bumper since the roads get salted heavily here in the winters but i would like to accomodate a 2" reciever if possible. I dont really want the bumper to hang a long way out front as many winch bumpers do, just far enough off the grille to add a hoop and possibly some lights to the top plate later. This bumper wil be mostly for tree protection in the woods, not so much rock crawling. Right now im trying to mock up a design with cardboard but it looks kind of boxy or tall to me. What would you guys suggest? should i make the front vertical plate less tall? it is 7 inches now. Thanks alot!

smithe213

Don't be shy to be honest about what you would change

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Myself I think it looks good just the way it sits.

I like the plate style bumpers much butter than tube type bumpers.

Where do you plan to put the receiver hitch for your portable winch mount???

Just how do you plan to make your brackets and how many places do you plan to attach them??

smithe213

I was thinking centered side to side, and at the bottom of the flat vertical plate in the front, heavily gusseted from behind if there is enough room behind the bumper. Also a couple holes with mesh behind them in the vertical plate to allow air through the rad and condensor. As far as mounting, good question. I was thinking 1/4" plates stood up vertically welded and gusseted to the vertical and slanted plates on the front of the bumper, to the stock mounting bolt holes, and probabally plates from the front slanted piece drilled to take bolts into the unused bolt holes in the front frame crossmember. The only part of that that bothers me is it seems there is a lack of support for the top of the bumper on a solid impack. Perhaps I should weld my bumper onto my frame. I just don't care for the idea of welding to my frame since this is a rust free truck i drove 21 hours to get. any ideas?

Also, would you keep the vertical plate closest to the tire slanted at the bottom as it is, or level?

smithe213

Changed a few things. Heres the start

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

Looks nice. I agree on big/tall front bumpers aren't so nice visually, and block lots of air/less aerodynamic. Looks like you made it not so tall in revised version, I'd even try to go shorter if possible - I think it's because you have a body lift that's making it taller. One thing you'll want is a bit of space between top of bumper and bottom of grille/fender sheet metal, like 1/2" - this way, if it flexes for whatever reason it won't be a damage multiplier.

As for those bumper ends where tires are at - I'd angle them because your tires will hit if you go bigger down the road. Lastly, perhaps making the "wings" slightly shorter (like remove 1" from bottom edge at corner bend, but leave it where meets center section) might make it look not so bulky overall because it'll make more angle and visually lower profile.

Best looking plate bumper I've seen on YT was a DIY plate bumper a few years ago that the OP was considering a small production run of. I'm fairly certain it was made by TrailYota1 but the pics are gone - distinctively recall naked woman silhouettes as turn signals. It was based off TG winch plate and was probably only 4-6" tall at the highest piece of plate - nice and sleek.

Good luck it already looks good. I need to get on making my front bumper. I'm planning to use TG winch plate as platform.

Nailit69

I like the revised version, I also agree with trimming a little off of the ends so you don't have any rubbing issues. Whatever you hit is definitely going under

TylerH

Looks sorta like the one i built. So im assuming your going to have the same problems as me. Mine gets hot since its covering part of the radiator.

wannaBwheelin'

Here is a pic of the plate bumper I built for my 86' pickup

Its hard to tell from the photo but it only sticks out about 6'' from the grille and the vertical section is only about 5" tall, I would definitely add some air ways thru the front of the bumper to allow the radiator to cool better. for the winch on mine I welded a receiver to the top edge of the front crossmember and gusseted the sides of it. my lower angle is quiet drastic so I built a pin assembly for the receiver so that i dont have to crawl under the truck to put a hitch pin in it. in the current picture the licence plate is mounted to a bracket that slides into the reciever much like a hitch.
Out of curiosity how did you mount the bumper to the frame? I just finished a similar one for a 94' pickup and I had to make spacers on the back of my mounting plate since the core support on a 94' sticks out way further than the one on my 86' does.
Good progress keep up the work!

STR8AXLE84

The bumper looks awesome! I think I want to build a similar one for my '84!

smithe213

Has been a while coming together. Finally complete! pics to follow:

smithe213

Excuse the lack of front skid plate the last pic, currently bedlinering it as well. Bumper is all 3/16", 2" receiver in middle, painted with bed armor. 2 hella 500 w/55w HID in it (I know, I know hid retrofit, blinds others, etc never ever used on pavement though). Long time coming but pleased with how it came out. The lights sit back about 3/8" and I cut 2 slots in the bottom of the bumper and no overheating issues in traffic or on the highway so far.

Orion22rte

Turned out great! Still planning on throwin a winch in/on it?

smithe213

Well I went with the 2" receiver in the front, so if I do get a winch ill probably mount it in a cradle with a Reese style hitch. I'm from the east coast and I can see all the salt they put on the roads being disastrous to a winch.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I must say good job!!

Try not to prove just how well it is made.

R.DesJardin

iTrader: (1)

Looks good, I love plate bumpers