PAINT IT, QUICK! I left mine unpainted for a week and kept in my garage. I've had mine on my truck for 3 months and its already rusted, badly!

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Thanks for the warning. It was already rusting just from sitting outside in the rain while I was at work.

I soaked it in PB Blaster as a precaution when I pulled it in to the garage. I'll keep a fresh coat on it until I can get it welded up this weekend. Hopefully that will keep the rust demons away.

 

I had this realization as I was driving home from my last wheelin trip at Hidden Falls... when I'm on the trail following my friends in their big built crawlers and truggies, my truck feels like a tiny, tiny thing.

Here it is next to my buddy's Jimmy.



But then on the road I feel like a monster truck as I sit twice as high as most cars. It's all relative.

 

It's Okay I feel the same way all the other yotas around here are sas and I'm just little ifs in the hills :lovepat:

 

Do you suddenly feel dirty? You should I just visually molested your tools and work space

So uhm, look at that picture and estimate how much you $$$ you have in sockets and wrenchs sitting there on that bottom shelf. Now look in the top of your locking tool box, do you maybe see anything wrong here

Hit it with some scotch-bright (green ones) soaked in 50/50 vinegar water. It'll kill the cancer. Don't forget to paint the open tubes, and PB/wd-40 em after.

I wish these things came with that wrap around from the factory. Both of the rear corners of my truck are inverted


Thats ok let him tow his toys, when the zombies take over he'll wish he had doors and windows.

 

Say what now?




Mine still looks the best

 

Yeah... it's all stored in a locked garage, but point taken for sure. Once I fix the overflow I can fix the security.

Thanks for the tips on the rust! Very helpful.

Yeah, Jeff's gonna be a goner when he runs out of propane.

 

 

I got some inquires about that rust treatment, so pardon me for the minor hijacking.

Yes vinegar-water kills rust-cancer dead!

Lots of people have no idea rust is helped along by micro organisms.
Taken from Wiki
One reference is enough, but if you research a little you'll likely find more.

Here is a link for one of the multitude of youtube videos showing the process.

Note: it's usualy done with a rags or sponges, but sometimes scotch pads too.
I recommended using the scotch pad because he is going to be painting and it helps scuff the surface, and removes hand prints ect.

I always paint the insides of my welded tubes and treat with WD40. I learned this trick from my father, and you just can't argue with "the old man!", who at one point was a machinist. We used to take our bicyles river jumping, and lots of creek riding. I still use it on custom trikes/bikes, basicly any tube construction, and haven't had one rust up ever.

 

Thanks for that Co_94_PU!


I did a test-fit of the bumper tonight. The rear bolt/nut down inside the frame is a major pain to get to! Took me a while to get all the bolts tight, but I got it.

I'm not in love-love with it. It sticks out farther backward and sits lower than I was expecting... but I think getting it painted black will help a lot. It's hurting my rear overhang, but at least I can drag/scrape it without stress instead of ruining my tailgate.

They also didn't show the TG(flame) panels welded in to the bumper on the website. I'm not a fan, at all. I'll either try to cut/grind them out or I'll stick some grip tape over the logos. The only flame I want on my truck is the "Flammable" graphic I did on the gas door. Trail Gear should send me some cash if they want me driving around with two of their logos cut in to my bumper.

 

That's odd, I bought mine from WabFab, same bumper, even shipped from Trail Gear and it doesn't have those...

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Must be a new thing as I haven't gotten any with those either.

:wabbit2:

 

Here is a nice box near you on CL http://austin.craigslist.org/tls/3584514395.html

 

It looks like your body has space above the bumper because of a body lift. That is the case with my Smitty Built bumper. Yea I don't love it but I do like the protection.
[IMG][/IMG]

 

I don't think I have a body lift... I've looked at the body mounts and it looks stock. There's also no gap between the front tube bumper I just installed and body.

 

Looking at this photo, I've got the same spacing. Looks like its just the design.



I'll just have to get some 33" tires to lift the rear back up off the ground. :-D

 

I like your bumper. You should be able to get a 33" spare in there. I have a 33" /9.5 /15
under mine. I had to reroute the exhaust and wrap it with header tape. I use a narrow spare tire under there for clearance.

 

Today I went over to my buddy Jeff's house to get the side support tubes welded on to the rear bumper.

Here's a decent shot of the front bumper after I painted the "guts" for the front of the truck with black bed liner.




Jeff had a couple Warn lights laying in the garage, so I couldn't resist seeing how they'd look. Looks pretty sweet! (I've never thought of wheelin at night, though, and I'm not going to put anything on the truck JUST for looks.)




This ended up being a full day project. It sounds simple... get the supports in position, tack weld everything, take the bumper off, do full welds, reinstall bumper. It ends up being quite a bit of wrenching and a lot of welding at tricky angles in tight places.

Here's one of the support tubes welded on to the bumper.




Jeff welding the support tubes to the frame.




When I reinstalled the bumper I got it to sit up higher. I installed all the bolts snug but not fully tight, then used a Hi-lift jack to pick up on the rear of the truck with the bumper. This got the bumper as tight to the body as possible, then I wrenched down on the bolts. We took the Hi-lift off and welded the support tubes to the side of the frame. It really made quite a difference and now I'm much happier with how the bumper fits.




I've got a busy day tomorrow because of some work stuff, but I'm hoping I can get the bumper painted before it gets dark.

 

HMMM...a Lincoln 140a?? I'm going to assume the tube on the bumper is at least .120"....hopefully he had the heat turned all the way up? I've welded many sliders to the frame rails but that's with a 220v welder. Not doubting he's a competent welder, just hope that 110v welder was adequate. Any how, your armor seems to be coming together quickly and the 4Runner's looking good man...also, it's nice to have a friend who knows how to weld too. I wish I had half the time you do to work on mine....keep it going.

 

Not sure if Brown droped you stuff, they need to relevel the fab table, or it's just the photo angles. Left side looks closer to the body by a lot to me. Also wish it followed the body line abit better on the lower tube. Looks kind of saggy.


Bah 110-220, Little guy will still blow holes in stuff just might take him longer

Show yer buddy jeff some love man, HF will hook him up for 25$ or less with some proper protection. He's looking kinda miserable under there, sure he was grinning just the same anyways Oh whats this I spoted a glove in a picture. Did you have to make him wear his gear so we didn't tease?