First of all, I'll be building this over the next couple months.

I have a Hobart 125 Wire Feed Welder, 4.5" Angle Grinder with grinding and cutting wheels, some DeWalt 7" Metal Cutting Blades for my circular saw for the big cuts, and misc supplies. I'll be building it in my garage (at my house) as I get time to work on it.

The bumper will be a mix of designs that will take parts and designs mostly from the Slee UZJ rear bumper, with a little bit of designs from BruceTS, FilthyRich, and a Rockware bumper thrown all together.

It will have a box tube for the main rear crossmember. It will be mounted to the frame similar to what Bruce did. I also don't want as much slope to the sides as Bruce has. I like the lines of the one TStango made a little better so far.

I'll have a receiver and two shackle points on the mail rail.

The sides will attach to the frame near the rear wheel well (like TStango) and will also have a internal "kicker" with a flat load distribution plate that will reach up to the bottom panel of the cargo area body. On top of that, i'll have some 1/8" thick rubberized foam padding with about a 1/8" thick clearance between the body and the plate. This plate will move with the bumper as it flexes on the frame and will contact the body panel under the cargo area before the bumper hits the outside of the runner. This should reduce if not totally eliminate the body contact that most have experienced with frame-mounted bumpers. I'm also going to change out the rear body mount bushings with some HDPE load distribution plates and some POLY bushings.

I will actually have the main rail shaped like FilthyRich's bumper and the Slee Bumper, but will still use the OEM plastic piece like Bruce did.

I will be using a SLEE spindle and latch and design and hold-open feature like he has. From there, the carrier will be built of 2"x2"x3/16" box tube horizontal member with 2"x2"x3/16" box tubing for the upper support and will mount the tire as close to the spindle as possible without hanging down too low. I'll build the arm to be a little more than half the width of the bumper (about 36") and may later add another small carrier on the driver side for some jerry cans.

I have some ideas and some sketches for the buildup and will post pics of the progress and final product. I plan on having it completed and painted by mid-December, building on it as I get the time.

My CAD design so far:



Now, some pics of my inspiration:

SLEE UZJ Bumper - I really like the lines here...










Rockware Bumper





FilthyRich's Custom Bumper







more to come...

 

 

1/4" thick for the main beam?! Is your truck not heavy enough? 3/16" would be fine, even 1/8" would do it if designed right. I would have gone 1/8 for mine, but I don't trust my welding.

 

 

well, 3/16" will prob do, but i also want to not only tow with it, but i'm going to hang a tire carrier from it. i'd rather overbuild than underbuild...

 

I like that a lot. Actaully makes me think twice about redesigning mine. I will be happy to post more (not fuzzy pics) for you. I can post them here or on my build up thread.

 

Good luck Andy! I'm sure it will come out great!

Chris

 

looking very nice, i like it, im working on a rear also, just trying to decide if i really do want the tire carrier or not, BUT, if i do go with a tire carrier, heres a suggestion, get the license plate mount from a 1st gen. (with the lightand TOYOTA ) and work that into the carrier, i think that would be sweet, IF i go with a tire carrier, that will be my plan.
well as ussual, your is looking sweet. keep the pics coming.

 

1/4" is overkill and 3/16" could be considered overkill, but since my factory trailer hitch was 3/16"(measured after powdercoat was removed). I went with it. The frame plates are 3/16" and because of the design, it is extremely strong. I've lifted my front wheels off the ground pulling out stuck vehicles with no problems. As for why I went with 1/8" was simple, I wanted my bumper to "give" during hard impacts. Attached is a photo of some damage that occured during my recent trip on the Rubicon. Driving at night I came off a ledge way too fast and landed very hard. You can see in the photo where the main tube didn't distort, but the wing caved in a bit. When this happened, the bumper did flex upwards causing the rubber weather stripping to come in contact with the body, but no damage occured, the top plate did bend downwards. I'll take a vew more photo's before I take it off to repair, which should take about an hour to do.

BTW the total weight of my bumper is between 80 and 90lb.

 

yeah, bruce, after putting my hands on some 3x3x1/4", i don't think i'll be doing that at all - way too heavy!

for now, it looks like it will be 3/16" main beam and brackets with 3/16" on the sides.

thanks for the input...

the crazy thing is that i work in a food manufacturing facility and i can get all the FREE 304 or 316 stainless that i can carry. FREE. all the box and plate i could want to build my bumper. however, i don't think welding a carbon steel spindle and carbon steel hitch receiver to 304 would be advisable due to strength issues. oh, and they'll also let me take home a tig buzzbox with a bottle of gas, also for FREE.

what to do? can i effectively weld CS to SS?

 

Lucky you.... Build the whole bumper out of stainless would be nice in your neck of the woods. Just remember stainless is a softer metal and I wouldn't weld the spindle directly to it.

Dang if shipping wasn"t so expensive, I ask you to get me some 3/16" stainless for my fuel tank build-up.

Make the mounts out of 3/16", including the pieces that wrap around the frame.

 

Instead of using the spindle, design a hinge using all stainless steel. Plus, you can take advantage of strength increase that comes with a hinge in double shear.

Here's mine where the bolt is in double shear, err actually with the lower plate it's in triple shear.:

 

you know... we do have some solid stainless shaft as well. anywhere from 1/2" up to 6" solid stainless bar...

that would be sweet to have it made from stainless, but stainless is not only weaker than CS, but it's also heavier...

not only that, but i'd have to use the tig setup to do all the welds, and future repairs would require the same...

 

If you insist on using a carrier, take a look at Slee Off Road.

That design carriers 37's with gas cans and jacks all across the country.

The spindle is HUGE. The latch system takes stress off the clasp.

Good luck.

 

That's the key there, take the stress off the hinge.

 

Trailer spindles work great.











Make sure you have enough insurance to cover a flying tire.


If you must have butt jewely get the Slee Hinge. No exceptions.

Good Luck





Dam if I didn't have that Tire Carrier on the back there would have been no way I could have easily walked up Whale Rock.



Man am I glad I have my tire carrier, there's no way to fit a 35" swamper under the truck.



I think this is so funny, it's SO 2002.

 

Good luck.

 

Steve, you're hilarious!

Chris

 

No, Good luck to you. I heard that is the next step in the Sonoran Steel line and you are going to FABBIT really soon.

 

Yes, Good Luck, I am going to make a Good Luck Tire Carrier, they are so cool and work really well.

Cheese knows. He has a tire carrier too.

More Good Luck.



We are working really hard on the upcoming Poultry Carrier. Can’t beat hauling meat.



Maybe Andy needs a new cheaper plan?