Bumper Build

[freejake3]

Starting out the build with some frame-rail beef up. It's 1/4" plate that I cut myself. My down the line reasoning for the plate is because I eventually want a swing-out carrier and as some of us may know, the current frame from a certain point rearward is only good for so much weight before it buckles. I already carry a shell, tools, hi-lift, and rack system so even just the plating is probably a good idea. I finished the plating this morning and after having driven it I can tell you that there IS a difference. I'm not going as far as night/day but like someone said before "...it now lets the truck use the suspension for rebound and not the frame." It feels much more stable as the truck cycles down and back up from any size bump/pothole. I currently have the rear bumper farmed out to have a hitch and two recovery points cut all the way through. Just having a weld-on tab for recovery wasn't what I wanted. I'll post-up when I get it back and progress has been made. Anyway, here's some pics.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep006a.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep007a.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep003.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep001.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep004.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep005.jpg

[ecchamberlin]

That looks bad arse Andy. I always new on my Taco if I wanted to do anything serious with the rear bumper I would have to do something serious to the frame as well. Nicely done.

[Lee]

i have a rear tire carrier. i added in 2 crossmembers, but have been thinking about plating the frame as well :thumbup:

[ecchamberlin]

Lee I am sure that will help out but Tacos for some reason have less cross members and are a bit less built up than our Runners. Not sure why.

[Lee]

probably the fact that they have a much lighter bed out back compared to our heavy roof.

[freejake3]

i have a rear tire carrier. i added in 2 crossmembers:thumbup:


Any chance you could take some pics of that?

Just got word today the machining won't be ready till next week. I got some other prep work to get done anyway.

[Lee]

of the crossmembers? sure :)

[freejake3]

Sweeeeeeeeeeet. Thanks.

[freejake3]

Got the bed high-clearanced today in prep for the bumper. Still have to tighten it up.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep009.jpg

[ecchamberlin]

jig saw Andy?

Must have been sort of hard to cut into her like that. I have seen lots of Tacos with that style rear bumper. That would have been the way I did mine if I had kept it.

[ecchamberlin]

Andy I forgot this gentlemen's name but his rig was my hopes and dreams for my Taco that was the same color and had the same shell as his did. Good pic of his rear bumper. That thing was bad to the bone!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/ecchamberlin/supertwintacoma.jpg

[freejake3]

Sweet pic EC. That's what I'm looking for. I used a 4.5" cutting wheel followed by a flap-disc. Gotta tighten it up with some paint and door molding. It's kinda liberating when you start hacking off useless metal.

[freejake3]

Well..........after my buddy flaked on me regarding setting my hitch and tow points
I ended up taking it to Jason at Differential Systems (he put my Posi in) and had
him do the plasma cutting and welding. It came out freakin' awesome. I already have
the bedsides pieces angled and capped so not much more to do. I couldn't be happier
with the welds; something my machine could in no way handle. Looks like I'll have
her redy for BB.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep011.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep013.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep014.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep015.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep016.jpg

[ecchamberlin]

Wow Andy those are some pretty welds.

looking forward to seeing how she turns out! Hope all is well with the family!

[freejake3]

Thanks EC. Family's doing great. Our little one has already got us
wraped around her finger.

On a side note - I just noticed the "historical mileage" to date. That's
proof enough to buy one.

[ecchamberlin]

I really like the car. It drives well, looks good, has all the bells and whistles and the milage is 3 times what we got in her Tacoma.

If we have a second child I am almost afraid it will be a girl because I know the same thing would happen to me. LOL Could be wrong but it seems easier to be firm with the boy. Kids rock! Neck and Neck as the 2 best things to happen to me are my wife and son. Life is so good!

See you Friday.

[freejake3]

I really like the car. It drives well, looks good, has all the bells and whistles and the milage is 3 times what we got in her Tacoma.

Thanks to people like yourselves this whole hybrid idea might actually take off. If people don't buy 'em the concept won't take root.

[ecchamberlin]

It seems like I see Prius' everywhere I go. Toyota sales of hybrids has done really well especially in Cali.

The next prius is said to have a plug in capability that could raise its mpg to nearly 100mpg.

[freejake3]

Here's the progress from today. Obviously need to work on some
plating and other things but got far enough along to take 'er
off and finish in the garage. This means night welding for sure
when everyone else is down. ALso plan on gusseting the hitch.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep017.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep018.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep019.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep020.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep022.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep023.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep024.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/affinis/RBB/Sheep025.jpg

[ecchamberlin]

Looks real nice Andy. 22 degree angles? I like that touch instead of a squared of corner. That thing is gonna be plenty stong no doubt.

We'll all get to see it next weekend.

[freejake3]

Looking forward to beatin' it silly. I'm wondering if I shouldn't plate the
corner on the bottom just to make sure. I don't know how many times I've seen
that same corner take some nasty hits as people leave an obstacle. Thoughts?

[ecchamberlin]

I would definitely plate the corners. 3/16" ? Then you could use them as skids. It would add a lot of strength to the bumper for horizontal hits also.

Bruce worked in some skids to his mounting system so that I would feel very comfortable gently landing on it and just sliding forward off it.

Not that we have a lot of mud in socal but the plating would also keep grime from gathering up inside the body back there.

[freejake3]

True dat!