Seanz0rz's rear bumper buildup

[Seanz0rz]

so the time has come to build a bumper. i looked at thousands of different bumpers on all kinds of vehicles. i loved alot, hated most, and decided i needed to go my own direction with some heavy influence from a few places. i loved bruceTS's bumper, and i like lance's 4th gen bumper. i decided to go mainly that direction, with some of my own ideas. huge credit goes to them both!

i started by following bruce's guide: http://bruce.calrockx.com/4runner/bumper/default.htm

cross beam placed:


3/16" plate for the brackets cut:


scored and bent:



by the time holes needed to be drilled my hands were too knackered to hold down the trigger, so dad stepped in. huge thanks to dad!!!:


brackets will get welded up tomorrow, placed on the truck and the cross bar welded. from there i will start on my tire carrier supports. i have some other features i want to implement and those will be revealed as they come. the plans are not finalized, im tackling issues as they pop up, etc. stay tuned for updates!

[DHC6twinotter]

I'll be watching this thread!

[4x4mike]

Cool, I'm interested to see how this goes. At least with 3/16 you're less likely to have warping like on your skid plate. Let's see, I'm thinking antenna mount, recovery points, rear facing lights, rock lights and spare swing out. Oh and painted silver like the front.

Not only am I interested in the final product but also interested in material costs. I know just consumables and tools are expensive but what about the steel? I tend to buy random pieces here and there but it's all small stuff. What do you think your bumper will run you? Steel wise?

[slosurfer]

Is the Dr. Pepper in the cup with ice?

cross beam placed:
[img width=800 height=600]http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/hamiltoncomputers/rear%20bumper/IMG_1386.jpg[/img]

[Seanz0rz]

chris, the dr. pepper can is just out of view in that pic. in the green mug is ice water!

mike, i purchased 200 dollars worth of steel. this included the main beam, 2'x4' 3/18" plate (with an extra foot for another project), 30 feet of 1x1 .120 wall tubing (for the trailer), 10 feet of 1.5" .120 wall square tubing for the tire carrier parts, and a few other pieces for antenna brackets to be produced and sold. i already have all the 11 gauge plate to make the side wings, not to mention the 2" square tube for the verticals of the tire carrier.

ill get a final cost run down as soon as i dig up the invoices.

taking a day off to go house hunting. updates tomorrow!

[4x4mike]

Cool just getting an idea. I still need to find good places around here to get that kind of stuff. I think that for the most part I pay full retail but I don't buy that often or in large quantities.

[Seanz0rz]

buying from home depot or lowes is a rip (plus they only have small stuff)

ordering from a metal yard is much much cheaper (half to 1/3). look in your yellow pages for one, call around and get quotes for what you want. i usually try to haggle with them. my order came to 225. i asked if they could do it for a straight 200, he punched the keyboard a bit until he got it down to 195. yeah its only 30 bucks, but hey, its 30 bucks you can spend on bolts or whatnot!

[X-Tool Pimp]

Cool just getting an idea. I still need to find good places around here to get that kind of stuff.

found this one on yahoo.....
Sunshine Steel Enterprises
(916) 455-8371
8265 Belvedere Ave, Sacramento, CA 95826

[CJM]

May I ask how you bent them? Very interested in doing that with my own stuff but I dont have a metal brake.

[Good Times]

Marc,

The ghetto way is to use a cutoff wheel and cut into the metal so it's thin. Just don't cut it too thin or else when you bend it it'll come apart. For 3/16th I'd say 1/8th left will be enough for you to bend it by hand. I used a pair of vices to bend it once it was evenly thinned out.