Rear bumper fab... A few questions...

[kregg]

I've definatley considered bracing/plating the rear potion of the frame... Hadn't thought about a new X-member though... Would you recommend keeping the stock one, with the spare tire winch? Or cut that one out and just go with a new one all together? Anyone running the LC rear set-up have any problems with the coils being too soft to run a rear bumper / carrier?

[Crinale]

The LC coils will handle a bumper just fine... if anything it might level you out a little, but i doubt much... i have the rear LC coils on my 2nd gen, and towing a 6000 lb trailer didnt droop the LC coils all the way down... so an extra 100-150 lbs on the back is nothing...

[Seanz0rz]

I've definatley considered bracing/plating the rear potion of the frame... Hadn't thought about a new X-member though... Would you recommend keeping the stock one, with the spare tire winch? Or cut that one out and just go with a new one all together? Anyone running the LC rear set-up have any problems with the coils being too soft to run a rear bumper / carrier?

i cant comment on the LC coils too much with a rear bumper, i have airbags in the rear. but before that i noticed the coils were pretty soft, when fully loaded i was reverse raked or exactly level. id recommend the air bags regardless. i put them in knowing i would be towing a trailer with a tire carrier on the rear bumper, plus a vehicle full of stuff.

[Crinale]

technically you could sean... just drop ur bags to 0 psi and see what it looks like...

[CJM]

^ shouldnt ever let airbags get that low when on a vehicle-can cause them to blow.

[Seanz0rz]

yeah, airlift has a VERY good warranty, but you cant get the bags lower than 5psi. when im offroad i dump the air but thats a different story.

im still working on my tire carrier today, but ill dump the air out and see how it sits with a mostly loaded rear bumper (mind you mine is 3/16" and 1/8", so significantly lighter than what you are proposing)

[Lee]

I've definatley considered bracing/plating the rear potion of the frame... Hadn't thought about a new X-member though... Would you recommend keeping the stock one, with the spare tire winch? Or cut that one out and just go with a new one all together? Anyone running the LC rear set-up have any problems with the coils being too soft to run a rear bumper / carrier?

keep the stock one in place...

I added a small one at almost the very back of the frame. With no spare there, I had plenty of space to put one. Wish I had pics of it

[kregg]

Well I've got my rear bumper designed and mocked up in cardboard... I've already cut the ends off of the center beam and am witing fo things to slow down enough at the shop so they can cut the pieces for the sides... Still not entirely sure how I want to mount it... Any more suggestions?? Thanks ya'll!

[Seanz0rz]

i would personally use bruce's design again with a plate on the top. same mounting system i used (i still have to make a plate, maybe next week)

the other alternative is to capture the frame like this:

____
|  |
|  |
|  |
|___|

before the body mount (to the rear of it)

and like this ahead of the body mount

___
  |
  |
  |
___|

so the bumper would slip inbetween the frame rails, supported by the hitch bolts on the bottom of the frame and resting tightly on the top of the frame. i hope that makes some sense. those diagrams are for the left side frame rail looking at the back of the vehicle.

[BruceTS]

a few teasers on how I'm making my side wings now.......

Using a plasma torch to cut out the pieces and now making the 3 bends in my press brake after I made a few mods to it. Where before I had to weld the top plate....