Ran into a couple interferences on the fab up that needed to be worked out in CAD, recut, then re-bent.
Final thicknesses:
Frame Mounting Bracket: 1/4"
Winch Mounting Plate (direct to frame): 1/4"
Bumper Mounting Plates (at frame rails): 3/8"
Bumper Skin: 1/8" (thicker than ARB and TJM)
New plate will be cut and bent by lunch tomorrow. Part of the reason it's taking so long is because we're doing a 91 Toyota P/U at the same time with a very similar style bumper. The UZJ will be tacked up first (tomorrow after lunch) and hopefully welded out by quitting time. I'll take pics of the build-up along the way.
The P/U bumper will be completed over the weekend, then they will both go to the powder coater next week.
Plan for later this week will be for me to get the CAD drawings finalized (dimensional changes from what we learn at fab-up) and we will probably go ahead and build the first "production" bumper next week. Any additional tweeks to the CAD files will be done after that bumper is complete. After that, we should be ready to go.
For now, looks like pricing will be $800-$850 range + shipping for a complete, welded out, powder coated bumper with winch plate for the frame on a UZJ (no hoop). Kit *may* come later with the pre-cut and pre-bent pieces, un-coated and/or un-painted of course. These would be in the $400 range and would require only a 3-4 hours to do final fitting and welding, then finish coating (paint or PC) of your choice.
Now that TJM is off the market, there's plenty of room for some additional "mom&pop shops" in addition to ARB and slee - really not much else out there. Looking to just help some fellow cruiser heads out.
I'll have the weight tomorrow.
FYI: Sales of bumpers and kits will be operated under an LLC (in Alabama) and will have a website with pics, prices, etc and Paypal payment acceptance up and running in January. I'll be adding sliders and a rear bumper to the offerings as well!
Pics tomorrow!
Reply With Quote
