What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper

This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
Overview Gallery Discussion
GWeakland620 said:
If I had an expedition type build like he does, I would be perfectly fine with that bumper.
Click to expand...

See that is exactly my thought as well. The bumper design goes along with the theme and purpose of the truck. The big bumper goes great with the adventure/expo type rig purpose just as Dueling’s tube bumper goes great with his sand dune machine. A big boxy bumper would seem out of place on Dueling’s just as a tube bumper would look equally as silly on Zoomad’s rig.

With Zoomads bumper I think we all agree, the chrome has to go. Most of us hate large doses of chrome and one of the reasons Rob got this bumper instead of me keeping it for the Polar Bear :haha:. I think Rob and I agree the long-term plan when we paint the rig is to blast the bumper and go satin black or body color with it. The bumper may have looked a little better if it could have been mounted a little higher to hide the lower lip of the grill bezel but that would have required the mounting brackets to be built at an angle that would have probably compromised strength and caused downward leverage on the frame horns even when winching straight. I always wondered why the lower grill lip was exposed on these old things with these type bumpers. Now we know.
 
Larry said:
The bumper may have looked a little better if it could have been mounted a little higher to hide the lower lip of the grill bezel but that would have required the mounting brackets to be built at an angle that would have probably compromised strength and caused downward leverage on the frame horns even when winching straight. I always wondered why the lower grill lip was exposed on these old things with these type bumpers. Now we know.
Click to expand...

Bingo!
That's my issue.

I think if you had a bit more time you could properly mount it to be strong enough. Even with a winch.

I like the chrome. These old trucks were designed with chrome and need chrome to look right.
 
Larry said:
See that is exactly my thought as well. The bumper design goes along with the theme and purpose of the truck. The big bumper goes great with the adventure/expo type rig purpose just as Dueling’s tube bumper goes great with his sand dune machine. A big boxy bumper would seem out of place on Dueling’s just as a tube bumper would look equally as silly on Zoomad’s rig.
Click to expand...
Exactly. I would never run that bumper on my truck. It would absolutely kill my approach angle. But for a rig like his, it's perfect. Plenty of protection, and even helps with trail maintenance in the engine bay.
 
Larry said:
What is everybody's issue with this bumper? Is it the chrome or the boxy design?
Click to expand...

I don't have any specific issue with it, but I do think the chrome is too flashy for a truck that otherwise has a fairly subtle brown color. If this were Nick's bright orange Suburban, standing out would be par for the course. But this truck is not like that, at least not with the current paint job. Paint it shiny blue like your rig and the chrome will fit right in.

The boxy design is alright, but IMO it's not an improvement over a smaller bumper. It's still burning extra space without much benefit.

These are opinions only, they are not significant in any way. Rob, your truck is neat regardless of what you do with the bumper. :)
 
beags86 said:
Bingo!
That's my issue.

I think if you had a bit more time you could properly mount it to be strong enough. Even with a winch.

I like the chrome. These old trucks were designed with chrome and need chrome to look right.
Click to expand...

Seems like most of the old school bumpers were intended to be mounted that way so the bumper is straight out from the frame. I've got piles of old 4x4 magazines from the 70's and 80's that show square body bumpers mounted with the lower grill lip exposed (not that I like it though).

116FE223-B284-4A09-8CD4-453A0C929C13-1527-000003A823807786.jpg


0331091656a.jpg


73-80ChevWinchBumper.jpg


But you’re right, maybe with more time and fabrication we could have mounted it higher like this guy did. Getting the grill shell loose for maintenance on Rob's 91 grill shell would have been impossible though as we held the bumper up higher to see. I am not sure if I would be interested or scared to see how this bumper is mounted below. The brackets would have to mounted at a huge angle that seems it would put a lot of downward leverage on the frame horns when winching. And we all know how fragile these old frame are... :thinking:
DSC00263_zps373d0cd7.jpg
 
A good fabricatior could build a new valance for the lower grill. And actually I may do this for my own truck, just depends on what I end up doing for my front bumper, but I run a 3inch body lift on my truck, so my problem is even more compounded.

Personally I would give a left nut for a warn enforcer bumper.
images (1).jpg download (1).jpg images.jpg

Mounted correctly of course.
 
Right, but good fabricator is something we are not, nor tooled up to be :haha:

Those Enforcers are definitely hard to come by. Never a fan of those but still enjoy seeing them on someone else's rig.

Edit... I actually have an Enforcer in a box somewhere.....but it is a 1/24 scale model part off of the USA-1 Monster truck :haha:
517685-16153-96.jpg
 
I like them, had one on my old truck. And before I built the one I'm running I looked around for another. Think they fit the truck style. Not a fan of the chrome on it, but I'm not a big fan of chrome to begin with.
 
Wow, lots of opinions on the bumper. No one answer is right or wrong in this case. I'm with Larry on the chrome. It's gotta go. That's making the bulky stand out. From the front visually straight on it isn't any taller than a stocker. But from the side or 3/4 view the depth stands out like a sore thumb. But to fit a winch in front of the grille you need that space. I'm ok with that even if the side profile looks like a fire truck. That's what it reminds me of.
20150303_142032.jpg


Black will blend it in better and shrink the bulk visually. Add that with the planned rear bumper in black and black flares I think the overall look will tie together better.

The other thing here that is overlooked is budget. The only reason I got it is because Larry didn't want it for his, for the same reasons others had in that it did quite fit the vision he had for either truck. Larry and I are not fabricators. We lack the tools and knowledge to whip up a bumper from scratch. We made due with what we had available that works well even if it isn't perfectly pleasing to the eye. It's really strong, fits my winch and gives my fat self a spot to stand if I need to reach to the back of the engine.

Plus the space just behind the winch should allow me to stuff a 3 gallon air tank between the frame rails for some onboard air.

Thanks for all the discussion as it keeps the ideas flowing.
 
Maybe you can find one of those little air compressors at a garage/yard sale/auction/pawn shop. With the dual tanks.
Tear it down and put the tanks in the bumper on each side of the winch.

My neighbor gave me a brand new home depot one awhile back.

Here's a China freight one as an example:
download (2).jpg


Or if you have access to semi crap, alot of semi trailers have a air tank mounted in the back for reserve air for the brakes. I found a couple of them to put on my stepside.
 
beags86 said:
Maybe you can find one of those little air compressors at a garage/yard sale/auction/pawn shop. With the dual tanks.
Tear it down and put the tanks in the bumper on each side of the winch.

My neighbor gave me a brand new home depot one awhile back.

Here's a China freight one as an example:
View attachment 220547


Or if you have access to semi crap, alot of semi trailers have a air tank mounted in the back for reserve air for the brakes. I found a couple of them to put on my stepside.
Click to expand...

I've thought of the little compressors with the dual tanks. There is a good amount of space behind the wings of the bumpers for sure. The other night I was surfing through Amazon and I've got to say, the Bro's need for running onboard air for train horns in their bro trucks with 22" wheels and a zillion led lights have driven the price down on small air tanks. You can pick up a 3 gallon tank with 6 ports, safety valve, pressure switch and a couple of compression fittings for under $70.

Might need to hit up a couple of pawn shops during lunch this week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom