Another 'bumper build' thread...

[The Pumpkinator]

This may seem kinda "bass akwards" building a front winch bumper without the winch but I got hyped up over having it built before the snow flies....

btw feel free to offer any advise or ideas 'cuz it 'aint painted yet

First off was to take care of some cosmetic stuff; bye bye fender fangs

 

[The Pumpkinator]

After yanking off the front bumper I opened up a can of worms. The driver's side frame rail was all torn up (guess that explains why I was missing a front tow hook) and was patched up by someone who laid in some booger welds and a washer for some hole support ...so that had to be ground out heated and pounded back into its proper position, thank you previous owner!

 

[K85 Octane]

good start, is that some kind of rubber molding on the bottom?

 

[The Pumpkinator]

Then came making some mounts for the 1/2" plate bumper base and some 2" ID schedule 40 black pipe...

 

[The Pumpkinator]

good start, is that some kind of rubber molding on the bottom?

yep its rubber U channel molding glued on with some crazy industrial glue (can't remember the name) and then finished off with some silicone to keep the water out

 

[The Pumpkinator]

Now all the tedious tube work...

 

[ryoken]

holy huge stinger batman!

 

[The Pumpkinator]

I wanted the side quarter panel tubes to come down into the front stinger at an aggressive angle but not too aggressive where it looks funky and blocks the headlights, I thought it was a little too steep...first pic is at eye level with the lights

 

[The Pumpkinator]

holy huge stinger batman!

ya the stinger is redonkulous huge but at least I don't have to see under it in order to drive down the road

 

[The Pumpkinator]

more tubes...I didn't snap a pic right after the front end was put together, nor the side quarter panel tubes, but I was worried of the frame flexing in and my bumper tubes kissing my quarters, so here's some field testing

 

[The Pumpkinator]

The side tubes were wayyyy too close for comfort when flexed out, about a shy 1/4" too close , so they had to be pushed out at the topmost mounts, I also had to do something about the craptastic side approach angle. so this is what I came up with...

 

[The Pumpkinator]

That's all I got so far, the bottom front plate is going to have a 1/2" plate skid that extends back to the middle of the front spring hangers but I think it may be wise of me to wait on getting a winch first before I make a $800 "oops it doesn't fit"

 

[cybrfire]

After yanking off the front bumper I opened up a can of worms.

I'd say the can of worms was already open. You welded it shut. Hopefully all the worms are back inside.

 

[The Pumpkinator]

True, I didn't see anymore frame damage, and the worms are back in the can...for now

 

[mudbuggy]

A definate original!

 

[The Pumpkinator]

I hope I don't hijack my own thread here, but it's still related to the bumper, and I have some burning questions for you guys runnin' rock bumpers; how much does your bumper "jiggle" in relation to the body? and how much does each corner flex up and down? mine seems pretty loose when driving down the road, could shot front body mounts contribute to this? or loose cross members? You folks here obviously have far more experience in this area than anyone I can think of, so input would greatly be appreciated

 

[HeftyFabworks]

If its tied into the frame properly the bumper shouldn't move at all! I would guess bad body mount bushings. Loose cross members could cause frame flex too but that seems less likely.

 

[496truck]

You have to remember the size of the stinger you have hanging out in front of you. Any motion you have between the frame/body is amplified that far out from the point of origin. May look worse than it really is.

 

[rgorsuch87]

What are you going to do kill cows with that thing? Looks really good, maybe on the heavy side. How much does it weigh?

 

[The Pumpkinator]

WHAT!? shouldn't move at all?? well I do agree with the stinger amplifying the visual movement, it jiggles side to side and is rock solid as far as front to back, its especially visible in the corners that stick up at the edges of the hood. The bumper is held on by eight 1/2" grade 8 bolts on 1/4" plate beveled and welded to a 1/2" plate of steel! what gives? The front body mounts are pretty dang soft, like 'squishy by poking it with your finger' soft...

HA! up here in the cowboy state you have no idea how much crap I get 'cuz of my "cow catcher", I quote one person who said to me "son that there is some heavy duty nerf bars on that bronco of yours...did you build that cow catcher on the front?" three fails right there

However as far as animal encounters go, I now can enjoy the feeling of not succumbing to death and destruction once a deer jumps out in front of me. I figure next time when I get into a bind with one of those animals I wont even bother to hit the brakes or swerve out of the way, just stomp on the skinny pedal and it's all personal from there