Bumper Build for my Crew Cab

[MTBLAZER89]

Been working on a drawing to determine amount of steel I will need. It will mainly 3/16 plate. It's not too $$ to buy the 6" wide strips of flat bar. I figure 3/16 with all the angles and being boxed in will be plenty strong. The frame mounts will be 1/4" plate with two more chunks of 1/4" on each side that will extend through the bumper for D-ring attachments.

I'm happy with the basic bumper design, but am undecided on what I may add to the top of it at a later point. I like the pre-runner style with tube, but Not sure how it will look on a squareish bumper. I also love the look of the 80's style push bars for the top of it. Then I could also tubes that wrap around the headlights too.

This will also hold a winch at some point and maybe some 4" lights incorporated into each side.

It will go on this truck

 

[dremu]

I like the old-school grille guards aesthetically, but I worry in my case that they'd get bashed in and break more than protect. Depending on what you're intending to protect from (rocks, brush, mud, Koeran cars, or with a crewcab, mid-sized third world countries) you might be fine.

I also find the tube over square bumper looks just fine, the key being tube size. Structurally this is total overkill, but it just looks better, to me, than the smaller ~1" stuff I tried initially.

-- A

 

[USSkoval]

I like the old style grill guard look, but without the extensions to the sides.

 

[dfl701]

I also like the push bar look. Looks great on these plate bumpers

 

[MTBLAZER89]

If I do the push bar style the push bars will be incorporated into the frame mounts and the Clevis mounts. I was thinking 1/4 or 3/16 3 pieces sandwiched together for the clevis mounts with the middle piece being the push bar and the inner being the frame mount.

I like how the pre-runner style looks, but will drive the price up because I have no way to bend the tube or pipe plus the tube will take up most of the standing room.

I'll probably build the bumper before I make a decision.

 

[USSkoval]

The push bar side plates would need to be 5/16 or 3/8 thick to make it worthwhile IMHO. Preferably 3/8.

 

[1976Blazer76]

If you're ever down in my neck of the woods (By Vancouver, WA) I can bend some tube up for your bumper no problem! I just built this one for my K5.

 

[4X4HIGH]

You should definately use a minimum of 3/8" plate for the bumper brackets.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Went and got steel today

20' of 2x2 .120 wall, 10' of 2x2 .250 wall, 20' of 2x2 .180 wall, 40' of 3/16 flat bar, 10' of 3/16x1.5 and a couple chunks of 18ga, 1/4 plate, and 1/8 diamond plate.

4' of 3.5x1"

 

[USSkoval]

What's that last SOB weigh?

 

[Merv]

Take some detailed pics. I'm gonna build one this spring, curious how others do it.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

What's that last SOB weigh?

That 1"? 47 lbs

Take some detailed pics. I'm gonna build one this spring, curious how others do it.

I will. Been doing a lot of drawing and cardboard templates.

 

[4X4HIGH]

That 1"? 47 lbs

There is no way that 3.5" x 1" SOLID flatbar only weighs 47 lbs. (47 lbs per foot i could see but not for a 4' piece).

EDIT: I just looked it up and i stand corrected, that does weigh 47.64 lbs (11.91 WPF)