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colbystephens' '73 blazer build!

I'm not far behind you in your rear bumper build. I have been thinking of all the delima's with lifting these big ass tires up and down too. This is actually a fun brain storming build. I want a barn door style tire carrier that opens in the middle or offset because of tire size. Makes getting into the rear WAY easier, but lifting a tire off a door that opens sideways only will be impossible. buefchris has a bad ass barn door tire carrier I took good close up detailed pics of to copy. But I want a more tube style bumper vs a 6" x 2" rectangle bumper as the main structure.

The type of tire carriers that are full width fold out gates put WAY too much stress on the pivot, unless it's really stout. I like this setup for the hinge. Cheap for the price too. I think I'm going to order one. It's best used in a rectangle bumper but I'm going to somehow incorperate it into a tube style bumper build. Actually I might do a rectangle/tube bumper. Make a bumper with both types of material used. Just typing this gave me an idea. :D

http://www.atozfabrication.com/store/product.php?productid=16138&cat=0&page=1
 
those are pretty rad hinges. i'm just using a fabricators bushing kit from DIY4x. These are basically the same thing that BOR uses - and their bumpers have stood the test, so I'm pretty confident this will work great. :)

seems like if you put quick-release pins in all bushing hinges you could make a system that would either swing out or down as you wanted, but you'd need hinges on both ends of each connection...
 
thanks for the compliments.

As to your questions:
1. I have a bolt plate, like what you see in the BOR photo. I purchased it for about $10 from DIY4x.

Why don't you mount up a spindle, hub, disc, locking hub, onto that plate? Then you can have a whole spare mounted up. If you are really creative you might be able to get an outer stub shaft in there as well.

Think about how awesome that would be! Obviously it would add a little weight, but I think it would still be manageable.

You just have to pay me royalties, that's all. ;)

3. Mine swings down just low enough to let the tail gate down all the way. It appears to be strong enough to use as a step to get into the truck, but I am concerned about long term wear/tear indenting the tubing where it contacts the tow points. I might gusset my tubing a little for added security.

Would you be willing to sleeve, (pretty much make solid), the bottom of your hinge point on your stinger? You'd have to cut off the tubes at the base, or close to the base, & then insert [press] a smaller piece of tubing say about 6" long at that end, then drill out a couple of places on the hoop for full rosette welds along with the full butt weld to heal the cut.

The extra thickness would resist crushing, from using it as a step, but it would be a lot of work there at the pivot point.

Just a thought.

Later,
Buddy
 
i like your second idea lot. I'll seriously consider it. The spindle isn't too important to me, though.
 
I originally really liked this bumper too, but after talking to a couple other members and after them telling me how much of a PITA it will be to always have to fold the tire carrier up and down to access the tailgate and get into the back, I decided against it. You will get into the back a million times, but how often with you actually need to change a tire. I would imagine if the bumper took a hit or got tweaked slightly, the upper bushing points would be a bitch to line up and get the pins engaged.


DSC03928.jpg
 
those are pretty rad hinges. i'm just using a fabricators bushing kit from DIY4x. These are basically the same thing that BOR uses - and their bumpers have stood the test, so I'm pretty confident this will work great. :)

seems like if you put quick-release pins in all bushing hinges you could make a system that would either swing out or down as you wanted, but you'd need hinges on both ends of each connection...


Just ordered the Mega HD hinge for the tire side and a regular HD for the other side that will hold gas cans or whatever. :laugh: Going to get to gettin on my bumper. Looking at your thread has got me interested in working on it again. My truck as you know aint going anywhere soon so I don't NEED to do a bumper yet but I just want to.
 
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I originally really liked this bumper too, but after talking to a couple other members and after them telling me how much of a PITA it will be to always have to fold the tire carrier up and down to access the tailgate and get into the back, I decided against it. You will get into the back a million times, but how often with you actually need to change a tire.
With the roof off or a soft top on you can just go over the side or through the window for most things, so you don't have to fold the rack down as much. With my top off I barley ever open the tailgate, the only time I really use it is when I want somewhere to sit. I made a fold down like this a few years ago with DIY bushings but never got around to getting a spare for it :rolleyes: so it just sits in the garage. It wasn't that bad to lift though when I tested it out with a 38" tsl on a h1 and thats a pretty heavy combination
 
Just ordered the Mega HD hinge for the tire side and a regular HD for the other side that will hold gas cans or whatever. :laugh: Going to get to gettin on my bumper. Looking at your thread has got me interested in working on it again. My truck as you know aint going anywhere soon so I don't NEED to do a bumper yet but I just want to.


Changed my order to two Mega hinges instead of a one Mega and one regular HD hinge.
 
The type of tire carriers that are full width fold out gates put WAY too much stress on the pivot, unless it's really stout.

Again, with my spare parts also being useful & not just taking up space. Why not use a spindle & hub for your hinge(s)?

Just cut off the disc mounting flange & weld your support arm onto that. You could do one on both sides & have your "barn-door" style swing-outs. I would defy you to over-tax that hinge. They hold up your truck for crap-sake!

Just a thought,
Buddy
 
Again, with my spare parts also being useful & not just taking up space. Why not use a spindle & hub for your hinge(s)?

Just cut off the disc mounting flange & weld your support arm onto that. You could do one on both sides & have your "barn-door" style swing-outs. I would defy you to over-tax that hinge. They hold up your truck for crap-sake!

Just a thought,
Buddy

Excellent idea. Someone on here years ago used a 10 bolt spindle for that....and also for some sort of shop crane rig.

Wish i knew who or where the thread is....
 
Again, with my spare parts also being useful & not just taking up space. Why not use a spindle & hub for your hinge(s)?

Just cut off the disc mounting flange & weld your support arm onto that. You could do one on both sides & have your "barn-door" style swing-outs. I would defy you to over-tax that hinge. They hold up your truck for crap-sake!

Just a thought,
Buddy


I don't have any hubs or spindels laying around I could use. Don't want to use my D60 spindles of course or cut up a 14FF. I know thats an option but I think this is a nice kit, has all the parts, so it's a good choice.
 
Hey Colby. Idk if you watch xtereme 4x4. But the new episode this morning was a rear bumper alot like yours for the scout. Could check it out and see how they did it
 
i don't have a tv - is it available online, do you know?

in other news, I'm not sure i'm going to make any progress this weekend. I had to take the truck out yesterday, so the bumper had to come off. I might have the opportunity to do some of the finish welding, but none of the fun stuff like bending tube and such... :)
 
No tv!?!? Good god I'd die lol
I believe so. It's Xtreme 4x4 on spike tv. I'm sure you can find it. Bumper went on a 69 scout. Brand new episode today so that should help you search
 
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