I needed a through-bumper front receiver for a Multi-mount winch and for other uses including towing use. As I couldn't find an article on fabricating one and I wanted to keep the stock chrome bumper, as I like the looks, I had to start from scratch. So, here follows a simple-to-make and install, through bumper front receiver article.
The components are:
2- 2"X2"X3/16" tubing supports, 27” long, cut 45 degrees on the ends.
2- 6"X1-1/2”X5/8" solid stock
1- 12 inch receiver (Purchased as is or fab your own)
4- 3-1/2"X half inch grade 8 bolts
4- 1"X half inch grade 8 bolts
8- 1/2 inch nuts
8- 1/2 inch lock washers
½” drill bit
Marker of some kind
I purchased the 3/16" stock 2 inch square tubing from a local metal supply. It would be cheaper to buy used from a scrap yard though. (Realized that later on!)
The 6”X1-1/2”X5/8” solid stock was from an old engine stand. Should be able to find some scrap or use a piece of 5/8” plate steel or stack thinner material to approximately 5/8”.
The 12” receiver came from Tractor Supply but is easy to find or fabricate.
Grade 8, ½” bolts, nuts and washers came from Lowes hardware.
Assembly
Drill a ½” hole in each end of the 5/8” stock pieces about 1-1/4” from the end. (Mine were pre-drilled from their previous use). Weld the 5/8” solid stock pieces onto the 12” receiver 2-1/4 inches from the back edge and 2-1/2” apart, centered side to side of course. The reason I used this thickness is; together with the two inch cross bars, it places the receiver close to the center of the tag mount area of the front bumper.
Make 45 degree cuts on each end of the 2X2X3/16” tubing, making them 27 inches long at the longest points. (I cut 45 degree angles to facilitate installing/tightening the 1" bolts that hold the cross bars in the frame.) The frame members are about 28” apart inside to inside, this leaves a little room on each end for ease of installation/removal. Drill ½” holes in each end of the cross bars, about one inch from each end.
Center the receiver assembly on the cross bars to mark the holes for the 3-1/2” X1/2” diameter bolts that hold the receiver assembly to the cross bars and drill the ½” holes.
Place the cross bars in between the frame members and bolt the receiver assembly to them with the 3-1/2”X1/2” diameter bolts. Slide the assembled unit forward until it is almost touching the front bumper. Square it up in the frame. Mark the bottom of the frame where the cross bars are.
Slide the receiver all the way forward to mark the backside of the front bumper where the hole needs to be cut out. Go around the end of the receiver with your marker. I used a silver Sharpie marker for that.
Slide it back out of the way and drill small holes through the bumper, from the backside, at the four corners of the marked outline. Definitely take your time here.
Take a grinder with a cutting disk, and from the front side of the bumper, cut the square hole in the front bumper (connected the dots previously drilled from the backside).
Unbolt and remove the assembly and then bolt it back together on the ground so you can hold it up against the bottom of the frame to mark the cross bar mounting holes locations that need to be drilled in the frame members. Use the marks you did when it was in place between the frames. A little creativity here will help you get the markings for the ½” mounting holes correct. Drill the ½” holes in the frame members.
Unbolt, place the cross bars back in the frame and bolt the receiver and cross bars back together but don’t tighten yet.
The reason I didn’t just lay the parts in place, and weld it all together is because I wanted to be able to remove it if needed. And I bolted the 5/8 inch stock pieces to the cross bars instead of welding them in order to get it in and out of the frame members. Welded together in one piece, it would be almost, if not impossible, to install.
Please remember the photos perspective may cause you to think the things aren’t square or equal distance. Just a trick of the camera.
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