Rear Bumper Build with pics **I need your input!**

[Avery4jc]

Ok so here's the deal I'm down to just about a week before we take off for a weekend at the dunes so I had to prioritize my to-do list in case I don't get to it all.
Way at the top of my list was to build a very simple, non-bulky rear bumper.

Basically my only wants are a place to mount my tail lights and a square receiver so I can slip my d-ring recovery block into it and hook a strap up.

I have some heavy wall 2"x4" tubing, some 1/2" plate, two LED tail lights and a square receiver to work with.
I was thinking of running the plate with 4 grade 8 bolts to the inside of the frame sticking out about 2" then welding/gusseting a piece of the 2x4 so it sits flush with the end of the frame rails.
I can cut out holes for the lights and the receiver tube at work with the plasma...


Nothing is set in stone though so now you know what I'm working with toss out some ideas.

 

[73redblaze]

man looking good. i was down in pismo last weekend. this weekend up to the lake. love the build. how much did you shorten the bed by?? no other suggestions, just compliments.

 

[lectric80]

How about just welding the 2x4 closed on the ends and then mounting it between the frame rails. Not really a bumper, more of a cross member in this case, but it would give you the place to mount the lights, would provide a bit of stiffening to the frame, and would give you a place to mount the square tube.

Personally I don't think an actual bumper is going to look good with the open rear like that, but by bracing across the frame it should look clean and perform the necessary stuff.

 

[Avery4jc]

man looking good. i was down in pismo last weekend. this weekend up to the lake. love the build. how much did you shorten the bed by?? no other suggestions, just compliments.

It's a standard cab short bed frame but I kicked the rear end out about 2" so I think it makes it look like I cut part of the back of the frame off but I didn't.

How about just welding the 2x4 closed on the ends and then mounting it between the frame rails. Not really a bumper, more of a cross member in this case, but it would give you the place to mount the lights, would provide a bit of stiffening to the frame, and would give you a place to mount the square tube.

Personally I don't think an actual bumper is going to look good with the open rear like that, but by bracing across the frame it should look clean and perform the necessary stuff.

I guess I'm not very good at explaining what's in my head because that's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe "bumper" is the wrong word for this since I'm wanting to keep it really simple, basically a glorified crossmember.

I was thinking of using these 4 holes (utilizing the 3 that are already there and drilling the lower right 4th one) to mount the plate. You guys think that'll work strength wise? It already looks like swiss cheese back here so I don't want to drill a bunch of extra holes.

 

[My Big Jimmy]

heres a pic i stoll off somebody on this site sorry i dont remeber who so i can give them credit. this is wat im gonnado front and back, looks tuff and im sure very strong. wat do u think. sguare tube turn on end

 

[colbystephens]

use the plasma to cut a hole through which to slip the receiver tube and weld it up. Then you could add a gusset or two to the back of it, but it'll make it real clean, very strong and compact. i don't like seeing receiver tubes hanging down anywhere...

edit: looks like the guy above me sort of beat me to it. that angle on the rectangular tubing is an interesting idea. seems sort of unnecessary, but interesting. Perhaps it's not unnecessary if that's where you'll do most of your pulling from. Also, if that's your main tug point, just slip your tow strap inside the receiver and run the hitch pin through it. It'll save you some coin over getting one of those receiver tube shackle mounts...

 

[Avery4jc]

heres a pic i stoll off somebody on this site sorry i dont remeber who so i can give them credit. this is wat im gonnado front and back, looks tuff and im sure very strong. wat do u think. sguare tube turn on end

Yep that's basically what I'm thinking except I was going to make the tube flush with the edge of the frame.
You think they turned the tube in the frame like that for strength?

 

[colbystephens]

the tube is going to be stronger if loaded in that direction because there's a bend across the loaded plane.

 

[My Big Jimmy]

i assumed they turned it on edge so wen the cut for the hitch rec. was made the strength wasnt effected. but i dont see y u couldnt or just weld ur hitch rec. straight to it on one of the sides.

 

[Wicked Wolf Auto]

How about just welding the 2x4 closed on the ends and then mounting it between the frame rails. Not really a bumper, more of a cross member in this case, but it would give you the place to mount the lights, would provide a bit of stiffening to the frame, and would give you a place to mount the square tube.

Personally I don't think an actual bumper is going to look good with the open rear like that, but by bracing across the frame it should look clean and perform the necessary stuff.

We did this same thing to my Buddies Toyota worked out well

 

[Greg72]

Yep that's basically what I'm thinking except I was going to make the tube flush with the edge of the frame.
You think they turned the tube in the frame like that for strength?

Since you guys are all speculating about a hitch that I built (that's a photo of my frame BTW) I can answer the question simply:

There is a mounting plate on the inside of each framerail that connects to that thick square tube. If you load the tube in between the framerails the normal flat way, you end up blocking all the factory holes that you'd like to re-use to fasten the frame to those inner plates. By rotating the tube, you create 4 very convenient triangular shaped spots for the holes to land on, and better access to get a wrench in there to tighten things down.

It really wasn't a strength thing....IIRC the whole thing was built from .250" wall material so the frame itself is the weak link, not the hitch.

 

[Big Blzn]

I'll try to explain my idea:
Get a length of rectangle tubing that is the same dimention as your frame. 4"x6"??? Cut it the same width as the outside to outside of the frame rails. I would then make two 3/8" plates that get butt welded to each end of the rectangle tube with the tall length of the tube going vertical. I would not slide the new tube into the frame rails but that is just kinda used as an end piece. personally I don't like to weld anything to the frame because it makes it more difficult to take off and modify or replace if necessary. The 3/8" plate would go on the outside of the frame rails and bolt to the four holes you mentioned earlier. You then have a place to mount the reciever and tail lights. I try to make a pic and post.

 

[My Big Jimmy]

ahhh it was u greg thanks for speakin up, wen i did mine i got the tube in the frame and figured the same about the hole in the frame. turnin it is a perfect fit thanks