...after all that I'm now exhausted. Lol. Sorry, couldn't resist.
-Darren
-Darren
CK5
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TnA's 86 Jimmy Shop Build / Product Development Thread - (Trailing Arms?!?!)
- Thread starter CFMi
- Start date
Okay, I know you guys are lurking, but so few comments lately! Not even from Dueling, lol!
Here's something to bring about some comments, I'm sure (I hope at least!). Teaser pic:
Now remember, it's nowhere near done yet, but this is what I'm leaning towards as a rear bumper center. I think I'm just going to make them all with the hitch and winch mount, since both of those things need the HD bracketry and structure. The tire carrier will be bolt-on, and the sides will be bolt-on also. It should fit Smittybilt (T-Max) 8k and 10k winches, and also the Warn VR series 10k and less. I know there are other winches out there but they all seem to be a little taller and trying to fit them under the gate when it's down would just make it hang even lower. I'm not set on the winches yet though, so the design may change a little in that respect still.
Also, this isn't a bracket set that has a shell bolted around it, it's all one piece that will be welded together. It's a combination of 3/8", 1/4", and 3/16" plate.
It catches 5 (yes, 5!) factory bolt holes on each frame rail. The frame mounts and winch plate are all 3/8" thick plate. Should be very beefy.
Anyway, fire away with thoughts/suggestions/compliments/hatred/whatever!!!
-Darren
Here's something to bring about some comments, I'm sure (I hope at least!). Teaser pic:
Now remember, it's nowhere near done yet, but this is what I'm leaning towards as a rear bumper center. I think I'm just going to make them all with the hitch and winch mount, since both of those things need the HD bracketry and structure. The tire carrier will be bolt-on, and the sides will be bolt-on also. It should fit Smittybilt (T-Max) 8k and 10k winches, and also the Warn VR series 10k and less. I know there are other winches out there but they all seem to be a little taller and trying to fit them under the gate when it's down would just make it hang even lower. I'm not set on the winches yet though, so the design may change a little in that respect still.
Also, this isn't a bracket set that has a shell bolted around it, it's all one piece that will be welded together. It's a combination of 3/8", 1/4", and 3/16" plate.
It catches 5 (yes, 5!) factory bolt holes on each frame rail. The frame mounts and winch plate are all 3/8" thick plate. Should be very beefy.
Anyway, fire away with thoughts/suggestions/compliments/hatred/whatever!!!
-Darren
Make the hitch an option. Too low.
Martin
Martin
I still don't know if I am sold on the winch in the rear. Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to have the ability to winch myself and someone else from the rear, but I care more about deparcher angle than having a winch in the rear. So I am interested to see how far out and how low that center section hangs out/down when on the rig. Do you have plans to do a center section without the winch mount and just a hitch in the center of the mount (not hanging down on the bottom, more of a recessed hitch mount)? I have always thought if I will have a winch for the rear, I will just put it in a cradle and keep it in the back of the rig and get it out whenever I need it and hook it into a hitch on the bumper, but maybe that's just me. I still will be keeping an eye on this to see how the wings turn out and how the tire carrier works/looks. Keep it coming
P.S. I have been lurking this whole time waiting for this info on the rear bumper.....and i have a feeling I'm not the only one
P.S. I have been lurking this whole time waiting for this info on the rear bumper.....and i have a feeling I'm not the only one
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Certainly looks like your on the right track! Very curious to see exactly where you go with it.
I no post cuz I got a real job and I don't has time for ck5 at work anymore 
Looks great though
Looks great though
I have to agree, a pair of beefy shackle/D ring mounts on either side is a must, and like Martin said maybe the reciever as an option may be best.
I'm actually leaning the opposite way. I'd go hitch only and skip the winch. (Although rear winch would've come in handy before).
It doesn't even need tow points. As long as there is a high you grab a hitchounted shackle with a D ring and keep everything contained in one small 2x2 area of the bumper. Not cluttered up with a bunch of other crap.
It doesn't even need tow points. As long as there is a high you grab a hitchounted shackle with a D ring and keep everything contained in one small 2x2 area of the bumper. Not cluttered up with a bunch of other crap.
That's what I'm talking about. The two d-ring mounts would be cool, but as long as you had a hitch mounted up high and not haning down, you can get one of those d-ring hitch mounts for like $30 from 4wheelparts.
I got mine from china freight. if done right you could make the tallest part of the bumper 3-4", no larger than the frame (around the center) and just taper off at an angle off of that up to the corners. sleek and sexy and less likely to get hung up and add weight.
now on the k5s/subs with the tank hanging down in the rear, I can see why you'd want a taller bumper, to hide the back end of the tank, but on trucks you don't got to worry about that nonsense.
Ahhh! There's everybody!! Lol. I knew you were all there!
I went back and forth on this when I was drawing it up, and yes, I think I'm going to make it an option for sure on this version at least.
I'm really leaning towards making two different rear options. I've always made super high-clearance stuff for the rockcrawling that we have out here in CO, but after making the front bumper and realizing that there is a market there for the street/mild trail guys, I decided to make something similar for the rear. Last time I talked about doing a bumper (years ago, under a different company) nearly everyone wanted a rear winch setup. I kept saying that it would hang out/down too far and never went anywhere with it. So now I'm torn between the two designs. I might just have to make both.
Thanks man!
Thanks man! And with a real job you'll at least have more money!!
Most definitely on the D-Ring mounts, of course! Just hadn't had a chance to put them on yet.
That might just be my other design. It's hard to say what I'm going to do with a high-clearance non-winch version though. I mean angling the ends of a 2x4 piece of rectangular tube has been done over and over and over again. It's cheap though, but you guys could do it at home. So what do I make that looks more stylish than that, is still cheap for you guys to buy, and is still simple? Hmmmm.... Thoughts are starting to form......
This design is specifically for the K5s/Subs. The trucks have a different rear frame design, and you are 100% right in that they can be tucked up even tighter and still gain ground clearance. The SUV bodies have the gas tank there, so tucking everything super-tight can only do so much. It might help out departure angle ever so slightly but it will also give less protection for the tank, so it's just not quite as critical as the trucks. The truck version will be coming out too, and I have access to a truck to build off of, but that must wait until after Blazer Bash.
Well thank you to everyone who commented so far! I really do appreciate it and take people's opinions to heart and try to incorporate as much as I can into the designs I make. Keep the comments coming!!!!
-Darren
I went back and forth on this when I was drawing it up, and yes, I think I'm going to make it an option for sure on this version at least.
I still don't know if I am sold on the winch in the rear. Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to have the ability to winch myself and someone else from the rear, but I care more about deparcher angle than having a winch in the rear. So I am interested to see how far out and how low that center section hangs out/down when on the rig. Do you have plans to do a center section without the winch mount and just a hitch in the center of the mount (not hanging down on the bottom, more of a recessed hitch mount)? I have always thought if I will have a winch for the rear, I will just put it in a cradle and keep it in the back of the rig and get it out whenever I need it and hook it into a hitch on the bumper, but maybe that's just me. I still will be keeping an eye on this to see how the wings turn out and how the tire carrier works/looks. Keep it coming
P.S. I have been lurking this whole time waiting for this info on the rear bumper.....and i have a feeling I'm not the only one
I'm really leaning towards making two different rear options. I've always made super high-clearance stuff for the rockcrawling that we have out here in CO, but after making the front bumper and realizing that there is a market there for the street/mild trail guys, I decided to make something similar for the rear. Last time I talked about doing a bumper (years ago, under a different company) nearly everyone wanted a rear winch setup. I kept saying that it would hang out/down too far and never went anywhere with it. So now I'm torn between the two designs. I might just have to make both.
Thanks man!
I no post cuz I got a real job and I don't has time for ck5 at work anymore
Looks great though
Thanks man! And with a real job you'll at least have more money!!
Most definitely on the D-Ring mounts, of course! Just hadn't had a chance to put them on yet.
That might just be my other design. It's hard to say what I'm going to do with a high-clearance non-winch version though. I mean angling the ends of a 2x4 piece of rectangular tube has been done over and over and over again. It's cheap though, but you guys could do it at home. So what do I make that looks more stylish than that, is still cheap for you guys to buy, and is still simple? Hmmmm.... Thoughts are starting to form......
This design is specifically for the K5s/Subs. The trucks have a different rear frame design, and you are 100% right in that they can be tucked up even tighter and still gain ground clearance. The SUV bodies have the gas tank there, so tucking everything super-tight can only do so much. It might help out departure angle ever so slightly but it will also give less protection for the tank, so it's just not quite as critical as the trucks. The truck version will be coming out too, and I have access to a truck to build off of, but that must wait until after Blazer Bash.
Well thank you to everyone who commented so far! I really do appreciate it and take people's opinions to heart and try to incorporate as much as I can into the designs I make. Keep the comments coming!!!!
-Darren
I hear you on all of this. I think you are smart to make a big beefier one like the front bumper on yours right now. There are a lot of people who would like to have one like that. Not everyone is into rock crawling these things like some of us. So good-on-ya for that one. That's a smart move.
For the design of the high-clearance non-winch one, I think you will come up with something cool. It's good to hear that you want something different than just 2x4 square tube. I like your design of the wings and stuff on Smokinthehippies front, so I am interested to see what design you come up with. I attached a couple pics of a bumper that is a square tube bumper just to show you the protection around the back fender/tail light and also the recessed hitch. I think a lot of people into crawling are looking for something like this. Plus, with things like those tube protection around the fenders, that is a good mounting point for a swing down tire carrier (if I remember right, that is how Blazen offroad bumpers did it before they went out of business). Just trying to get ideas flowing in your brain
. Keep up the good work. I like the products you are producing 
P.S. Hope you dont mind me posting pics like this in your thread....hijack over
I hear you on all of this. I think you are smart to make a big beefier one like the front bumper on yours right now. There are a lot of people who would like to have one like that. Not everyone is into rock crawling these things like some of us. So good-on-ya for that one. That's a smart move.
For the design of the high-clearance non-winch one, I think you will come up with something cool. It's good to hear that you want something different than just 2x4 square tube. I like your design of the wings and stuff on Smokinthehippies front, so I am interested to see what design you come up with. I attached a couple pics of a bumper that is a square tube bumper just to show you the protection around the back fender/tail light and also the recessed hitch. I think a lot of people into crawling are looking for something like this. Plus, with things like those tube protection around the fenders, that is a good mounting point for a swing down tire carrier (if I remember right, that is how Blazen offroad bumpers did it before they went out of business). Just trying to get ideas flowing in your brain
P.S. Hope you dont mind me posting pics like this in your thread....hijack over
I don't mind the pics at all, man! ...and thanks for the kind words! I did look through that bumper install the other day, and there are a few things I like, and a few things I don't, lol. But the high-clearance version might end up similar to that in some ways. We'll see...
And one last exhaust update too...
It's done for now, I might end up changing the exit later, but for now it exits past the body so that I won't end up dying from exhaust fumes throughout Blazer Bash.
...and the rear shocks:
Next step I think is to get all the fluids changed, wrap up a few small odds and ends, and see if I wired everything correctly. Hopefully she'll fire back up again soon, all fuel injected and stuff!
-Darren
Those lower shock mounts, ill take two!
Yes, I'm planning on making it three piece like the front high clearance design. At the moment at least. Lol
PM Sent!
63chevyll
1/2 ton status
i like the idea, i should see what you come up with before i start building mine. i have my frame brackets cut out very close to yours.
I did a 1 inch body lift from ORD to I could tuck my winch up higher
I did a 1 inch body lift from ORD to I could tuck my winch up higher
drew4x4
1/2 ton status
are you makin the rear shock cross member now for production?
maybe a kit with the lower mounts?
maybe a kit with the lower mounts?
I like your work so far. I think you could have like 3 or 4 different designs. When someone orders one, you make it.
I think you could have like 3 or 4 different designs. When someone orders one, you make it.
