Homebuilt Rear bumper pics

[Highsteel]

Just thought I'd share what I've got done on my rear bumper so far...It's not perfect but I learned alot from this one that i can apply to my front bumper... The eyebolts are a bit gawdy but I had them so I used them, they are rated at 6000lbs a piece for overhead lifting... check it out... bumper and jeep pics (http://photos.yahoo.com/highsteel29) :D

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: Highsteel ]

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: Highsteel ]</p>

[BigBadWag]

Looks sweet, now when are you gonna mount it? :D -Zach

[Highsteel]

Well its now installed! I still have to install tow chain lugs and am contemplating a swingaway tire carrier mounted to the bumper... So far I've got about $60 invested in materials.. If you guys get a chance check it out---&gt;bumper pics (http://photos.yahoo.com/highsteel29)

[Tad]

Good Job, watch you knees :D

[irbob]

Nice job, those eye bolts don't look to bad. How thick of a steel did you use?

[Highsteel]

Thanks, Yea Ive already caught my knees! I feel sorry for the person's car that runs into the back of me..
I used 3/16" wall tubing with 1/4" for the end caps(cause thats what I had) The eye bolts run all the way through the 2"x6" tube with a nut on the back.. the eyebolt and nut are welded to the bumper and the eyebolt is welded to the nut.. I think the frame will be ripped out of the thing before I lose an eyebolt.. tongue.gif

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: Highsteel ]</p>

[Manhattan]

SWEET!!!

[blt2krl]

Nice looking bumper.

[Stuka]

now ya just need to fix that exhuast so you dont rip it off on the trail ;)

[Duckman]

That is awesome!! I am saving for my welder now. When I get it nothing is safe. What do you plan to do for the front?

[Highsteel]

Stuka..Yea my exhaust is ooogly from the muffler back!There's a nasty 90degree bend in it to come out the side. Maybe I will rip it off on the trail and then my "banker" will ok new exhaust from the manifolds back.

Duckman.. I haven't decided what to do for the front I'm pretty much doing like I did for the back..going to as many 4x4 sites as I can and saving bumper pics.. What kind of welder are you getting? I did this with a Millermatic XP130 with flux core wire..It's really versatile it just takes awhile to weld thicker stuff.. ;)

[Duckman]

I plan on the 110 miller. A local shop carries it for about 500 bones, comes with a cart also. I havent done alot of welding since school, the one I am looking at has gas also. Is that preferable, if so why? I made my duck boat with one I borrowed, using flux core wire and it worked fine without gas.

[irbob]

Highsteel...sore knees? LOL...gotta hurt. Will the ends hold a high lift jack in place???

Duckman...my friend just got a 110 welder to weld a fender on and the first thing he said was, "I wish I would have gotten a 220v. The moral of this story is look into the future and think about what you will posibly be using it for. May want to save a little longer and get what you really want the first time. The gas tank goes for about 125 bucks also so add that in.

The gas will produce a cleaner weld with very little slag cleanup required which is a very nice incentive to get a welder that has a gas hookup. My MillerMatic 172 is sweet. It's a 220v machine but with the dryer hookup and my 75 foot extention it will go anywhere in my yard I need it. As you said, Duckman..."nothing is safe".

One note on flux core welding. Looking at the chart on my welder, in order to weld the thickest metal with it...it says to use the flux core wire. I asked the welding shop here and they say that it's because it burns hotter that the mild steel wire with gas. Go figure. Good thing I have a roll of flux core on hand should I want to weld a bridge together or something.

I'm picking up 2 3/16"x6"x20' pieces of steel on monday to build my bumpers out of. I need a 2" wide piece also that I forgot to order. My plan is a completely custom fit set of bumpers as never seen b4 on a FSJ. Take care folks. Again...nice bumper Highsteel.

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: irbob ]</p>

[Oracle]

Alright bumper guysLOL. Irbob? Whatcha going to do? I've been looking all over for designs that do the following but no completely satisfactory 'joy' yet.
1. Front bumper should mount HIGH, as in maybe even high enough to require relocation of the front running lights (cutouts in the bumper? or maybe substitution of different lights mounted on bumper behind bull bars etc. for protection)
imh experience, I'd want em tucked high and tight with some kind of armor shell hanging down to protect the front shackle but leave plenty of room for movement. On the moab rock shelves, the first thing you hit is the shackles and they don't like that at all.

2. second big consideration is that you should be able to get a highlift on front, and both ends, imagine one side down in deep rut or mud, where you going to hi lift from? how you going to keep it stuck on the bumper and not slide off into your sheetmetal?

3. No reason not to include an integral receiver front and rear and tie it to EVERYTHING IN SIght!! you want that receiver STRONG! Why? so you can buy one 10k or better winch and switch it from front to rear as required, storing it in the truck when not needed so you don't screw up your entry/departure angles and beat your springs to a pulp by hanging all that weight out there when you don't need it. I saw a fellow once who also had the portable mount on the winch setup so that he could use treesaver straps and tie the winch not to the vehicle, but to a tree or rock . With some coiled up heavy batt cable rigged with jumper cable disconnects, I saw him once rig it to a tree off the side of the road, and walk his jeep around a corner that was so narrow and off camber it threatened to throw him off sideways into the river below. with the short chains he carried, he could also rig it to someone elses truck and then pull his out of the mud without having to run his winch underwater, just the hook
****ed useful and flexible setup.

4.With the receiver you can also carry extra "plug" ins, i.e. tow hook, pintle, hoop, shackle, anything you can think of, even a "skid" like durango had at the rrv get together in Ok. If the mount is strong enough, you can push up to the rock, dirt ledge etc. get the skid on it, then just power forward, with a locker in the rear and with enough traction, you can just slide the front up the rock till the front tires can get some bite, all without tearing hell out of your shackles, front bumper, and possibly your steering box.

5. in the rear, the high receiver gives you a jillion options, all sorts of bike carriers, canoe carriers, just tons of stuff let your imagination run wild. (cheapest and VERY useful thing is those 2 by 5 trays that plug in and let you put your cooler and lots of other stuff out there till you get to the campsite where you can leave all that gear while you go wheelin.

6. Lastly, it would be SOOO nice if either front or rear (probably easiest in rear) could be rigged so a dissassebled hi jack shaft could be slid into the bumper and secured by a locking bolt of somekind to prevent theft and keep your cg low.

Lastly, should be black so that just a can of paint will have you looking like new after a tough run on the trails smile.gif

Well, those are the considerations I've come up with. Seen several rear bumpers that come close, but no front ones yet. sooo any ideas you guys have, toss em out smile.gif
if you come up with something, let me know smile.gif

[Oracle]

Oh, one other thing I forgot, wouldn't hurt to have some stout bull bars on the front bumper. In colorado, utah, etc. an errant mule deer will tear up the front of your jeep, and maybe you. out here in Arkansas that 'tread lightly' stuff is out the window. If you don't get out on your trail every month or so, this brush and trees grow so fast you'll have trouble finding it again smile.gif heheh

[irbob]

Oracle...I am going to address all thos issues and more. You have inspired me to start with the front bumper first as to fill the lack of front bumper building. The main part about mine is that they will be angled in on the face kind of like a plow and will come down to protect the shackles. I don't think there is a need to go above the parking lights though. I like them where they are. We shall see. I'm welding up my fuel tank skid plate right now. It's coming along good.

[Oracle]

Irbob, keep us all informed. I think there's a good market here, especially for the front bumper. The other thing I'd like to see is a good stout raingutter based safari rack like the one Jode built on his 70's rig. I need all this stuff for the Bloodsucker, and maybe one more smile.gif heheh
I'll be watching for your updates smile.gif

[Highsteel]

Irbob..How bout some pics of the gas tank skid plate ;) I won't just copy it but, I've been thinking about that but just need some ideas...As for the front bumper I think I'm going to use the two outside pieces of the factory bumper and then fab a winch mount for the center part left out..David Allen's Chero has a nice front bumper like that but I can't seem to find the link to his rig..

[irbob]

The factory skid plate is what I'm working on. It has two rust (only rust I've found) holes in it that I'm repairing. Although now that it's off the rig it would be a good time to install a skid plate onto the factory plate now wouldn't it? Hmmm that's a thought...I do have a piece of plate that would work.

Front bumper construction to start on Thursday.