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I posted a few pics of the rear bumper that I had made right before I went on a snow run. After getting several responses for more detailed pics, I decided to do a bit off a write-up. The bumper loosely follows the design of the Cliffhanger bumper that is sold by BJ?s Offroad. I considered buying one from them but it wasn?t exactly what I wanted. Also, I really wanted to build it myself. The lower portion of my rear fenders were pretty rusty so I trimmed them off and plated in the gap. I wanted some sort of rock slider to go where the fender material was so I incorporated it into the bumper.
I guess I will start with the two recovery points that are built into the bumper. I took two pieces of ½?X4? flat plate and welded them together to make 1?X4? plate. Then using a plasma cutter, I cut through the 2?X6? tube that is the main rear piece. The 1?X4? goes through the 2?x6? and is welded on both sides. The 1?X4? plate is bolted to some brackets that are bolted to the frame and then also serve as the recovery points. The 2?X6? tube is 1/8? thick as is most of the other material used. The rock slider portions are the same material as the main rear piece. To connect the rock sliders to the frame, I used 1 1/4? square tube that goes all the way through the 2?X6? tube. I plated in the outer hole and ground it off smooth. 4?X ¼? angle is used to secure the 1 1/4? square tube to the frame just behind the rear spring mounts. I was a bit concerned about the rock slider only being supported in the middle and at back where it is welded to the main bumper, but when I used my shinny new high lift jack to get the rear driver side tire all the way off the ground, my concern quickly diminished. Besides, rarely will a rock come up that close to the back tire. The hinge is the only piece that I didn?t fabricate myself. I bought it from AtoZ fabrications.
http://www.atozfabrication.com/catalog/tirecarrierhingekit-p-34.html?zenid=413897c9e0cd12ef0c8fdaaec48e5a2e
Let me tell you, it is nice. A premade, high quality set-up that is ready to go. The zerk fitting is something that I added just because I thought it would be cool to have
The swinging tire carrier part is pretty much a copy from BJ?s. There is only so many ways that you can mount a tire, two gas cans and a high lift jack. My only requirement was that both lights and the license plate needed to be fully visible from a reasonable following distance. I didn?t want to give California?s finest and reason to stop me. Also I chose to put the gas cans on the driver side for two reasons, they are heavy and I am lazy. That way trailside refueling can be accomplished with the old Oklahoma credit card, just siphon away. Because of where the spare tire is mounted, a bit of a blind spot has been created, but since this is not my daily driver, I felt it was a compromise that I could live with.
That?s about it. Here are some pics to check out. Enjoy?
I guess I will start with the two recovery points that are built into the bumper. I took two pieces of ½?X4? flat plate and welded them together to make 1?X4? plate. Then using a plasma cutter, I cut through the 2?X6? tube that is the main rear piece. The 1?X4? goes through the 2?x6? and is welded on both sides. The 1?X4? plate is bolted to some brackets that are bolted to the frame and then also serve as the recovery points. The 2?X6? tube is 1/8? thick as is most of the other material used. The rock slider portions are the same material as the main rear piece. To connect the rock sliders to the frame, I used 1 1/4? square tube that goes all the way through the 2?X6? tube. I plated in the outer hole and ground it off smooth. 4?X ¼? angle is used to secure the 1 1/4? square tube to the frame just behind the rear spring mounts. I was a bit concerned about the rock slider only being supported in the middle and at back where it is welded to the main bumper, but when I used my shinny new high lift jack to get the rear driver side tire all the way off the ground, my concern quickly diminished. Besides, rarely will a rock come up that close to the back tire. The hinge is the only piece that I didn?t fabricate myself. I bought it from AtoZ fabrications.
http://www.atozfabrication.com/catalog/tirecarrierhingekit-p-34.html?zenid=413897c9e0cd12ef0c8fdaaec48e5a2e
Let me tell you, it is nice. A premade, high quality set-up that is ready to go. The zerk fitting is something that I added just because I thought it would be cool to have
The swinging tire carrier part is pretty much a copy from BJ?s. There is only so many ways that you can mount a tire, two gas cans and a high lift jack. My only requirement was that both lights and the license plate needed to be fully visible from a reasonable following distance. I didn?t want to give California?s finest and reason to stop me. Also I chose to put the gas cans on the driver side for two reasons, they are heavy and I am lazy. That way trailside refueling can be accomplished with the old Oklahoma credit card, just siphon away. Because of where the spare tire is mounted, a bit of a blind spot has been created, but since this is not my daily driver, I felt it was a compromise that I could live with.
That?s about it. Here are some pics to check out. Enjoy?
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