What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I have it and I imagine it could, and it actually lays decent welds if you take your time and prepare the surface. But 3/16, which should be the minimum thickness of metal used in a bumper is at the high end of its capability and a higher power MIG welder would be better suited. That's said it is still great to have around for quick jobs.

 

First one I paid for was $785, I think back in 2005.

 

Yes. Just on thicker material give yourself a grove and do multiple passes if needed

 

Yea i paid 760ish i think in 2009. Was the last time i ever took my truck there.

 

It will work. The flux core makes lots of BB's...keep a fire extinguisher handy(any kind of welding have one handy). I will say, they might be hard to learn to weld with, but a person who has some skill with wire welding should have good luck.

The duty cycle is low, but so what? Sit back and drink half a beer. Seriously, your best welds will be after your second beer...not so much after the 4th one, though.

 

LMFAO ok sounds good, i have the power tools to cut the metal and to grind it and such, and for the main supports ill ask the mechanic at the trailer shop to weld it for me. I just want a project this summer and i think this would be good for the truck.. just dont want to make to heavy as the front springs are 881 ome's and they are new on 5100s

 

Then build a tube bumper. Plate will be heavy.

 

Polk is great bang for the buck. It's what I have up front and in rear for speakers.

Here's my set up:

JVC KD-X50BT Digital Media Head Unit
Sound Ordnance 75 x 2 amp
Polk Audio db651 6 1/2 two-way (front and rear)

$190 Sound Ordnance B-8PTD 8" Powered Subwoofer

Sound Ordnance B-8PTD 8" under seat powered subwoofer.
Sound deadened rear wall, rear quarter walls and both door panels with BXT II and Ensolite (raamaudio.com)

 

To do it nicely he'll need tools for scalloping and frenching that or a super steady hand with a grinder. Plate will be simpler but yeah a lot heavier.

 

With that said, i used 10 gauge sheet steel to fab up my ARB clone. I have 1, deer/truck contact. Not a full on collision, but enough to bounce the fucker into the corn field. He got up and limped off and I had no damage. Its all I was hoping for.

The bumper weighs 70 pounds.

3/16 is heavier than I needed.

 

Not to mention a pipe bender if you want it to look good at all.

 

Jeezus, not the HF pipe bender! I like to think I'm a fairly decent fab man, but that bender kicked my ass! I could not get a decent bend to save my life. I gave up using it.

Any bending I need done gets done at the local muffler shop. Its never cost me more than $20 and a 12 pack...and the bends look awesome!



The HF bender?

It now lives at the scrap yard.

 

Tube. Not a pipe. Totally different.

That said, you can make a very nice tube bumper without the need of a bender and just a grinder.

 

FedEx delivered a package to me too!

 

I have a habit of mixing the names up.

 

Luckily I know a guy who just got one of them fancy benders.

 

Another member of the hood strut community!

 

I still have to install mine. Damn rivet gun broke

 

took her out on a trail the other day, its been far to long

 

I bought a craftsman, it didn't work right at first. I took it apart and put it back together and it works great now.