03 Tacoma tube bumper build

I have the choice of using 1 3/4" steel tubing or 2 1/2" rigid conduit to make a new bumper for my truck. First question is, which material would be better? I'm going to be using my truck as a daily driver and a weekend warrior once I lift her. Second question is where are the most important places to measure? I want to make a piece going along the bottom of the grille that has 4 bends in it, not sure where to put the bends or the degrees of the bends, I was thinking 60-75 on the two outer bends, and around 30 for each inside bend. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

You don't use conduit. You use tube 1 3/4 Dom or hrew

 

Anything over 2" looks stupid... Use the steel for sure

 

You need s tubing bender too btw

 

I have one at my school, started a prototype using 2" conduit to try and get the basics of using the bender, just have to get the measurements now. Do you have any tips on building one?

 

And I think 2 1/2" rigid conduit would be great material for a bumper, very heavy duty but maybe too thick

 

Is that galvanized material? If it is will not be fun trying to paint or powder coat that.

 

Hadn't thought of that, I think it is. And I think I'm gonna stick with the 1 3/4" tubing

 

Make sure it's a tube bender no conduit bender. Making a bumper isn't too hard but it's pretty tedious

 

Maybe do a mock up while you are learning with some plastic pvc pipe. It's cheap and you can play around with different designs and ideas before you bend up some steel.

 

Download a angle finder app on your phone

 

Interested to see what you come up with. I used 1.5". 120 wall tube for mine.

 

How'd the bumper look?

 

Post #28

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/reh5108s-4-bangin-4x4-build.319830/page-2

I'd like to rebuild it from what I learned and don't like about it and use a real tube bender. My bends kinked from the harbor freight pipe bender. This was my first real fab project so it's not perfect.

 

I think it looks pretty good, do you have any measurements?

 

Deff go with the 1.75"

 

Will do, just have to take the measurements now