2nd gen bumper build

Thanks guys, I'm trying to decide now about light bar mounting. I'm thinking I'll put one under the hoop, but still torn on if I should put one over it instead or put one in both spots. I don't want to over do it with too many light bars and make it tacky, but I'm kinda going for a zombie apocalypse survival look while keeping function as a main priority. The reason I'm thinking under is that the hoop would support and protect it.

 

Did a little more fitting on the tube this morning and decided it was good enough to weld on. So I took some scrap and set the welder up.

followed by tacking the bumper on which was kinda a pain to balance just right with out a helper but managed.

Then on to finish welding
It didn't go too horribly the bottom angles were fairly tricky to weld up without removing the bumper but I didn't feel like ripping it off just for that.

Then came the primer

And paint



And finally I put everything back together and backed it out into the drive way for a better look at it.





I'm happy with the results. I decided against another light bar at this time. The nice thing about spray paint is it's easy to add more later.

 

Just because it looks better with the clevises in.

 

Bad ass man!!!!!

 

Thanks man it's been a slow work in progress, I work on it once in a while when I feel like it then drive it for a few months and repeat. Next I need to build a rear bumper to get rid of the ugly chrome one.

 

I also still want to improve on the skid plate, but this one will be okay for now.

 

I can really appreciate the time and effort that goes into something like that. Mad respect brother. Will be subd for the rear bumper and ever improving front!!!!

 

It looks AWESOME!!! Just the right size, Not big and bulky. Start building these and you will be selling them. I need one for my truck. Also with a winch.

 

And so it begins again......

I think it looks better already just removing the fugly chrome bumper.

 

Oh snap!!! Subbing for this for sure!!!!

And yes it does, I dont like the chrome bumpers!!!

 

Just to put the clearance difference in perspective the bottom of stock receiver sits about 14" below the bottom of the tail gate. The piece of tubing that will be sitting beneath the tail gate is 4"x4"x 1/4" and we will say maybe a 1/2" gap above it for body flex.... So just with those numbers were gaining 9 1/2" of clearance in the center. I forgot my die grinder with cut-off attachment at work so I'll have to wait on cutting the bed sides off, maybe tomorrow. If I have time this morning I'm going to try making mounting brackets for the main "beam"

 

Made some time to work on the bumper mounts this morning.

The first thing I had to do was make a notch in the back pinch weld for the mounting bracket to go through.another option would be tapering the mount down below the pinch weld but this way will be stronger.

Next I measured the holes about a million times, laid them out on my steel, and drilled them out.then came test fitting
Not too bad... I think it will be extremely solid. Tomorrow I will try to get them welded together, and if I have time test for the back tube against it.

I've been working about 60 hours a week plus a 45 minute drive each way so progress will be slower than I would like but I'm going to try to have this done by the end of the month.

Still trying to decide how to incorporate a bottle opener into this.....

 

Keep up the good work man!!!!!!!

 

sub'd for the rear build. Awesome work so far on the front. I also really like that it's not a giant mass of steel on the front, as others have mentioned

 

One of best and most original fronts I've seen yet! Can't wait to see how the rear comes out

 

DIY HC rears are best rears

 

Nice work, looks great, but I hope you aren't using those rings for recover purposes.

 

Subbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddd



Yeah I got a prerunner

 

I like how you tapered the sides of the tube... I might steal your idea and incorporate something similar into my build.

 

I like your bed rack, can you post a few pics of how it mounts on? Thanks.