Custom front bumper for '96 2wd 5 lug Taco

Curious if anyone has ever made or installed a front bumper on a 1st Gen 5 lug Tacoma? Considering building my own. Would be a frame of 1x1" 1/8" wall square tube, covered in 3/32" steel sheet. Would also want a hoop on front to protect the grille/rad/headlights. Thinking of something similar to the ARB bull bar, but a bit lighter. This is not for offroad, mainly for protection of the front end here in deer central. And it'd be a cool project because I have never seen anyone build one for a 5 lug before.

Goal would be to keep it below 75lbs if at all possible, I dont think that extra weight would be a problem. But feel free to weigh in with thoughts. Also curious on mounting points.....how do most bumpers mount to the frame on 1st Gen Tacos?

 

1x1 1/8th is pretty small, something like 2x2 3/16ths would work much better.

 

I am not sure if the 2wd has the same front end hardware as the 4x4.

Then my bumper was made for a Solid Axle 83-85 Toyota Pick up so was not just a bolt on project

I mounted my bumper to the 4 bolts where the front hooks were.

replaced the front of the frame with end caps with

$13 M12x1.25 mm Self-Locking Nylon Insert Hex Lock Nuts, Pack of 6

M12x1.25 welds nuts and also caught the front cab mount bolts

that gave me 4 bolts on each side .

Never fails though those evil deer run into the side of the truck never the front

 

Yes....and also weigh 4x as much. 2x2 is pretty stinking heavy stuff. The truck frame is only @ 1/8" thick though. The frame made of tubing would be then plated with steel, I think braced and mounted properly it should be plenty strong. Don't need the nose dragging on the ground lol.

 

Do the end caps usually come with a nut welded in from the factory or do you have to custom make that? Haven't looked yet.

 

Most often you make them yourself or the last owner did