Nick's stray-dog build

Some cool stuff in the works dept.

 

Started on a new back bumper. Old one was rusting to bits and I've wanted to build one anyways. Gonna make it a high clearance type thing while I'm at it. No need for that but might as well and it'll be better aerodynamics

Crossbar to start everything off from. Sunk it through the frame and welded captive nuts in the ends for a mounting point. 1.5 × .095 chromoly, m10x 1.5 nuts bolts for all of it:


Added a lil gusset to the inside of the frame. I know it seems weak and silly, especially compared to fully boxed frames like most prerunner builds do. Its only a little support to keep the frame from tipping inwards at the top and separating outwards at the bottom from the leverage the shackle hangers put on the frame. Only need a little tensile strength for that. Coulda been a couple pieces of filler rod tacked in and work the same. Eventually I'll pull the bed and really do it up good



Some welds. Nothin special, been a while

The old bumper was bad bad. I only unbolted it. The piece on the right i was able to wiggle apart by hand after As usual, street parking in northeast winters doin the damage

Thats it for now. Still workin on it

 

Cause of some life/career changes i got a proper tubing bender and tubing roller as well. That should take the fab work up a notch around here

I screwed up a measurement and bend on the main piece, and had to redo it once. Not a big deal as far as beginner mistakes could go

No idea what these joints are called but I see them a lot on race cars, and they seem great to deal with. Worth the effort to make them since I decided to make this bumper bolt on/off


Upside down here and with the main tube that was wrong but it gives the illusion

The side pieces welded on are scraps from the first-go with the tubing roller so they're not bent too well and just .120 wall mild dom. While not ideal for the weight and easier rusting, especially being right behind the wheels, the scrap just worked out well with this

Some test fitting and fender trimming. Not easy lining things up to trim the shape right. I'm hoping the extra effort into the design pays off how I dream it will




And my lil friend was back

 

Bumper is done. Just behind on uploading the pictures ...I tend to be a little retraded.
Lots of little bump bends with the bender. Tons of work but I love making unique stuff like this. Not perfectly ideal structurally but adds a bit of style and soul that fabricated parts can really lack at times






Added tabs for the license plate and license plate lights. Also a few extras so I can add some kinda skid plate or diffuser in the future. I'll at least make a little shield for the license plate

 

The bumper balances on the jack like this pretty well. I sorta planned for it to do this but it worked even better than I hoped it would


Nice n simple at first glance but the cool shit and function are all there if ya pay close attention. How it should be, and I'm quite proud of it




How it looks in the backup camera:

Color will change. I just scrambled to get a coat of paint on it on one of the warm days in December and this was the fastest drying spray paint I could find. I think eventually I'll pull it off and do a second pass of pulse welds on everything for looks and since a few were undercut, then maybe I'll pay to get a professional paintjob or powdercoat. Idk yet

 

LF3947 Fits. Probably the biggest filter that will fit in the spot

 

This is with me in it so subtract about 200 lbs, maybe another 20 for all the random shit I keep in it. So 4,300 ish lbs with a quarter tank of gas and rubber bed mat. Factory spec is 4,210 so I'm nearly right at factory weight despite all the mods!

 

Haulin!!
The power-hacksaw is about 800-1000 lbs. The floor crane is about 1300 n change. So at least 2100 lbs. +about another 300 lbs of stuff in the cab. From HGR Industrial Surplus in Ohio to NJ. It actually drove really well. On the bumps the whole time but these are E load tires which are now much too stiff for my trucks weight. All that weight in the bed made them actually flex for once. Also got really good gas mileage having the weight off the front - truck needs some balancing now for sure