Bored Clerk's Rear Bumper Build

Ah dang, I was hoping this was it! Still, that's awesome that the major stuff is done.

 

Oh, I'm happy to be done with the major fab! I'm going to put the welder and grinder in the corner and not look at them for at least 6 months. Haha!

 

Getting closer! I cut the bedsides up 5/16" then mounted the side wings. Then I measured up from the top surface of the side wings and marked a straight line to trim to on the bedsides...to make sure the bedside cut was parallel with the bumper wing. Visually, that's the most important line. Got that all trimmed, sanded, filed the I put some primer on the exposed metal. This will be covered with Trim-Lok edge trim later. I also painted the corners under the tailights with rustoleum truck bed liner. It's not real truck bed liner but it makes a nice looking, textured black surface. That'll do for now!


I also bolted up my frame mounted recovery points.

These are 1/2" thick steel. Put a bow shackle through the hole and you're good to go! (In theory, haha). I did some other puttering around...cleaning stuff, repairing other things...all in prep for finishing the install.

Tomorrow, I'd like to get the fender flares and wheel well liners put back in and trimmed to fit. Then edge trim on the bottom edge of the bedsides and final bolt-up of the bumper parts. Whether or not I finish tomorrow depends on whether or not I can find edge trim I like and time in general.

 

Got everything major done.



Hard to take a good picture when it's all black on black. Haha, oh well, why learn how to shoot photos now?

So, I still have a few thing to wire but all the big stuff is done and operational. There are parts about it that I don't care for but it should work for our purposes for quite a while, I think. I always look at my projects critically, though, and it drives my wife nuts! This was definitely the most complex welding project I've done and that was an experience in and of itself. I'm glad the fab is done and I'm ready to try woodworking and fiberglass for the camper. I'll update this thread with the finishing touches and experience reviews. I'm happy to share my failures as well as my triumphs so if something breaks, you'I'll know about it and hopefully will learn from it!

Next up is getting my license plate lights wired up. I don't feel like getting a ticket for something like that. Even more critical now that it's dark so early in the evening!

 

Looks really nice ,great job

 

Are you going to show us the camper build?

 

Of course! I haven't started the thread yet but I already bought the plywood for the base structure. Will start cutting soon.

 

nice work!

 

Thanks!

 

It came out great! Definitely something you can always look at and be proud of. A homemade camper is something I've been looking at doing for a long time, and I may build one some day down the road. Please use this thread to link us to the camper build when you start.

 

Pat yourself on the back the bumper turned out great! Nice job!

Please link us to the camper build.

 

Once I've cut something for the camper, I'll start a thread and link it up!

 

Thanks

 

Since some of you have asked about my camper build, I have a question for you: where should I put that build on this forum? There's a specific place for camper builds on Expo but not here. Should I put it under the general 2nd gen area or under 'builds'? I guess I could just sit down and do a full build thread for my truck. There's not a ton to cover but there is some.

And, just to keep this thread on topic, I went out on Saturday morning to drive out in the hills. It was sunny, fairly warm, and I had a great time. I loaded two full Jerry cans with water to test the bumper a bit and took to the trails. Nothing hard but there were some bumps and twists involved and everything went well. Time to get it on some harder trails and stress it more. I'd rather have it fail close to home than in the middle of nowhere!


Safely back in the driveway where she's accustomed to being. Haha!

 

I'd put it here in "other"!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/other-builds.104/

 

I never looked in there...just assumed it was for other vehicles. Duh. Thanks!

 

Okay, camper thread started over in "Builds - Other"! I can't seem to figure out how to link to a different thread from my phone so I'll do that when I access TW from a desktop...

 

I gotchu OP!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1-bored-clerks-garage-built-camper.457359/

 

Thanks, man!

 

Just read all 15 pages. Wow! You are an artist.