Building Plate Bumper

I'm thinking about building a plate bumper and have some questions. I know some of you will say don't waste my time just buy one, but I want to know I built it and be proud of that. I'm good at welding with a MIG welder so that wont be a problem. My questions would be who makes the best looking plate bumper? (I know this is an opinion I was looking in the bumper thread and need some help deciding on a style) What thickness of steel, or do I even make it out of steel? I don't off road often and maybe aluminum would be better as far as weight goes. Place for winch or not? Tubing to protect the grill and headlights? Anyone that has a plate bumper throw in ideas, pros, cons, etc.
Jared

 

What's your use for the plate bumper? The options you're asking about serve a very particular purpose... If you don't need a winch, or will never buy one, don't incorporate one into the design. Same with tubes protecting the lights, if you don't go through trees and brush, maybe you don't need them. As far as steel vs. aluminum, weight is a concern but are you planning on upgrading your suspension regardless? If so, the weight becomes less of an issue since you'll be compensating for it later with new springs anyways.

 

I see you have a 2.7. Honestly, id make it out of aluminum just to save weight, maybe like 3/16". If build correctly it'll be plenty strong enough, and significantly lighter. If you don't offroad much, or even if you do, aluminum would be my recommendation, especially with the 2.7. You need all the weight savings you can get. I think aluminum front bumpers generally work out to be not much more weight than the stock front, so the only performance loss you'll see is from decreased aero on the front of the truck.

 

Im planing on doing the same ... some day lol

Im big fan of the low profile look of CBI. Keeping everything up as high as possible, trying to get the wheels to hit first.

I like the tubes but not the full tubes that wrap around the lights (just not my favorite) The front tube looks good though and I like the idea of gusset bars connecting to the sides. I would also like to put a slot for a light bar as well as the wench.

I agree with a 2.7 you might want to go with an AL bumper, but that would depend of a few different things like can you weld aluminum? haha