Oregon and Washington BS thread

I would like to see some of them up close to see the strength on them. Would they take a head on hit with a deer like and ARB? Would the bumper separate if used as a recovery point?

 

Good idea, I think Tallon added his own light-hoop too. Mine would probably not be too different from your fancy-pants front end and I'm guessing I would still be have the ability to customize/fine-tune the pieces if needed. I would tuck the side "wings" in a little more to be flush with the fenders.

I do like the fact that he uses 5/16" & 1/4" for the winch area and frame mounts...BUT the 10 ga. (0.135") that he uses for the surround plates is slightly thinner than 3/16" like most other companies use. It is basically the equivalent of 1/8"...which just seems too thin to take any sort of impact, as I'm sure I would inevitably run into to something with it.

 

great minds think alike.

 

I think that would depend more on the welds

 

yeah i towed it about a mile and have never tried again lol and that was empty. im scared to see what my horses would do

I like my "fancy-pants" front end haha it now has pink shackles too there will be no question whose truck it is haha

but ya the wings bother me, I wasn't a fan.. I'm thinking since I'm getting new tires soon that will be wider, I'll probably just get some fender flares since it would be easier to put those on for now. On my bumper it was 1/4" all the way around. its pretty heavy :/ which has its ups and downs about it. but for the price I couldn't go wrong. I needed a new bumper after getting in a little fender bender anyways so it was cheaper to go that route then it was to go through insurance and get a stock one.

 

I'm not sure though. Like Benson said, it has thinner metal. It's like the guys that buy the aluminum bumpers. You aren't buying for impact. You are buying for looks/weight savings.

 

true enough -

RAPR!!!! respond to my p.m.dammit!!! this is an emergency!

 

I think the separation issue would be determined by the welds / weld quality. As for impact, I wouldn't expect it to take a hard collision with a deer or another vehicle, I was just thinking more about trees, logs, rocks, stumps...you know, the typical things my clumsy, ADHD ass has already bumped into on the trails.

I wasn't making fun of your front-end, I actually like the new grilles, especially color-matched
And the pink shackles are a nice custom touch

I bet he could make the whole thing 1/4" (not sure if he has the wrong specs on his site, or if he made your extra stout), but again the weight is what is a killer for me. 100-120lbs for the bumper, 70lbs for the winch/syn. line, 85 lbs for the skid...it'd be like having Rosie O'Donell hangin' out in my engine bay all the time.

I like aluminum, when it's welded right. After having used my alum. hidden winch mount multiple times and seeing how well it's held-up, I am a converted skeptic. I know the tensile strength per sq. inch is slightly less than A36, but to me the pros outweigh the cons (no pun intended).

Here are some comparison "facts" I pulled off the interwebs real quick.

-YIELD STRENGTH-
A36 Mild Steel is 36,000 psi and 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy is 35,000 psi.

-WEIGHT (Density) -
A36 Mild Steel is 0.283 lbs/in & 6061-T6 is 0.098 lbs/in.
Aluminum weighs nearly 2/3 LESS than mild steel and requires no lethal chemicals to protect it.

-HARDNESS-
A36 Mild Steel is 117 Bhn (approx.) & 6061-T6 is 95 Bhn (approx.). While mild steel is barely harder than 6061-T6, the aluminums ability to flex under impact results in superior performance under impact or impact loading. .

 

Yea I love the new grilles, I just wish the headlights weren't so chrome. I really wanna do the BHLM but I'm kinda chicken to to it all by myself but I'm sure it will end up happening. Not the full BHLM but just the trim on the inside.

I'm not sure why he did mine in all 1/4" its definitely heavier then i would like but I feel like its pretty stout and secure! But it is really heavy that's for sure. Not looking forward to when I finally get a winch going to be heavy but I guess I'll live!

 

So aluminum wins

 

I guess I will need to look into who makes aluminum bumpers. I know who I won't ever go with (relentless) again. I really don't care for the skid of his I have on the front. The fitment isn't the greatest... and his lead times vary by day.

 

Aluminess makes good bumpers, but very spendy. Elite can also make his out of 1/4" aluminum for a slightly higher cost.

The welding process is more labor intensive, so you usually end up paying more

*EDIT* Here are the companies I found that make Aluminum bumpers:

Aluminess: http://www.aluminess.com/toyota/toyota-tacoma-2005-2011/front-bumper/
Relentless (add $125): http://www.relentlessfabrication.us/online-store.php#!/~/product/category=3368787&id=18720016
Elite (add $250): http://www.eliteoffroadproducts.com/products/bumpers/toyota/tacoma/2005-2011/front/
Interesting DIY I came across: http://www.millerwelds.com/interests/projects/we-build/home/project/4080533313

 

I think the weak point is the metal where the studs are on the frame. Check them out sometime.

Keep in mind that crumpling is somewhat of a good thing in an accident. it absorbs tons of impact rather than transferring that to you to absorb. There's some video of a '50s Bel Aire doing a head-on against a '00 Impala or something. The old car kills the test dummy, the new car gives its dummy a bruise on the knee.

 

Does anyone here know anything about the Yakima area? I may have a job offer flying Lakotas over there but know nothing about it.

 

It is the fourth largest Mexican city, New York Terryaki is the best place to eat, and there is a Cabelas outpost there. It's not bad, there is a lot of diversity. Most parts of town are pretty run down. You can tell it was a great place to live in the '50's. The training area is nice from a blow shit up perspective, but not much for on base amenities. There is a small shoppette and that's about it. I work at the airport sometimes... Oh and the fishing is awesome. Salmon and Steelhead fishing is epic. Close to lots of outdoors stuff.

 

Yes! I was just looking at the fly fishing around there. That's got me excited. I heard Yakima is kind of a dump. Is Ellensburg any better and is that commute doable to get on post say... in the winter time? I'm under the assumption that everything is covered in snow. I'm trying to convince my wife. She wants me to pick Barstow, Ca. I'm in Afghanistan now and don't want to do 3 more years in the desert. She wants to be close to family, but I don't really like my family or her family. She is into off-roading however. Hows the trails and where are most of you guys wheeling at in Washington? Sorry for all the questions. I got handed a very rare opportunity and have 1 day to choose.

 

I live in western WA, so I don't know much about the Yakima area. But I wanted to say that you can't go wrong with the PNW - hands down. It's a great place to live.

 

I'm looking forward to getting back to the west coast in general. I've been stuck in the east for too long

 

I didnt want to qoute 20 people but heres my take....

Metal is metal, the strength of a bumper all comes down to the welds, hit somn and a weak weld will give way before it bends, I have hit PLENTY of shit w mine, couple peices I didnt like were the front down slope, the holes are awkward and that peice should have been thicker...

That dent is after driving thru/over a 24" tree down on a trail...

My take on aluminum is this...tencil strength is comparible, place like bens winch where it is mounted proper and safe from impact it's great, for a front bumper... no way, aluminum doesnt have impact strength like steel, it would take tons of little nicks off road, to each his own but I like to run shit over!!

 

looking to maybe redo my rear end, so it can kinda keep up with my front. everytime I drive over a speed bump at less than 10mph the rear end violently hops over and my fuel door always opens up.... Anyone have any suggestions? Also there should be a mod day in Sept

I got dakars in the back with 5100s...-