Show off your DIY armor!

Yeah, that seems like that would work well. I've seen videos of people using a jigsaw which seems like it would also work well.

 

The nice thing about the oscillating tool is that you can start the cut anywhere without having to be on an edge or drilling a hole. Also the blade won't catch, pull the panel, don't have to worry about cutting depth since you can plunge it as little or as much as you want and doesn't vibrate the panel like crazy. Hell, I've used a 6" grinder with a metal cutting disc...messy as hell and lots of clean-up on the panel but it worked. lol

 

Progress, learning to use the pipe bender. Can’t wait for the weather to warm up that’s really holding me back.

 

Can I weld this tubing while it’s connected to the truck? I honestly don’t know how I’ll get it right if I take it off. Just disconnect the negative terminal?

 

Yep, unhook the battery and you can weld on it all day. That's how we tacked up our Coastal bumpers.

 

Thanks everybody! Got it tacked

 

I’m all about function over form, but I’m not in love with this yet. Is there anything I should do different before I go to town welding this together? Should I add any more support tubes?

 

Winch mount???

 

I’m torn between putting a winch in there or just getting a mount and I can take it out, I don’t even think there’s room to mount a winch though, I kept that thing as tight to the frame as I could. I have no way of checking

 

You can get the measurements for a winch off the websites and just build a cardboard box of sorts to represent one. It is really tight and probably won't fit one. The only issue with having a removeable one is some circumstances putting that in would not work.

 

this is true, I like the option of being able to put it in the rear hitch as well

 

Never even thought of that. Is there potential to damage electrical components when welding on a vehicle if the battery is hooked up?

 

I’ve read mixed reviews, better safe than sorry I guess. I know when working on simple things you should take off the negative, just wanted to hear what other people have done before I melted all my electrical and god forbid had to do an LS swap or something lol

 

Sounds like an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure type of thing. From the little digging I did, it seems having the welding ground clamp attached to what you're working on helps ensure the path back to the welder is the path of least resistance.

 

yeah I remember reading to try and keep the ground as close as possible too

 

Yep, you can blow fuses that way. You're basically applying voltage to the grounding point of every electronic in the truck.

 

Those look super awesome- if you’re still active on this site, my question to you would be what kind of steel did you use (diameter and thickness).

 

If you still have any build info on these sliders (steel diameter and thickness and rough dimensions) and if you would be willing to share I would be greatful.

 

It’s just hrew. I figured if it got bent I could just fix it. It’s 2”x1/4” square tube and 1.5” ID pipe, I think it was 3/16 or 1/4 wall.

 

Hello everyone I’m new here to tacoma world. I have an 02 and I was wondering if anyone can help me identify what type of bumper this is? I saw it on a video and was told it was an All Pro Bumper.