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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 2, 2003 17:55:46 GMT -5
Ok, here we go. Finally got the accident all worked out with the insurance and I'm going to start the new bumper for the MS. I desided that being that there is NO after market bumpers availible for the MS that I'm going to fabricate one myself. A friend of my that works in a body shop and I are doing the back of the napkin brain storming now and we'll have some of the finished plans done tomorrow morning amidst coffee and finishing a friends suburban's new u-joints. We're going to use 1/8" steel 2"x6" box and integrate the tow receiver, two heavy duty recovery points, jerry can holder, spare tire holder and high lift holder. Not sure yet where we're going to put the lazer guns but i'm sure we'll come up with something. I'm going to try and do a little wrap around on the sides. I was torn on useing tube instead of box, but I finaly desided the tubeing would not really fit the lines of the truck, and the box would be easier to work with.
Next on the project will be the rock sliders and the safari rack, but one thing at a time.
As always, anyone wants to put there two cents in I'd love the input. Let me know if theres anyone who'd like picts (if i dont just put them on the site) or if anyone in the albuquerque area wants to see it when we're done.
I'll keep ya'll posted!
Chris in New Mex
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Post by TOZOVR on Jan 2, 2003 19:29:36 GMT -5
Chris, what kind of Wheel Tire combo you plannin?
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 2, 2003 22:47:23 GMT -5
If you mean tire carrier im going to get the hinge from rockcrawlers.com and weld it out of 1.5" steel. It will swing away and be dampened and held by a small liftgate shock. If you mean the actual wheels i've just got the stock 15 inch ones that come on the LS (which by the way i'll be selling here very soon if anyone is interested) sitting in 31x10.5 BFG AT ko's.
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Post by skidplate98 on Jan 3, 2003 12:40:47 GMT -5
Mite I suggest using aluminum instead of steel. It would be alot lighter and last alot longer too. With aluminum the bumper would be around 60 bls instead of 100 bls. www.reapur.com/car/jeff/index.htmlOk, here we go. Finally got the accident all worked out with the insurance and I'm going to start the new bumper for the MS. I desided that being that there is NO after market bumpers availible for the MS that I'm going to fabricate one myself. A friend of my that works in a body shop and I are doing the back of the napkin brain storming now and we'll have some of the finished plans done tomorrow morning amidst coffee and finishing a friends suburban's new u-joints. We're going to use 1/8" steel 2"x6" box and integrate the tow receiver, two heavy duty recovery points, jerry can holder, spare tire holder and high lift holder. Not sure yet where we're going to put the lazer guns but i'm sure we'll come up with something. I'm going to try and do a little wrap around on the sides. I was torn on useing tube instead of box, but I finaly desided the tubeing would not really fit the lines of the truck, and the box would be easier to work with. Next on the project will be the rock sliders and the safari rack, but one thing at a time. As always, anyone wants to put there two cents in I'd love the input. Let me know if theres anyone who'd like picts (if i dont just put them on the site) or if anyone in the albuquerque area wants to see it when we're done. I'll keep ya'll posted! Chris in New Mex |
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 3, 2003 14:46:59 GMT -5
I did consider useing aluminum, but the guy thats doing all the welding said it's a lot harder to work with and since he's not really charging my anything to do the work i can hardly argue with him....
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 9, 2003 10:35:49 GMT -5
Couple questions for everyone. I depating what type of recovery points to put on the bumper. I pretty set on shackels, but i've heard the welded on shackel mounts are very frowned upon in the off roading world, but what is the differance if your recovery points are welded to your bumper or your bumper is welded to the frame mounting hardware. It's all welded someware so whats the big deal. But, just in case someone has a really good reason not to just have a professional welder put them on for me, i do have some bolt on ones picked out.
Also, if anyone wants to wax poetic about powder coating vs. a normal paint job on the rack, skids and bumper please do. I've never done either but I've seen powder coating hold up to some pretty mean abuse, but if i do scratch/dent paint, i can just touch it up.....
Thanks in advance! We start today on the bumper!!! ya
Chris in New Mex
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Post by TOZOVR on Jan 9, 2003 20:15:04 GMT -5
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 10, 2003 10:25:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the great picts and idea about the recovery points. Thats exactly how we did it! Given we had it done already when i got your post, but hey, great minds think alike. We took it a step further and had the recovery points go all the way through the bumper and used them as the mounts to the frame of the truck, so when you pull on my recovery points, your pulling on the frame, not on the bumper which is in turn pulling on the frame. We almost did the tire carrier like yours, but desided that it will block the recovery points in the closed position so we are going to move it up onto the bumper itself (see pictures comeing soon) so it wouldnt block the integrated reciver or recovery points. Keep the ideas comeing, im hoping this thread of posts will really help anyone in the future when their are ready to put a real bumper on their sport. We're not done yet, we've still got the safari rack and the rock skids to build, but i will keep the posts comeing and pictures should be up soon too!.
Chris in New Mex
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 10, 2003 10:26:10 GMT -5
BTW, what kind of latch did you use for your tire carrier?
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Post by TOZOVR on Jan 10, 2003 10:56:38 GMT -5
We ended up with a unit from Carr-Lane. I'd really love to see this board pick up...especially with all the wheeling and fabbing stuff! We are currently fabbing up a new safari rack for my XJ....I can give you some details on that if you'd like. Drop me a line anytime, my AIM is RONIN99XJ Rich www.authorizedvehicle4x4.com |
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 12, 2003 10:50:04 GMT -5
The first round of picts of the bumper are in... I dont have a website up yet, so i dont really have a way to upload them to this site. If anyone wants to see them, email me and i'll forward them to you... If anyone knows a way to get picts on this site without haveing a website to referance please let me know
Thanks
Chris
Christopherafaith@comcast.net
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 16, 2003 12:42:38 GMT -5
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Post by JAY97 on Jan 16, 2003 12:50:23 GMT -5
Chris
great job so far with project...keep up the good work
Jay
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 26, 2003 11:35:30 GMT -5
Ok, one last fabing picts before i get the final product pict on here. The only thing this is missing is the recovery point tabs (3/4" barstock welded through the front and back and finally welded to the frame mounting posts...)and paint...  |
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Post by ChrisNNewMex on Jan 26, 2003 11:42:55 GMT -5
We did a strength test today and lifted the rear of the truck a foot (tires off ground) into the air with a high lift on the bumper. Next test is the tow hitch. Not sure how we should safely test that. Id like to be sure that it is AT LEAST as strong as the normal class III hitch. Any sugestions for how to test it with out breaking it. We thought about getting a 6000 lbs tow strap, with a saftey factor of 1.7 (typical) which would make it a 9500 lb tow strap and see if we could break it by tieing it to a tree or a house or the national debt or something and driveing off slowly. I just dont want this test to involve replaceing my back windshield or and of my friends major apendages.... I just want to make sure it's ok before my trailer comes off at 65 half way to Moab.
Chris
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