The Black Hole

[vroomzoomboom]

Or if money is no object (HA!) aluminum 1/2 fuel line. Or if you go back to the pvc idea, you could use brake line to make a template of the frame, then somehow bend the pvc to fit it

 

[donalds]

can it be heated and bent without melting?

Yes. The proper way is with a heat blanket
I use a heat gun Amazon.com: pvc heat blanket

 

[CDW6212R]

How about PEX hose, that's tougher and lasts longer than most others.

 

[gmanpaint]

If I used a tube to sheath the lines, I would just use the water tight flex tube. It is made for exterior use, and can bend to the body flow easily. if not that, a thick wall clear tube would be plenty. Not really excited about having to heat and bend any of the hard wall products.

Thanks for all the tips, ideas, and thoughts!

So moving along....The other part of this job, is modifying the rear tube bumper. It's coming off the rig for some work.

It is getting holes put in it for the trailer chains, and the 7 pin trailer harness. I don't want the chains to run under the tube, rather through the center face plate. The trailer is built for the trails, and I don't want the chains to get pinched/dragged on rocks. Backside is heavily gusseted for the hitch, no worries here.

Plan is to cut sq holes into the vertical diamond plate, then weld 1/4" angle to box them all around. For the chain hooks, the loops will be welded to the backside, hidden from view.

The tire swing out will get some mounts welded for Jerry can, and Max Tracks. The tire mount plate will be re-positioned, to angle the tire, with top inward.

The bumper will be sand blasted, and repainted. Hoping to start this project in a week or so.

 

[Turdle]

Well now you gone and done it.

Talk about wire tubes and switch covers and you'll have tons of ideas. Move on to real work and........












crickets

 

[gmanpaint]

Been saving this update for my 10,000 post. Since my journey started here with this rig, I found it fitting to share this milestone here.

While back I bought this 8.8 ARB locker, and a bigger pump to use for double duty with tire inflation in mind. I made a custom mount box for that pump, and installed it. I decided to steal this bigger pump for the trailer build, and bought another pump for it. This pump is smaller, and only used for the locker. I have another pump installed for the tire fills, that works just fine. I might update it eventually, but it works for now.

This will be installed at some point over the summer. I am in no rush, as I still have the ongoing trailer build, the rear bumper work, and the troublesome brake/tow circuit to figure out, and more to come.

I have given up all vacation's, all camping & wheeling trips since the Fall of 2017 to build and pay for all this stuff, and have learned to take my time, to do things right, and as I can afford it. Taking a couple of years, but I think I have done fairly well for a poor blue collar man, barely surviving at times in this crazy world of ours. I will at least have something to show for all that sacrifice. Just have to get it all done, before I die of old age!

Thank you Explorer Forum for the Journey. It's been a heck of a time so far, with so many memories, & so many new friends. I hope all the sharing I have done, has helped some people along the way, and if not, I hope I supplied some entertainment at the least.

To the last 10,000 posts, and to the next 10,000!

 

[gmanpaint]

Clouds parted this morning, and I had a full day of outside stuffs to do first thing. After I painted 200 LF of 8" Fascia boards for a job tomorrow, I had enough time to ....

A) Mow the lawn or,
B) Mess with the bumper

So I cut a 2" Round hole, and two 3" rectangle holes. Mounted the 7 pin Trailer connector thing a ma Bob, but didn't wire it up. Just zip tied them in place neatly for now.

Cut up the angle iron with the old chop saw, notched them with the grinder blade, and welded them up.

Mocked them up just to share with all you awesome people.

Not sure when I will take the bumper off, to weld them on from the backside yet. I put them in a zip lock bag, and chucked them in the freezer for now.

Time to make some dinner, (Home Run Inn Chi-Town style Frozen Pizza) and chill in front of the boob tube for a few hours.

 

[Mbrooks420]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CARLON-Common-3-4-in-Actual-0-75-in-Non-Metal-Flex-25-ft-Conduit/1000341007

Smurf tube for running under the truck.

Or I can send you some expensive seal-tite for something beefier. (Just pay shipping )

 

[gmanpaint]

Never thought about that stuff. I'm at lowes constantly and will check it out.

 

[Mbrooks420]

It’s pretty flexible, and the one hole straps for it work well. Plus, it’s cheap.

 

[gmanpaint]

Half day at work, sun came back out, and decided to hurt myself........ I mean work on the tire swing out mount.

Cut the top Horizontal tube in half, between gussets. Put the loose end with the mounting plate in a vise. Marked the end of the tube, and made a 15* cut.

Cleaned both tubes of paint, clamped it in place, and welded it back on. Quick shot of black paint to hold it over until it gets sand blasted, and mounted the spare 35" tire.

I didn't account for the new angle in depth at the bottom. I can remove another 2.5" from the horizontal top tube to draw it in closer to the rear door. That's going to have to be for another day.


Note to self: Always wear your welding shirt when welding over head. That way when a hot molten ball of slag drops on your shirt sleeve, melts it's way thru, then rolls down your arm, before exiting said shirt sleeve, leaving a track mark burn that would make Kieth Richards proud, won't happen.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ha, sorry about the unexpected new body art, time for a new tattoo I guess.

Why do you want that angle for the tire though? I'm imagining barely touching something backing up ...?

 

[gmanpaint]

Well, after it is brought closer to the door, it will be tucked in tighter, and look better to me for one. The distance from the top of the tire to the back glass bugs me, but....The other more practical reason, is while on the trails.

In wooded areas with heavy foliage, the top of the tire won't be as much as a snag point.

While climbing and descending from an angle to flat ground, the lower outside of the tire edge is higher, and less likely to scrape.

 

[CDW6212R]

I hear that, you get intimate with some foliage at times don't you?

I just had a dumb idea, really hard and probably not practical. Place the tire where the hatch is(cut a hole in the hatch so it's mounted in a pocket), extend the hatch outward. I could see really strong hatch shocks being a problem, and the back end would look way weird with the bulge and glass moved outward. But that would be interesting, and R&Ring the tire would be more interesting. It's worth a chuckle, but never mind, keep going.

 

[gmanpaint]

That would be cool to see done, but not by this guy! Lol

Why you wanting me to work harder anyways Don???? Lol

Trying to keep that tire centered between roof and top of the bumper, while getting the desired angle, and as close to the swing out tubes as possible, is hard enough.

 

[gmanpaint]

Done did, what I said, I was gone done did.

For the last 6 days, the rear bumper has been worked on. It had to come off, to weld the tow chain loops and the pass thru boxes on.

While it was off, and the paint needing stripped to weld, I kept going, and stripped it all with wire wheels.

New chain loops on the main bumper tube.

Pass thru holes boxed.

And since it was stripped, I added kick out tubes to the sides. These will help protect the body corners if an off camber situation slams it into a rock/tree. Getting the tubes notched was the hardest part due to the extreme angle on the fronts. Took me forever a removing a little at a time.

Cleaned and painted the rear cross member while it was exposed.

Installed the beast today. Painted the tubes, & 3 sided brackets all purdy, then bolted the side support tubes together with stainless hardware.

Dr side

Pass side

Full Monty

Now I can start stripping the spare tire swing out, and repaint it.

 

[gmanpaint]

Well now you gone and done it.

Talk about wire tubes and switch covers and you'll have tons of ideas. Move on to real work and........
crickets

Nailed that on the Head Jon. smh

 

[Dono]

I don't even know what to say. That fabrication is art.

 

[gmanpaint]

I don't even know what to say. That fabrication is art.

Well, thank you very much for saying that. Truly appreciated. Was feeling a little put off, about taking the time to share here. I know that sounds bad, but it's the little things that keep me going.

Couldn't even say how many hours went into this bumper. Today makes 8 days in a row, on this go around. lol

Got the tire swing out stripped bare yesterday. Today I Welded up a bunch of pin holes found. Just got done cleaning it, and ready for primer coats.

 

[Exploring XLT]

I enjoy watching your creations even though there for the wrong year lol. Keep these posts coming.