rear bumper idea..

[zhanx]

feel free to flame, toast, kill, run over my paint job

here is what i was think.. redoing the rear bumper finally..

idea to get the tools out of the truck build in a spot in the bumper.. so i thought 2 small compartments and one large on should work.. depending on the spare tire mounting of course. figured i'd rhino line the interrior to water proof and keep down the rust. weld lock tabs on to throw paddle locks or maybe get hi tech and use key locks.

for lights i was gonna mount 4 fogs in the rear for extra backup light.

3/16 steel plate should be go for this right? can i have d ring tabs weld to that and use it for recovery? anything i miss?

 

[bmxking5]

I plan on using 1/4 inch to be on the safe side for mine. I like the idea. You'd definitely have to figure out some way so that the stuff wouldn't rattle around, but I think it's a really nice idea.

 

[zhanx]

foam pads and rhino liner *should* keep that down

 

[Xzibit A]

3/16 sould be enough, 1/4 is to thick, esp if its boxed in, 1/4 is going to be EXTREMLY heavy, you would probibly be fine with 1/8 if you have bulit in compartments., look at how thick the frame of you truck is, it doesn't need o be any thicker than that

 

[rookieshooter]

3/16 is going to be heavy enough. On your end view you have a piece that turns up. Make sure there is a way so water can run out. That bend may be a rattle trap with stones and pebbles in there. I know that bend will make it ridged. But if its strong enough with out it, Id leave it off. Looks good.

 

[Blee1099]

If the weight isn't that much of a difference, I would go for 1/4" wall just to be safe. I would want that added thickness in case you get hit. The 6"x4" steel rectangular tubing that I ordered weighs 15.62 lbs per linear foot for 1/4" wall and 11.97 lbs per linear foot for 3/16" wall tubing.. For 6'6", thats only a 20 lb difference. Please refer to the following link regarding weight of steel tubing. http://www.jimssupply.com/square rec_tubing.htm

 

[JDraper]

3/16 sould be enough, 1/4 is to thick, esp if its boxed in, 1/4 is going to be EXTREMLY heavy, you would probibly be fine with 1/8 if you have bulit in compartments., look at how thick the frame of you truck is, it doesn't need o be any thicker than that

1/8" won't cut it for an offroad bumper. First time you whack it or have to use it as a tow point, you'll bend the crap out of it. The bumper I built for my Sammy has both 3/16" and 1/4" steel components, and I wish I had gone with all 1/4" components. I've already bent one of the 3/16" pieces bumping up against a rock.

As for not needing to be any thicker than the truck frame, it depends upon what you are using it for. If you're a pavement queen, that's quite true. If you're going to offroad, you better make it thicker. You have to look at how the stresses are going to be applied. The truck frames are usually subjected to bending and twisting moments along the length of the frame due to forces applied as the suspension works, not direct impacts like a bumper takes. I've seen the rear section of at least two Explorer frames get torqued during recovery operations when they are used as a tow point.

 

[zhanx]

its not a pavement queen.. gonna go with 1/4 - 6x4 tubing and 1/4 for the bottom.. (may leave that off as its for looks.. not sure) and 3/16 for the interior compments. thanks for the inout.. still looking for those keys push locks for the compartmetns.

 

[JDraper]

.... still looking for those keys push locks for the compartmetns.

Check with an RV store. Some RV's use them for their storage doors

 

[zhanx]

good idea, time to start looking for someparts for it then.

 

[zhanx]

here we go.. just what the doctor ordered

http://www.tuffyproducts.com/product.html

good idea there

 

[zhanx]

been searching the internet for those foam drawer inserts with the tools already cutout in them.. anyone know of a site? i have found a lot of companys that will make custom ones but at one you got to send the tools.. the other is 75 for just the base setup no work even done yet.. i know someone makes them pre made

 

[Blee1099]

How about using foam inserts like this.

 

[zhanx]

umm i think that it would last about a month and be done... looking for something that will lsat longer.

 

[ryf]

why not get some very firm seat cushion foam from a hobby supply, (the kind of place you buy fake flowers) cut it out yourself, save a ton of money, layer it with 3M adhesive to keep it from seperating. you do this in at least 2 layers (the bottom one being solid, the cutting done on the next layer up, so you don't have to worry about cutting too deep. you could seal the foam and coat it with ruber bumper paint to keep it from absorbing water/grease

it will last more than a month and you don't have to ship your tools off... this is how almost all firearms containers are lined if they have inlaid cutouts, they don't coat it with paint, but that might help you keept grease and oil out or give it the nice finished look your looking for. the foam you want is usually in the very firm range (tryand track it down in black if you can, it doesn't look bad without paint and looks clean when it gets oil embedded in it)