Turn Signal Mod and Tow Hooks (DUW)

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Looks pretty good. I dont blame you for the turn signals I hated them below the bumper on my Navajo. So whne I got my Duff bumper I had them mounted in the bumper.

 

[Crankcase]

Good write up......

 

[SVO]

Originally posted by Crankcase
Good write up......

Thank you sir, actually it was a lil short and sweet and I left a few photos out, but I guess you all got the point.

I just noticed that a lot of you like to see what other people are doing to there rigs and so I thought I would share.

 

[TravisC]

I like the way you did your tow hooks. I've been thinking about welding mine but wasn't sure. I need to get better at welding first. How exactly would you get them off?

 

[SVO]

I would probably use a cutoff wheel or in a nother fashion you could use a cutting torch, but with the torch you need to be skilled enough to cut the welded bead and not the frame rail, not hard but practice makes it go easier and look nicer.

The reason I welded then is because the frame rail is not flat, and it was easier to get a stronger holding point by welding (attaching more hooh surface to the frame rail) than it would have been to drill another set of hole and then an access hole in the side of the frame rail (causing structral weakness).

 

[TravisC]

Originally posted by SVO
I would probably use a cutoff wheel or in a nother fashion you could use a cutting torch, but with the torch you need to be skilled enough to cut the welded bead and not the frame rail, not hard but practice makes it go easier and look nicer.

Yea, I've never used a cutting torch so I wouldn't attempt that.

Originally posted by SVO
The reason I welded then is because the frame rail is not flat, and it was easier to get a stronger holding point by welding (attaching more hooh surface to the frame rail) than it would have been to drill another set of hole and then an access hole in the side of the frame rail (causing structral weakness).

Didn't really think of that, that's a good point. And I guess if you're going to use it there's not need to take it off.

 

[SVO]

Yeah I got a lot done in that couple of hours I worked on it, including relocating all of my vent hoses on the frt/rear axles, trans, and transfer case.

Now if I could just get the right parts to make my snorkle I'd be doing great.

 

[Black Magic]

I like the welds as well. They will hold a lot better then just bolts.

 

[TravisC]

a snorkle would be sweet!


totally off the subject, Matt your X is B@D@$$, my all time favorite.

 

[SVO]

I guess since we don't have mountains here river beds and creeks and such are great places to wheel as long as you don't drown your vehicle.

And welding "yes" is stronger than bolts, plus it was faster than tring to get nuts and washers in the frame rail as well as having to drill holes, so it was a cheat/safe easy way out.


The light and hook mod didn't take as long as feeding tubes to the highest points in the truck and zipping them up.

But the lift did help though, after useing a lift for so long you get very spoiled, plus if I got that close to the ground I'd either not be able to get up or just take a nap! lol

 

[Alec]

My frame already had 2 holes spaced exactly for a tow hook. I just enlarged them and used long grade 8 bolts that go all the way through the framerail.

I personally like bolts better than welds for towhooks, but that's because I can spot a failing bolt a lot easier than I can spot a failing weld. Also, a bolt (especially if you use grade 5 instead of 8) will bend and stretch before it gives instead of just snapping. This takes a bit of the load energy so the flying steel doesn't pack as much power to slice your head off!

 

[TravisC]

Originally posted by SVO
But the lift did help though, after useing a lift for so long you get very spoiled, plus if I got that close to the ground I'd either not be able to get up or just take a nap! lol

I couldn't imagine working on a vehicle with a lift. My brother and I work on mine and his in his garage, well now his doesn't fit, but with mine it's horrible. We can only go as far as the jack can go. Now that's not fun when you have to replace the throwout bearing and it's tough to get under it on a creeper. I do have a 4" lift but being a bigger guy and on a creeper evens it out! That was not fun and I will never do anything like that again!

 

[SVO]

Originally posted by Alec
I can spot a failing bolt a lot easier than I can spot a failing weld. Also, a bolt (especially if you use grade 5 instead of 8) will bend and stretch before it gives instead of just snapping. This takes a bit of the load energy so the flying steel doesn't pack as much power to slice your head off!

Very good point, and please stay away from possible flying stuff, some people didn't understand that when we tried to "clean jerk" that Z71 out of it's hole he dug last Saturday, they looked at me funny, and I just said "do you wanna go to the hospital??"

Yeah that can be very dangerious for the people whom stand too close.

You ought to know about that since you see it a lot on the beaches out there.

P.S. we still need to go wheel together some time when I get back down there.
My friend who lives in Clear Lake has been begging me to come visit soon.
He does some street racing there on Cherry Hill (far east end of Sea Wall Blvd)

 

[SVO]

Finished product: