Bumper Ideas

Theblackflag

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So some asshat told me it would be a good idea to sell my current bumpers and make new ones to change up the look on my truck. I'd been thinking about doing this but had never been too serious about it. Well, I listed them up for sale and less than two hours later they were sold so here I am. I'll be installing them on the buyers truck next weekend. Right now I have a pretty sweet design in my head for the rear, especially the tire carrier.

My current plan is to make a bumper frame similar to the CBI rear bumpers but a little higher clearance and much stronger while hopefully keeping it under 100lbs.

CBI for reference
1544398176221.png

Now for the tire carrier I wanted to do something that is very rarely seen on 4runners but is pretty common in the jeep world. Ill be doing a full width, passenger side swing carrier thats beefy as hell and keeps the tire high and tight to the body to give similar clearance to my current swingout. But I also am going to be putting a cage on the tire like the EVO JK tire swingout. The cage will fold down by pulling one pin when the tire needs to come off. This serves two purposes, 1 I really like the look of the tire cage, and 2 should the tire ever contact the ground it will help disperse the load and aide in sliding off whatever gets hit rather than sticking like a rubber tire. TCMach21 did something similar to his truck but T4r is down right now so I cant access the pics.

1544398458159.png

Now the front Im drawing a blank on. I like my current bumper's look and strength, but its pretty heavy, close to 150lbs with winch and lights. I also wouldn't mind it being higher clearance either, but it does still need to have some "deer killing" power to it. One of the custom ones Ive seen looks pretty good but the only problem is I cant tuck my winch in much further because of radiator clearance with the winch.

http://instagr.am/p/BgjLTxPBWGr/
and the current one for reference
IMG_0310 by Phoenix Black, on Flickr

So my need for the front,
  • fit my 12k lb winch
  • a place to mount my two baja designs squadron fogs and the existing lightbar
  • plate or hybrid tube/plate design. not a fan of straight tube
  • be as strong as possible but preferably lighter than the current one
So what do you guys have for ideas for the front, and is there anything you would change/add to the rear in addition to what I'm doing?
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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So some asshat told me it would be a good idea to sell my current bumpers and make new ones to change up the look on my truck. I'd been thinking about doing this but had never been too serious about it. Well, I listed them up for sale and less than two hours later they were sold so here I am. I'll be installing them on the buyers truck next weekend. Right now I have a pretty sweet design in my head for the rear, especially the tire carrier.

My current plan is to make a bumper frame similar to the CBI rear bumpers but a little higher clearance and much stronger while hopefully keeping it under 100lbs.

CBI for reference
View attachment 2279

Now for the tire carrier I wanted to do something that is very rarely seen on 4runners but is pretty common in the jeep world. Ill be doing a full width, passenger side swing carrier thats beefy as hell and keeps the tire high and tight to the body to give similar clearance to my current swingout. But I also am going to be putting a cage on the tire like the EVO JK tire swingout. The cage will fold down by pulling one pin when the tire needs to come off. This serves two purposes, 1 I really like the look of the tire cage, and 2 should the tire ever contact the ground it will help disperse the load and aide in sliding off whatever gets hit rather than sticking like a rubber tire. TCMach21 did something similar to his truck but T4r is down right now so I cant access the pics.

View attachment 2280

Now the front Im drawing a blank on. I like my current bumper's look and strength, but its pretty heavy, close to 150lbs with winch and lights. I also wouldn't mind it being higher clearance either, but it does still need to have some "deer killing" power to it. One of the custom ones Ive seen looks pretty good but the only problem is I cant tuck my winch in much further because of radiator clearance with the winch.

http://instagr.am/p/BgjLTxPBWGr/
and the current one for reference
IMG_0310 by Phoenix Black, on Flickr

So my need for the front,
  • fit my 12k lb winch
  • a place to mount my two baja designs squadron fogs and the existing lightbar
  • plate or hybrid tube/plate design. not a fan of straight tube
  • be as strong as possible but preferably lighter than the current one
So what do you guys have for ideas for the front, and is there anything you would change/add to the rear in addition to what I'm doing?
I vote something like @4Running Daily’s for the front bumper. His is by far my favorite
 
Joined
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I really like my front modified Savage bumper but have been wanting to redo my rear swing outs with something similar and was looking at the Trail Tubes kit. But I was going to try and design a swing out for it as I like to access stuff through the back window and a fold down would make that a PITA.
 

Theblackflag

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I really like my front modified Savage bumper but have been wanting to redo my rear swing outs with something similar and was looking at the Trail Tubes kit. But I was going to try and design a swing out for it as I like to access stuff through the back window and a fold down would make that a PITA.
Thats the exact reason I didnt even entertain a swing down or something of that nature. I need to be able to get into the back easily multiple times a day, but I also wanted the added strength and look of the cage around the tire.

After giving it some thought I think I'm going to be basing the front off the addicted offroad bumper, but with fewer tubes to see if I can gain some more clearance and to keep the weight down. This will also let me chop about 3 inches off the frame rail and have a solid cross member welded in that the bumper then mounts off of. No more relying on factory stuff that wasn't necessarily designed for heavy winching like I need it to be.

I think a much smaller stinger just big enough for a light bar to fit under and ditch the two tubes ad the bumper wings. I also want to totally box in the upper area around the winch to protect it from the elements and dumb college kids. I'll also see about incorporating some of the elements of the 4x4 labs 80 series bumper.
1544566342735.png
1544566528786.png
 

Theblackflag

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I like the modified savage look much better than the "stock" version of it. I really hate massive front fascia on the savage bumpers and yours does a really good job of breaking it up.

My question now is... full center hoop with 2 Baja Design lp6s in it like the picture below. Or a small hoop to fit a single row lightbar. Im also kicking around the idea of incorporating a fender bar to run back to the slider but I dont know how it would work with the big limited fender flares I have. And no @AssBurns I'm not ripping them off ;) Way too many damn holes to fill.
1544573323080.png
 
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It sounds like you are on the right track. Are you going to build a reinforced box frame like the AOR front bumper to go over and between the front frame? Then mount bumper to that support?

I really like that 4x4 labs front bumper on the 80 series.
 

Theblackflag

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The plan is to weld in a 2x4x.25 crossmember to mount the bumper off of and double as a skid plate mount since the stock one is super thin and half the bolts are stripped or broke on mine

I'm installijg my current bumpers on the other truck tomorrow and hoping to knock another Fab project out of the way this weekend so I can start on the bumpers next week
 

AssBurns

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The plan is to weld in a 2x4x.25 crossmember to mount the bumper off of and double as a skid plate mount since the stock one is super thin and half the bolts are stripped or broke on mine

I'm installijg my current bumpers on the other truck tomorrow and hoping to knock another Fab project out of the way this weekend so I can start on the bumpers next week
Gonna use 1/4 wall for the crossmember? I thought you were trying to save weight? Try to find some 3/16" wall if you can. Even 1/8 wall might be enough depending on whether the crossmember sees contact with rocks/abuse directly. But if a skid or bumper will be in contact first, then .25" wall seems quite excessive IMO
 

Theblackflag

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Gonna use 1/4 wall for the crossmember? I thought you were trying to save weight? Try to find some 3/16" wall if you can. Even 1/8 wall might be enough depending on whether the crossmember sees contact with rocks/abuse directly. But if a skid or bumper will be in contact first, then .25" wall seems quite excessive IMO

It was free at the steel yard in their scrap bin. Is it overkill? Probably. However this is the base that transfers all the load from the bumper to the frame and I put some seriously hard pulls on the bumpers. Especially the front when I'm snow wheeling so it's one part I don't want to chance failing. While the crossmember may be heavier, I think I'll be able to conserve weight in the bumper itself since it should require significantly less steel than the current one and that's where the potential weight loss is coming from. I also think the heavy crossmember will help decrease frame flex since they will be so stiff
 

AssBurns

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It was free at the steel yard in their scrap bin. Is it overkill? Probably. However this is the base that transfers all the load from the bumper to the frame and I put some seriously hard pulls on the bumpers. Especially the front when I'm snow wheeling so it's one part I don't want to chance failing. While the crossmember may be heavier, I think I'll be able to conserve weight in the bumper itself since it should require significantly less steel than the current one and that's where the potential weight loss is coming from. I also think the heavy crossmember will help decrease frame flex since they will be so stiff
Could be a benefit, however the frame is still pretty thin, so it’s really only as strong as what it’s welded to. But if you got it for cheap, then there is nothing to really complain about for a few pounds. Some of these front bumpers are so heavy that it’s really easy to cut weight by just doing a better design. I’m sure you’ll figure out a good way to make it strong and light. Can’t beat the weight of a tube bumper. Mine weighs 60lbs, and I’m sure I could save some weight if I wanted.
 
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I'm jumping in late here, but I'll toss up my ideas.

Make the bumper weld on. You can add flanges on the frame rails if you wanted pretty easy, but I said fuck it.

Chop the frame rails back as far as you can, and then sleeve them. I used 0.188 everywhere.
Untitled by Connor Rhoades, on Flickr

Yours won't angle up because you don't have a body lift, but you might be able to angle it a little.

I apparently took very few photos
Untitled by Connor Rhoades, on Flickr

But here you can see the crossmember connected. Then we laser cut out those frame horns, and welded in a trail gear winch plate.

Add a couple more tubes and you have a bumper.
Untitled by Connor Rhoades, on Flickr
Untitled by Connor Rhoades, on Flickr

Edit- Dimple dies are way cooler.
 
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I guess I'll join in. I also have a BL so your results may vary. Apologize for the blurry photos during the build, my buddy who built this isn't exactly a photographer but it does give a good sense of where everything lined out. All designed around a smitty 12k, and I did notch the grill for the free spool handle. If you want any pics of the rear I can get them for you, the only thing to think about is I smashed that rear cage on a ledge once and the impact knocked the pin out so make sure you use a hitch pin and not a quick release.

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Final Approach Angle
Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Dimple Dies...Good, Gray....Gooood
Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr
 
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I guess I'll join in. I also have a BL so your results may vary. Apologize for the blurry photos during the build, my buddy who built this isn't exactly a photographer but it does give a good sense of where everything lined out. All designed around a smitty 12k, and I did notch the grill for the free spool handle. If you want any pics of the rear I can get them for you, the only thing to think about is I smashed that rear cage on a ledge once and the impact knocked the pin out so make sure you use a hitch pin and not a quick release.

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Final Approach Angle
Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr

Dimple Dies...Good, Gray....Gooood
Untitled by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr
Like looking in a mirror :thumbsup:
 
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lol right? I should have done what you did and cut my frame rails up. I need to take mine back to the radiator crossmember because at some point it was in a wreck and someone bird shit that thing back on. I use an eyebolt hooked over the top of the crossmember as my last skid plate bolt
 
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lol right? I should have done what you did and cut my frame rails up. I need to take mine back to the radiator crossmember because at some point it was in a wreck and someone bird shit that thing back on. I use an eyebolt hooked over the top of the crossmember as my last skid plate bolt
Are you talking about the little U-crossmember in front of the radiator? I cut mine off and put a piece of angle iron in there instead, but then cut it all off for this new bumper. Still working on the lower skid integration. I want one smooth 0.25” aluminum piece with some air holes. But I’ll deal with that later when I have more time and my tube bender is up and running
 
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