Advice for customer bumper?

Pccruiser

Observer
I plan on designing and building a bumper for my FJ Cruiser. In the early planning stages now. No rush. Will probably be several months before I actually get around to building it.

I plan on a plate bumper similar to a road armor or smitty.built m1.

So it seems my best bet is to template whatever design I come up with with cardboard to determine my cuts then just weld it up.

Any tips or advice on the best approach here? Thanks !

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Revco

Adventurer
Cardboard is fine, but I prefer to use corrugated plastic like what political yard signs are made of. It will hold its shape a little better and is more firm plus you can cut cleaner lines which transfer to your metal with more precision. Any sign shop can sell you a new 4x8 sheet which would be more than enough.
 

Pccruiser

Observer
Great advice! I was wondering how to solve the rigidity issue. Perfect!

I'm thinking about mocking up the frame mounts after getting the oem Tupperware bumper off the first time so I can test mount without having to pull it off every time.

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Pccruiser

Observer
Is this for your FJ or for a customer's truck (as the title states)?

Oops. Fast typing with Swype keyboard on android. That is supposed to be custom.

Yes it it's for my fj.

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Direwolf

New member
During my auto design school days we used big sheets of foam core to mock up fully functional interiors that you could sit in. Its rigid, you can cut complex, mitered, and beveled edges. If you cut partially through leaving one side of paper intact you can bend it for angles and joints. With a little hot glue, or a lot of hot glue, it is surprisingly strong and a great tool for things just like a bumper. Just get a bunch of xacto blades.
 

Pccruiser

Observer
So what's the cheapest way to do this?

Seems I need like 50 bucks worth of corrugated plastic

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aerofab

New member
During my auto design school days we used big sheets of foam core to mock up fully functional interiors that you could sit in. Its rigid, you can cut complex, mitered, and beveled edges. If you cut partially through leaving one side of paper intact you can bend it for angles and joints. With a little hot glue, or a lot of hot glue, it is surprisingly strong and a great tool for things just like a bumper. Just get a bunch of xacto blades.

Was going to say the same thing. And you can get it at exactly 3/16" so it translates to the steel perfectly.
 

boo471

Adventurer
Thanks for the link. I was Already subscribed and been watching your progress. Love it and I am very impressed! And inspired!

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Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy it!

So are you using a reciprocal saw with an angle grinder to cut ?

And are you using 3/16 even fir mounting point?

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Yep that's all the tools I have for cutting. 3/16 at mounting points as well. One I got the entire bumper mocked up l will have a second look and see if I need du double up. But with the reinforcements I am planning to do in that area I think It should be enough.
 

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