Expedition Ops Outfitters Rear bumper prototype

[womacje]

So I thought I'd share some Taco pics with you guys to give back a bit and to get your feedback and opinions.

A good friend of mine came to the Expedition Ops shop for a visit and within hours we had pulled the broken rolling tonneau cover and decided to build him a rear bumper. His truck bed is getting a drawer/storage system put into it in the very near future and water system... This truck is an overland style build and relatively early in the build process.

Here is a link to the Facebook page with all the images. I'd love to hear your opinions, this is a prototype and will be refined in the future builds. I already have some changes to make personally, ie. dual swingout instead of single, better integration of Hi-Lift mount, swingout stops reduced in size and relocated, tube rear quarter protection, and a chamfer to the bottom of the bumper... you guys know how it goes.

Thanks for the info and the views.

Jeremy

 

[7wt]

I like it. I like the rear rocker protection without the usual cutting.

 

[Scott Brady]

That is seriously stout. Do they make a non-swing-out version?

 

[obscurotron]

Want.

 

[womacje]

Thanks for the comments/compliments.

ExpedWest, the tire and gas can carrier are on a swing out.

All the build pics are at this link, if you are interested in seeing the details of the bumper.

I'm trying to determine if there is enough demand for production on this bumper. So your "Want" could be a have.

Jeremy

 

[Box Rocket]

That's a BIG bumper. Should work great but I think you've got the right idea with changing to a dual swing out and making the other changes you mentioned.

I did something similar with the bumper I just finished but I kept the main bumper section shorter and used round tube at the corners. I did this mainly because I thought it looked like a road-grader with a big bumper like that covering corner to corner. That's my only real aesthetic criticism of your bumper. What I did, may not have quite as much protection, and I will have to figure something different out for a swingout hinge and how that attaches. But I thought it fit the lines of the truck a little better.

Good work though. Definitely looks strong.

Here's a couple shots of mine if it gives you any ideas.

 

[PolarXJ]

What is the red lever on the passenger side for?

 

[Scott Brady]

Sweet

 

[sasaholic]

What is the red lever on the passenger side for?

thats the clamp that keeps the gate closed. called a cam latch

 

[womacje]

ExpoWest,

Sorry, misread, this can be made as a non swingout bumper, would require alot less reinforcement.

Box,

Great looking bumper. for the swingouts, It would have to be different than yours, but if I were going non swingout, your style is already in my mind.

Well done.

Jeremy

 

[womacje]

Thanks, Sasa,

He's right it is to keep the swingout open and closed. If you look through the pics on the facebook build page, there are some close ups of the locking pin in action. One location is into the tube of the swingout when open and the other is behind a stop to assure it stays closed, ie redundancy!

Box Rocket,

Do you have plans to tie in the rear 1/4 protection into the frame? I really like how your bumper tucks under the tailgate. well done. Love the hitch setup too!

 

[TEJASYOTA]

Nice job.... a few comments or opinions...

1) Make rear frame reinforcement plates - your customer's frame WILL BEND.
2) The support for the side guard, looks hacked together. I am a firm believer of less is more, mainly the cutting of tubes and welding together. Have you seen All-pros side guard support.. I believe you can do something similar and it will look cleaner and support the designed look you have going now.
3) License plate holder - are there lights to it? I know that the majority of the states require it for inspections.

 

[womacje]

Nice job.... a few comments or opinions...

1) Make rear frame reinforcement plates - your customer's frame WILL BEND.
Where do the frames bend? Thanks for the tip.
2) The support for the side guard, looks hacked together. I am a firm believer of less is more, mainly the cutting of tubes and welding together. Have you seen All-pros side guard support.. I believe you can do something similar and it will look cleaner and support the designed look you have going now.
I agree, this support was one of the more difficult parts of the bumper. I would prefer a bent tube support in its place, next time now that all the angles and dimensions are determined. Keeping the side guards tighter too the body was important, I see with All Pro's great bumper, that their protection sits below the body by a bit.
3) License plate holder - are there lights to it? I know that the majority of the states require it for inspections.
Not yet. John, the customer, is a eletrical engineer and will do all that himself, maybe even illuminate it with some computer controlled something or another.

Thanks for the specific feedback. I responded above in blue.

 

[Box Rocket]

Box Rocket,

Do you have plans to tie in the rear 1/4 protection into the frame? I really like how your bumper tucks under the tailgate. well done. Love the hitch setup too!

Yes. I'll be using a set of these to tie the sidewings back into the frame.

Additionally, as I've thought about a swingout, I think I can still make it work with the tube corners and rather that using s single shear spindle type like you've got on yours, I think I can more easily make it double shear which might be a good idea. Still brainstorming this one.

 

[Box Rocket]

thats the clamp that keeps the gate closed. called a cam latch

actually if I'm seeing your photos correctly I think he's talking about the one at the hinge. Looks to my like it is simply a cam'd pin that can be set in place to assist in keeping the swingout closed but also keep it in the open position as well.