'05+ Tacoma front bumper build

[mr.trd]

Well I went up to Idaho Falls and spent the weekend with Steve of CBI Off-Road Fab. Inc. and got started on building a front bumper for the front of my truck. These new trucks sure have alot of just down low and a huge cavity in the front center of them behind the factory plastic. So it took us awhile to come up with a mounting system that we felt would be adaquit to the use of the bumper. We got from the main tube down built with the exception of the skid plate that will go in the center from the main tube all the way to the bottom. Here are a few pics of what it looked like as we were building and of what it looked like when we got done with it sunday.

Mounting

More mounting with the reciever in place

And checking the clearance for the skid plate with a winch cradle pinned in.

This weekend I will be going back so we can finish building from the main tube up and start the sliders. We are going to try and come up with something that is going to be specific to the d-cabs.

 

[Jacket]

Are you going to leave the sides open, or will you plate them? Is the receiver just welded to the cross tube, or are you going to reinforce that some more.

Looks good. Must be nice to have Steve to help you build a one of a kind protection system!

 

[mr.trd]

Not sure on the sides, may leave it open, may have the skid angle out. I don't want it to look like the all pro hybrid though. I like that bumper, but want mine to look like a CBI not like someone elses. And if you look close the reciever is sitting on a bracket that is bolted to the crossmember. That bracket will get plated and gusseted also.

 

[mr.trd]

So I spent another day at CBI with Steve finishing up the bumper for the most part. Steve still has a few things to do but doesn't need it on the truck to do it. We did not take pics of the new reinforced mounting brackets. You have to wait to see them.....but I can tell you that there is no way this bumper will ever seperate from the frame unless you are removing it yourself by undoing the bolts. It is very stout, in fact it was very stout before, but just to ease people's minds, Steve came up with a great bolt on reinforcement bracket so installing and removing the bumper is still super simple. The skid is not on yet and he still has some gusseting to do on the reciever hitch itself but you all can see the shape and style I chose for my bumper. If you want one you can do with it what you want. I say this cause even Steve wasn't sure about what we were building until it was all on and we could step back and look at it from a distance. It is different and i love it. There will be either two Lightforce 240's or 170's in the center opening when I get the cash for them. So here are a few pics...

 

[michaels]

beastly. huge. ....that's what she said?

 

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Jealous Much! I am always impressed with their work. One of these days I need to stop by their shop.

 

[ttora4runner]

Looks like a car ready to pounch from the front.

Nice.

 

[mr.trd]

Thanks guys.... But here is a question for you.


I am still torn between putting Lightforce 240's or 170's in the center opening though. What are your opinions? The 240 is about 9.5" around and would sit just a hair behind the front edge of the top hoop. Or the 170's, they are about 7" around and would sit about 1" behind the front edge of the top hoop.

 

[84scrambler]

love it, looks mean and great styling

 

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Thanks guys.... But here is a question for you.


I am still torn between putting Lightforce 240's or 170's in the center opening though. What are your opinions? The 240 is about 9.5" around and would sit just a hair behind the front edge of the top hoop. Or the 170's, they are about 7" around and would sit about 1" behind the front edge of the top hoop.

Tough to tell with out seeing them there. But I am thinking the 240's would work well with the scale of the bumper. Try cutting some mock-ups out of cardboard to put up there to see how it looks.

 

[mr.trd]

It's on the truck, just need to post the pics over here....No powdercoat yet though. Will get it all done when the sliders get done.

 

[heeltoe989]

It's on the truck, just need to post the pics over here....No powdercoat yet though. Will get it all done when the sliders get done.

What I saw KICKS A$%!:smiley_drive:

 

[mr.trd]

Thanks! Here are a few pics.

 

[dodecagon2000]

i love that bumper