Bumper build...

[brittan]

Organic Fabrication is at it again...As soon as it got a little cooler I started planning this build. Over the summer I put together a 4X4 labs rear bumper. I like it, although it is a heavy bugger. After looking at the front bumper market I decided to make my own.

The flat pieces were cut with a table plasma cutter using a CAD drawing I had come up with. (When I make my second one it will be done with a water jet...) The flat pieces are 3/16" wide and after putting it together I'm glad I didn't go 1/4". The front pieces or "bash plates" as I like to call them are 1/4" thick. I expect that they will come in to contact with rocks so they deserve the extra thickness. They act as a ramp and are at 45 degrees to the ground. I haven't checked the approach angle yet but it will be pretty impressive.

Stay tuned...I'd like to be done by weeks end...Nice thing about this build...with the flat pieces pre-cut I can do the build in a short amount of time. The front bumper will go together in about the same time my 4X4 labs kit did.

Enjoy...

Following are some pix...

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[adrenaline503]

Impressive, I like the bedlined hood and fenders.

 

[adventureduo]

Looks good. However i think it does look a bit tall in proportion. Maybe it's just the pics.

 

[brittan]

Looks good. However i think it does look a bit tall in proportion. Maybe it's just the pics.

I followed the lines of the radiator...If I ever turn her on her top I want to drive her home. Keep in mind that there will be a winch centered in the space along with lights...When I'm done I hope it will look more proportional. I kept the winch plate low so I wouldn't have a 9500lb lever pressuring the frame when winching. A buddy just tore his 90 4Runner frame rails off winching a jeep in Moab...I had the image of that bumper in my mind when I put mine together.

 

[Willman]

I like it!

You have some nice equipment just to decide to do it your self! Long time fab guy??? or just starting???

One thing.....Might want to bump the thickness of the steel where your winch sits..I can see a "bow" in the picture.......What size is in the picture?.....

My 2 cents...

overall....looks great man!

:26_7_2:

 

[kcowyo]

Britain previously built a couple bumpers for practice on his and this particular white BajaTaco. He's got skillz.

My thing is, I don't think I've seen the 80 he replaced his Tacoma with. The Tacoma did sell, yes?

I'm lookin forward to seeing how Organic Fabrication makes the jump from Taco-bumpers to 80-bumpers. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

:lurk:

 

[Desertdude]

Nice clean work as always... dig the liner

recovery points?

 

[brittan]

Thanks to all for the kind words...

Willman....
I have been doing my own fabricating for a few years. I've got a tube bender, welder, grinder, and tube notcher...

The "bow" in the winch mount is gone. I braced it front and rear with 1 3/4 X .120 wall tube. I had placed the winch there to check the fit of the plates...the pix below it show cross members...thanks for thinking of it though.

kcowyo...
The Taco did sell. I wanted something with more interior room, as I am trying to put another member in the family. I am sold on the Land Cruiser platform. I've had it wheeling and it is much more comfortable than my Taco...nothing against my Taco...it was a great truck and if I could afford it I'd own both.

Desertdude...
The 6th image from the top shows a 1" hole on the outside frame mount to allow for D Rings. I admit it was an afterthought. The holes should have been cut by the plasma cutter...That's the nice part about this build...it's all in CAD. If something doesn't work I can have it re-cut and re-built in a weekend.

 

[Willman]

Thanks to all for the kind words...

Willman....
I have been doing my own fabricating for a few years. I've got a tube bender, welder, grinder, and tube notcher...

The "bow" in the winch mount is gone. I braced it front and rear with 1 3/4 X .120 wall tube. I had placed the winch there to check the fit of the plates...the pix below it show cross members...thanks for thinking of it though.

Good Deal!

Sounds like you have a great shop!

Keep up the great work!

 

[Rezarf <><]

Very nice!

Drew

 

[BigAl]

I like it , how are doing the winch fairlead?

 

[BMAN]

B,

I would consider tying the top of the center hoop to the fron of the winch plate at the 2 corners to add support to the radiator hoop. The last thing you want is some odd condition causing your radiator/ headlight hoop to lay back into the hood effectively pinning it closed. In an instance where the truck might lay on it's lid and the protection of the hoop would actually be needed to keep from crushing the radiator, you're deffinately going to want to get in the engine compartment after righting the rig to check everything out before restarting.

EDIT

I'd also considder adding a small piece on either side of that hole sandwiching the main plate to add a little beef around the hole to spread the load on the d-ring if that makes sence.

 

[brittan]

B,

I would consider tying the top of the center hoop to the fron of the winch plate at the 2 corners to add support to the radiator hoop. The last thing you want is some odd condition causing your radiator/ headlight hoop to lay back into the hood effectively pinning it closed. In an instance where the truck might lay on it's lid and the protection of the hoop would actually be needed to keep from crushing the radiator, you're deffinately going to want to get in the engine compartment after righting the rig to check everything out before restarting.

Detailed as ever...Bman

The plan is to put a cross member in the hoop for lights and antenna mounts. That cross piece will connect to the front of the bumper where the winch fair lead will be...I am toying with the idea of building the fair lead into the bumper with tube. I am exploring it tonight...the decision will be made when I see how tight of a hoop I can make with my 1.5" die.

 

[taco chaser]

Detailed as ever...Bman

The plan is to put a cross member in the hoop for lights and antenna mounts. That cross piece will connect to the front of the bumper where the winch fair lead will be...I am toying with the idea of building the fair lead into the bumper with tube. I am exploring it tonight...the decision will be made when I see how tight of a hoop I can make with my 1.5" die.

By the looks of it you could attach two bars from the cross bar that runs in front of the radiator to the actual bumper bar, all of this under the plate and attach a pre-fabbed winch plate sandwiching your existing plate and bolting through the two bars under your plate. Looks really good by the way, goes great with the lines of your cruiser. Here some pic's , but I'm sure you'll find a way to do it cleaner, hope this help's.

 

[brittan]

Plans have changed...I guess that's why I call it organic fabrication. A friend from another board saw the pix and called an intervention...he made some good points and I have made a few changes...it cost me a day but I have to admit I like it better.

I tried to make my own fair lead with some 1.5" .120 wall tube I had. I couldn't get the radius of the hoop tight enough...I know my 1" die will do it but I don't trust 1" with such a heavy rig. I will work up a solution this weekend and post up again...

Following are the changes I made tonight.

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