The AZ No-Bull Bar bumper

MaddBaggins · 05-30-05, 03:20 PM

Just finished and installed my custome front bumper. We'll call it the AZ No-Bull Bar.
Here is a before pic of the fugly thing that was on my truck when I bought it.
It was 1/8" steel, terrible welds, miter cuts? Whats that!? Everyone who saw my bumper had to say it was ugly.
Well no more ugly bumper for me.
More pics of the new one coming in a few minutes...stay tuned

MaddBaggins · 05-30-05, 03:25 PM

Here is the new one under construction
3/16" 2x6 tube, formed to the front of the cruiser
Receiver for winch multi mount or shackle

MaddBaggins · 05-30-05, 03:31 PM

And the finished product
primered and semi-flat black rattle can
6 bolts to mount to the frame
These pics do not do it justice. It is a sweet bumper.
took about 30-35 hours of work and well worth it.
Only had 1 minor setback but this is the original piece I started with. Didn't have to scrap anything.
So without further ado
The AZ No-BullBar!

Special note to WhiteShark: Whatsoever the grinder taketh away, the welder can puteth back!

Fly Rod · 05-30-05, 03:47 PM

Very nice.

RavenTai · 05-30-05, 03:54 PM

I like it,

one thing I dislike about most aftermarket and custom bumpers is they are flat or have multiple cuts to aproximate the bow of the bumper,

so how dod you put a bow in 3/16 retangular box? many cuts welds? heat and bend?

looks clean like the factory bumper only not made of pie tin.

MaddBaggins · 05-30-05, 04:12 PM

I know a guy who has a roller big enough to bend that stuff but, he's one of those guys who you really don't wanna ask a favor from. So it was cuts and welds to make that arc, and bigger cuts and welds for the corner bends. Thanks Raven, I am very happy with it and couldn't wait to finish and post up to you guys

Romer · 05-30-05, 04:45 PM

Thats awesome. I wish I had the skills and tools to do that. I'd be working on a rear bumper.

Lars · 05-30-05, 05:42 PM

I like it. Nicely done!

PKP80 · 05-30-05, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romer

Thats awesome. I wish I had the skills and tools to do that. I'd be working on a rear bumper.

Dido

What did supplies come out to if you don't mind asking.

Cattledog · 05-30-05, 05:55 PM

Very nice. I like the OEM look. The front 2" reciver is a great addition. I am a weekend wheeler and take the kids with me, this bumper would fit my need perfect. The warn multimount is preferable to me, my wife drive the truck during the week and a winch in the front would draw too many questions for her taste. I also like the though of not carring the extra weight of a winch all of the time. Want to make another one?

MaddBaggins · 05-30-05, 06:21 PM

Well I work in plumbing wholesale so I have contacts for steel. I bought 20' of 3/16" 2x6 for $120 cash. I burned thru 4 - 4-1/2 grinder wheels and about 6 flap disc sanders. Not sure how many feet of wire went thru the welder. I have a buddy who is partner in a auto shop. He is also a better welder than me so he did most of the welds. I did most of the grinding, sanding and we both collaberated on the idea. Between the 2 of us this is what i got. Very little invested in materials and I hooked him up for his time and use of his shop. I still have 12' of the tube left....can anybody say "rear bumper"!
Thanks guys

ultimauk · 05-30-05, 08:54 PM

Hey, that's quite nice.

speyrod · 05-30-05, 10:01 PM

I like the nice clean look of that

White Shark · 05-30-05, 10:43 PM

Very sano, very clean. Nice.

Jerome3 · 05-31-05, 12:27 AM

i definately like the stock look yet aftermarket performance yields. very nice work wish i had those kinda skills

Tools R Us · 05-31-05, 10:58 AM

Very nice bumper! How many cuts did it take to make that nice curve?

NorCalDoug · 05-31-05, 11:22 AM

Sweet bumper.

Are you planning on fabbing something for the AC dryer?
Nice integration of the 2" receiver as well.

MaddBaggins · 05-31-05, 11:38 AM

Well if I remember correctly it was 20 cuts to get that curve. I will have to check the pics at home and count em. It took 4 big cuts to get the corner bends.
I will eventually relocate the dryer just behind the front grill. In the meantime I will leave it hangin and see if it ever becomes an issue. I personally don't use the AC much, only if my wife is in the truck. So if I fudge up the dryer it won't kill me to go without for a while.

ShottsUZJ100 · 05-31-05, 12:05 PM

Oooo, that's sweet Baggins! In my opinion yours looks better than mine!

They're close in approach angle too it looks!

Here's an idea on the AC dryer:

Arya Ebrahimi · 05-31-05, 12:32 PM

I guess I'm the only one who's not crazy about it. Just looks a bit odd to me. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the craftsmanship and labor that went into it, and from that perspective I think it looks excellent. Just not my cup of tea style wise.

Ary

ShottsUZJ100 · 05-31-05, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arya Ebrahimi

I guess I'm the only one who's not crazy about it. Just looks a bit odd to me. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate the craftsmanship and labor that went into it, and from that perspective I think it looks excellent. Just not my cup of tea style wise.

Ary

Well, overall, I'm with ya on that Arya. I don't think that a bumper like mine or even Baggins is the "looker" style. ARB and the aftermarket stuff looks much better.

I think Baggins may have fab'd his for the same reason I did mine. Approach angle (though I don't know it he cut his frame because it's not tucked in as far as mine). I can climb obstacles my other 80 buddies can't because of approach. I did the same in the rear. Cut the frame and tucked in a steel bumper. My 80 though is about 17-inches shorter than an ARB-Slee good looker.

I think Baggins has accomplished this task in the front with better looks than mine.

I think my rear bumper turned out awesome though.

Tools R Us · 05-31-05, 01:16 PM

20 cuts, now that's dedication!

Bandsaw or cutting wheels? A lower plate like on John's is a good idea to protect the power steering cooler, making a small skid for the drier is not too big a challenge.

MaddBaggins · 05-31-05, 01:31 PM

Plasma cutter Kevin. That was the first time I used one, now i think every man should have one. What a great tool that is.
I had a plate for the PS lines but it would not fit right with the new bumper so I will rework it.

John, I did have approach in mind as well as a nice clean contuor for ascetics. I didn't bob the frame at all but i will when it comes time for the rear bumper. I'm not a huge fan of the ARB with all of the angles and it does nothing for approach(and I thought I could save money on my own-which is true). Plus I have the reciever for options rather than just having a permanetly mounted winch. I will have a receiver in the rear bumper as well so I can run my winch front or back(when I pony up for one).

ShottsUZJ100 · 05-31-05, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddBaggins

John, I did have approach in mind as well as a nice clean contuor for ascetics. I didn't bob the frame at all but i will when it comes time for the rear bumper. I'm not a huge fan of the ARB with all of the angles and it does nothing for approach(and I thought I could save money on my own-which is true). Plus I have the reciever for options rather than just having a permanetly mounted winch. I will have a receiver in the rear bumper as well so I can run my winch front or back(when I pony up for one).

Excellent Baggins!

Now the rear. You can out do me there too.

Mine looks awesome (IMO

), I was able to keep the "line" to the flares/mud flaps, though I didn't think of adding a reciever to it. I did relocate both front and rear recovery points though so I'm not all stupid. (Some still disagree

)

OK, take a peek here at mine. Judging by your front bumper accomplishment you'll easily be able to improve over mine.

MaddBaggins · 05-31-05, 02:44 PM

That is a nice rear bumper. How much did you bob off the rear? My rear will have a very similar look to the front. i would like to put a swing out tire carrier on it but my buddy who helped me doesn't like to put stuff outside the rig. He is fond of reminding me how I tore off my roof rack vs a mesquite tree. It is my rig though so we shall see. The front/rear receiver for winch or shackle is his idea. He did it for his rockcrawler Cherokee. He has built some nice rigs and is a huge help with ideas for mine.

ShottsUZJ100 · 05-31-05, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaddBaggins

That is a nice rear bumper. How much did you bob off the rear? My rear will have a very similar look to the front. i would like to put a swing out tire carrier on it but my buddy who helped me doesn't like to put stuff outside the rig. He is fond of reminding me how I tore off my roof rack vs a mesquite tree. It is my rig though so we shall see. The front/rear receiver for winch or shackle is his idea. He did it for his rockcrawler Cherokee. He has built some nice rigs and is a huge help with ideas for mine.

Ahhhh, I think he cut off about 3.5 - 4 inches. He stopped at the OEM bumper subframe. See pic. I'd a liked a tire carrier for sure though couldn't see how to do it without sacrificing departure angle. So, I had my dude fab a mount for inside the truck. You can improve on this design for sure. I'll bet!

CreeperSleeper · 05-31-05, 03:45 PM

That's beautiful... Want to build another one for me?!? J/K

motherhucker · 05-31-05, 11:57 PM

I think it is Sweeeeeeet! it looks so clean! and appears to be bomber! I was going to mod my factory one with a front hitch reciever untill I saw yours now I am rethinking everything.

NICE JOB!

P.S. Any Idea what it weighs?

MaddBaggins · 06-01-05, 06:14 AM

You know i should have weighed it. Not a lot though. i had no problem picking it up and putting it on by myself. Its really only 6' of tube and then the brackets. If I had to venture a guess I would say around 50-60 lbs. Mybe a little more.

Walking Eagle · 06-01-05, 09:30 AM

When you do the rear, if you use the cut and bend method again, take photos durring the process, I'd like to see how you kept it even - so that the arc is the same on the left and the right.