4x4 labs rear bumper DIY -- What have you done to customize it? (1 Viewer)

[Trusty Rusty]

Buuuuuuuuump. I'm slowly collecting notes from all of you experts (have PM'd a lot of you directly), and greatly appreciate all of the info and ingenuity in this thread! My growing list of "extras" on my Labs bumper build include the following (all stolen from the great ideas in here!):

• Combo LED lights, small pod aux/reverse lights - going to french them all in across the rear bumper, likely the combos between the 2" receiver and the recovery points, and the reverse/aux pods between the recovery points and edges of the bumper
• License plate bracket with LED lighting, mounting location TBD - ideally relocate backup camera to wherever the plate lands
• 7pin/4pin connector - maybe tuck this on the ID of the bumper, not sure yet as it's getting busy with the additional lighting
• Additional bracing inside the wings - run some 3/16" plate on the ID of the wings and the bottom-side for additional reinforcement
• Additional spindle bracing on the ID of the bumper to prevent any substantial flex - TBD as I'm not 100% clear on layout on the ID of bumper
• Additional bracing (angle iron) across the rear crossmember - planning to use the ID crossmember to double as the support crossmember for a future LRA 24gal aux tank install - aiming for correct height and can shim as necessary down the road
• Properly grease bearings/spindles and cap off the spindles somehow - any ideas?
• Latch orientation TBD - some good ideas/comments from others about vertical vs. horizontal and single vs. double latch orientation - any thoughts after having running the Labs rear for some time?
• HDPE/Delrin pads (1/2" thickness adequate?) to support swingarms when in locked position
• Spring-loaded latch pins on the spindles - TBD, not sure if I'll add these or not.

Am I missing anything critical/obvious or a known improvement to the Labs bumper? Trying to attack this build once, and not revisit future modifications (or at least keep them somewhat limited). Apologies for the ID references - it just means inside to me, I'm a pipeline guy.

Thanks again for all of the great ideas in here - great thread!

 

[ERG80]

Buuuuuuuuump. I'm slowly collecting notes from all of you experts (have PM'd a lot of you directly), and greatly appreciate all of the info and ingenuity in this thread! My growing list of "extras" on my Labs bumper build include the following (all stolen from the great ideas in here!):

• Combo LED lights, small pod aux/reverse lights - going to french them all in across the rear bumper, likely the combos between the 2" receiver and the recovery points, and the reverse/aux pods between the recovery points and edges of the bumper
• License plate bracket with LED lighting, mounting location TBD - ideally relocate backup camera to wherever the plate lands
• 7pin/4pin connector - maybe tuck this on the ID of the bumper, not sure yet as it's getting busy with the additional lighting
• Additional bracing inside the wings - run some 3/16" plate on the ID of the wings and the bottom-side for additional reinforcement
• Additional spindle bracing on the ID of the bumper to prevent any substantial flex - TBD as I'm not 100% clear on layout on the ID of bumper
• Additional bracing (angle iron) across the rear crossmember - planning to use the ID crossmember to double as the support crossmember for a future LRA 24gal aux tank install - aiming for correct height and can shim as necessary down the road
• Properly grease bearings/spindles and cap off the spindles somehow - any ideas?
• Latch orientation TBD - some good ideas/comments from others about vertical vs. horizontal and single vs. double latch orientation - any thoughts after having running the Labs rear for some time?
• HDPE/Delrin pads (1/2" thickness adequate?) to support swingarms when in locked position
• Spring-loaded latch pins on the spindles - TBD, not sure if I'll add these or not.

Am I missing anything critical/obvious or a known improvement to the Labs bumper? Trying to attack this build once, and not revisit future modifications (or at least keep them somewhat limited). Apologies for the ID references - it just means inside to me, I'm a pipeline guy.

Thanks again for all of the great ideas in here - great thread!

I used 1/2” hdpe to support the swing arms. A Pad on the bumper and pad on the arm. The 1” total spacing between the arm and bumper was perfect for my build.

 

[largeone]

I did something similar to support the arms. I used 1” UHDPE blocks under each arm. I also put a piece of UHDPE on the bump stop on the bumper so there is zero metal on metal. It is solid and silent.

And, yes, I did figure out that I mounted the latch hook wrong . Still holds amazingly tight and is 100% quiet. Loving this bumper.

 

[Trusty Rusty]

I did something similar to support the arms. I used 1” UHDPE blocks under each arm. I also put a piece of UHDPE on the bump stop on the bumper so there is zero metal on metal. It is solid and silent.

View attachment 3879441

View attachment 3879442

View attachment 3879445

And, yes, I did figure out that I mounted the latch hook wrong . Still holds amazingly tight and is 100% quiet. Loving this bumper.

Nice work! I especially like the addition of the UHDPE up against the latch stopper to avoid metal/metal contact...gonna have to incorporate this on mine when time allows. We frenched in some combo LED's and also modified the rearward cross-brace just slightly to catch the rear lip of the 24g LRA aux tank (avoids needing to use the included cross-brace from LRA). Need to get some pics posted - lots of good fab work in this thread!