Another rear bumper build! Pics inside.

[AKcruiserfreak]

Well, for my Christmas bonus I picked up a MillerMatic 140 for all my Cruiser projects and about a month ago I picked up a rear bumper kit from Fourrunner. Now the two will be combined to hopefully make a sweet bumper!
I allready fabbed up a set of sliders for the 60 a couple of weeks ago, and have welded up a set of sliders for our 80 as well, but have never done a rear bumper.
Fourruner's kit is very well designed and good looking to boot, so I went with his to save on time and $$$ designing and cutting my own. I'll be customizing it slightly to accomodate swingouts and a rear hitch. We'll see how it goes.
Hopefully the fabricating geniuses will keep me on track, and maybe all of us newbies will learn a thing or two. FYI, I am a normal guy with a wife, kids, and a "real" job so progress might be slow at times. Also. I am by no means a profesional welder, so don't expect anything great.

Here's some pics of what I'm working with. The third pic is of the rotted out rear crossmember. I'm debating cutting it out and fabbing in a support piece for the hitch.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Here is the link for the sliders I installed on the 60: https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/363449-finished-my-diy-sliders.html?highlight=sliders

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Subscribing. Just finished a 4x4Labs DIY bumper and had a blast.

 

[Ropeman]

That cross member looks pretty unhappy. Is there enough steel to weld in a strengthener or is it shot right along?

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Yeah, That poor cross member has seen better days. I may be able to weld up some steel along the bottom because the top and sides are fine, but I going to wait and see how the receiver interferes with that plan. What I would ultimately like to do is pull the rear cross member, cut out frame strengtheners on the rear c-channel part of the frame, and box in the frame with new steel. We will see how that plan goes, but for now I am concentrating on the bumper.

TK

 

[Cruisified]

You may think about doing that first as you could pic up some clearance by shortening the frame a little if you build your own crossmembers.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Got an hour in tonight on the bumper. I placed it where I wanted it, drilled out holes on the brackets that connect to the frame, and bolted up the brakets with 1/2" grade 8 bolts.

Here's the pics

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Cruisified, You are right cutting the cross member would pick up a bit of room, but I've got the bumper backed up as far as I want to go due to the eventual swingouts. I am quite willing to cut it if it gets in my way, and eventually I'm sure it will!

TK

 

[jaxonm]

got a link for that bumper kit?

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Jaxonm, Here's the link to his build:https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/141734-rear-bumper-build.html?highlight=rear+bumper+build

and here's the link to his classified thread:https://forum.ih8mud.com/merchandise-storefront/343628-fj60-62-rear-bumper-kits.html

Hope that helps

TK

 

[Fourrunner]

Looks like it is coming along. Email if you have any questions on the assembly. I sent you the instructions I put together, didn't I? My cross member looked identical to yours. Amazing what carbon steel against chromed steel will do.

 

[that guy]

Its going to come out really nice

 

[alaska60]

sweet......... new bumper!! You may want to think about putting the hubs in the bumper rather than putting the spindles on the bumpers. This way when you remove your swing outs.....you dont have a dumb spindle sticking 6 inches up off your bumper......besides it looks way cleaner too.




just my 2 cents......check mine out if you want??

 

[landcruiserjunky]

Looking good. Where did you score the big mirrors?

 

[Fourrunner]

Why would you ever not have the swing outs on the bumper? I have had mine on for 3+ years now and have never once thought about taking them off. Not that I doubt your theory on this, but think there is some negatives to putting the hub in the bumper. Water has a great path to get into the bearings with the hub mounted upside down. Even if you use the seal, water will still find its way in. Do you have access to the races in the hubs? Not sure you would ever have to replace them.

 

[alaska60]

Why would you ever not have the swing outs on the bumper? I have had mine on for 3+ years now and have never once thought about taking them off. Not that I doubt your theory on this, but think there is some negatives to putting the hub in the bumper. Water has a great path to get into the bearings with the hub mounted upside down. Even if you use the seal, water will still find its way in. Do you have access to the races in the hubs? Not sure you would ever have to replace them.

I'll tell you why..................when I am off roading I put my swing out on the passenger side with a gas tank, spare water,handy man jack and spare tire.... when I am guiding fishing trips I only have my spare tire on the driverside.. and just a ladder on the pass side or sometimes nothing on the pass side.
when I run with no swing out on .......i just put a hub cap on the hub hole on my bumper.....nice clean looking bumper when no gates are on. to get access to the races, you just pull the gate off and wham there they are easy access.!!! see photo..I really dont want all the extra s*** on my rearbumper when I am not actually using it i.e. I dont cruise around town with my handyman jack and extra water and gas......thats gay...... like a mall cruiser. I put it on there when I am going for an adventure where I dont have a grocery store and auto parts store on every corner..

As far as the bearings and water.....????
Its not a wheel bearing that spins at 2500 rpms everday. those bearings move about an inch every week or so or when I decide to open the rear. even if the bearing was solid rust.....it would still swing my gate open 2 feet. its not spining...its just moving 2 inches or so???? and besides if the bearing gets wet through the seal and all the grease...i'll just drop a new bearing in $5....it only takes 2 minutes....

I just think it looks better with it recessed in the bumper too. much cleaner look than the post sticking up.

 

[alaska60]

Why would you ever not have the swing outs on the bumper? I have had mine on for 3+ years now and have never once thought about taking them off. Not that I doubt your theory on this, but think there is some negatives to putting the hub in the bumper. Water has a great path to get into the bearings with the hub mounted upside down. Even if you use the seal, water will still find its way in. Do you have access to the races in the hubs? Not sure you would ever have to replace them.

also, the nice thing about taking them on and off is you will repack and inspect it all for water and other wear....... leaving them on for 3 plus years may work for you.....but I bet you have water in there too......but how would you know..............................you never take them off......right? and if you did.....it would look gay!!!!2 big spindles sticking up like hard ons!!!!!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Fourrunner, Thanks man, It's coming along slowly. Hopefully I get get some serious time with it on the weekends. Did you end up cutting out that cross member? I leaning heavily towards hacking it out. Kinda thinking about re-using the old receiver and integrating it into the bumper. We will see.

Alaska60, I do like how smooth you bumpers come out, but I also don't plan on removing my swingouts either. I'll be running a spare tire holder on one, and a ladder on the other with removable jerry can holders. I just don't see the need to take them on and off I guess. I'll be mall cruisin' at its finest!
I'll be a man and admit to the fact that I am building the bumper at least a little for the "cool" factor.

Now I just need to figure out who I want to go with on spindles. I hear IPOR carries a bullet proof set.

P.S. the mirrors came with the rig, so I have no idea where the PO picked them up. He still haunts the 60 forum from time to time, so he can chime in if he so chooses. They are alot nicer than stock 60 mirrors though.

TK

 

[Fourrunner]

Now I just need to figure out who I want to go with on spindles. I hear IPOR carries a bullet proof set.

Unless someone can show me differently, post 19 of https://forum.ih8mud.com/merchandise-storefront/343628-fj60-62-rear-bumper-kits.html has basically the same as IPOR's system except cheaper.

 

[alaska60]

Fourrunner, Thanks man, It's coming along slowly. Hopefully I get get some serious time with it on the weekends. Did you end up cutting out that cross member? I leaning heavily towards hacking it out. Kinda thinking about re-using the old receiver and integrating it into the bumper. We will see.

Alaska60, I do like how smooth you bumpers come out, but I also don't plan on removing my swingouts either. I'll be running a spare tire holder on one, and a ladder on the other with removable jerry can holders. I just don't see the need to take them on and off I guess. I'll be mall cruisin' at its finest!
I'll be a man and admit to the fact that I am building the bumper at least a little for the "cool" factor.

Now I just need to figure out who I want to go with on spindles. I hear IPOR carries a bullet proof set.

P.S. the mirrors came with the rig, so I have no idea where the PO picked them up. He still haunts the 60 forum from time to time, so he can chime in if he so chooses. They are alot nicer than stock 60 mirrors though.

TK

those are 62 mirrors like I have on my 60.