Anyone have prints or drawings of various bumper designs? (1 Viewer)

[Technician1985]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for technical drawings of bumpers with good dimensions and material info. I do not wish to copy a design that is being sold currently, however the information would be quite useful to me because it would expedite the process of generating my own print and having one made or even making it myself.

Given that a good front bumper runs $950 and a rear is $1500-2500, I have to believe I can make decent bumpers for less than that, maybe $1000 for front and rear.

 

[Desert Dino]

Good luck LOL

 

[Technician1985]

Good luck LOL

I have a mechanical engineering degree and am currently employed working on the floor of a factory that builds automated machinery, it's not like I have no idea what I'm doing or what things cost.

I don't see the harm of asking what's already out there as far as design information, in fact it makes the most sense if you ask me. It's not like I expect ARB to email me their models.

 

[jcardona1]

You can get a 4x4Labs DIY front kit for $600.

 

[Technician1985]

You can get a 4x4Labs DIY front kit for $600.

A friend of mine mentioned those to me. The only thing is that I can get a lot of scrap metal from work, for free, crazy stuff ranging from bearing grade stainless shafts, stainless plate of varying thickness, and all kinds of mild steel. I am hoping to keep the materials cost to a minimum. I can measure, cut and prepare all of the sections of the bumper myself, then bribe our welder with whiskey to do some of the construction.

The only thing that sucks is that it seems like it would be hard to make a good bumper from scratch without building a template on the vehicle itself, and since it's already fall and I'm busy working all the time, I'm trying to avoid having to do that.

I know shops that can powdercoat the bumpers for me and not overcharge me.

 

[jcardona1]

A friend of mine mentioned those to me. The only thing is that I can get a lot of scrap metal from work, for free, crazy stuff ranging from bearing grade stainless shafts, stainless plate of varying thickness, and all kinds of mild steel. I am hoping to keep the materials cost to a minimum. I can measure, cut and prepare all of the sections of the bumper myself, then bribe our welder with whiskey to do some of the construction.

The only thing that sucks is that it seems like it would be hard to make a good bumper from scratch without building a template on the vehicle itself, and since it's already fall and I'm busy working all the time, I'm trying to avoid having to do that.

I know shops that can powdercoat the bumpers for me and not overcharge me.

Sometimes it's not just the material, but the tools to create a nice finish. Anybody with basic tools and average metal working skills can build a bumper, but it will be boxy with angles everywhere. The nice thing about buying Luke's kit is you're getting all the design and fab work that can only be done with pretty serious equipment. You won't get all those nice bends and contours unless you have access to the machinery.

That's what separates something like this:

From this:

 

[Technician1985]

^ No denying that kit looks nice, and far nicer than the TJM.

What I'm thinking about trying to build would be more like the slee bumper except with one horizontal cross bar like the ARB bumper has, which I would mount lights to.

The main complication with the rear bumper will be the swing arm, but I'm thinking I'll be able to get a 1" shaft and use a flange bearing on the bottom and a pillow block bearing as high up as possible on the top end. Building a solid latch won't be an issue as long as everything lines up and is rigid.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

A friend of mine mentioned those to me. The only thing is that I can get a lot of scrap metal from work, for free, crazy stuff ranging from bearing grade stainless shafts, stainless plate of varying thickness, and all kinds of mild steel. I am hoping to keep the materials cost to a minimum. I can measure, cut and prepare all of the sections of the bumper myself, then bribe our welder with whiskey to do some of the construction.

The only thing that sucks is that it seems like it would be hard to make a good bumper from scratch without building a template on the vehicle itself, and since it's already fall and I'm busy working all the time, I'm trying to avoid having to do that.

I know shops that can powdercoat the bumpers for me and not overcharge me.

From a first post sounds like you are all that. You should come up with your own over the top design and share your CAD drawings with all of us. That my friend would make for a nice introduction to the community.

 

[Dork]

Cardboard is a pretty cheap, easy to work with material to do a mock up with.

When I did my rear bumper i had these ideas of sharing all the info or CAD files I accumulated along the way. Then i realized how much of my time i put into it and said "F*** that, anyone else should have to earn it too".

The guys selling bumpers put a lot of time and energy into their products, no need to try to shortcut all their work and diminish their already small market.

The harm in asking in the first place is that a simple search brings up already countless threads all over the internet of people wanting something for nothing.

 

[nukegoat]

I have a .zip file with about 20 different bumpers modeled in .dxf format so you can just laser cut them out and go to town. Let me PM you them directly right after I finish this head gasket repair

 

[Technician1985]

From a first post sounds like you are all that. You should come up with your own over the top design and share your CAD drawings with all of us. That my friend would make for a nice introduction to the community.

I don't claim to be all that, lol, I'm just saying I am capable of designing and building a bumper. I'm just looking for shortcuts since in some communities, information like this is shared freely.

Cardboard is a pretty cheap, easy to work with material to do a mock up with.

When I did my rear bumper i had these ideas of sharing all the info or CAD files I accumulated along the way. Then i realized how much of my time i put into it and said "F*** that, anyone else should have to earn it too".

The guys selling bumpers put a lot of time and energy into their products, no need to try to shortcut all their work and diminish their already small market.

The harm in asking in the first place is that a simple search brings up already countless threads all over the internet of people wanting something for nothing.

Yeah, cardboard isn't a bad idea and I have an unlimited supply of it. I'm not trying to shortcut anyone's work by seeking dimensions for mounting point, width, etc... It's called sharing info.

I have a .zip file with about 20 different bumpers modeled in .dxf format so you can just laser cut them out and go to town. Let me PM you them directly right after I finish this head gasket repair

That would be very helpful

 

[sleeoffroad]

It will take me some time, but I am sure I can probably send the CNC files for the plasma cutter

 

[Pascoscout]

You won't get all those nice bends and contours unless you have access to the machinery.

Maybe some of us like the more boxy look . Not saying the Labs bumper isn't really cool and a ton of work went into it but I am very happy with the front bumper kit I bought.

When I did my rear bumper i had these ideas of sharing all the info or CAD files I accumulated along the way. Then i realized how much of my time i put into it and said "F*** that, anyone else should have to earn it too".

I went through the same thing. After I drew up my rear bumper I mocked it up out of cardboard first. Made some tweeks but never went back and adjusted the drawings. Then when I cut it from steel off the cardboard template I made more tweeks and still didn't go back to update the original drawings. By the time I was done I realized I'd be several hours into recreating the drawings and even then they probably would not be something a person could take to a shop and have cut and expect it to fit perfectly. Add to that potential liability for providing the design should someone be involved in an accident and I decided against posting the drawings online. Figured if someone was really into what I did they could ask specific questions about dimensions as they developed their own version of my design and I would happily answer them.

 

[nukegoat]

It will take me some time, but I am sure I can probably send the CNC files for the plasma cutter

Thanks - I just got the ones you sent me. I will add them to the .zip file along with the others.

 

[LINUS]

I don't see why you don't offer to help somebody do their bumper swap.

Just standing there with your hand out & ability to take home scrap, let alone a drunken welder - doesn't exactly make you catnip to our crowd.

Or why not just find a parted 80 & measure the frame?
There's that one on Whidbey Island been in CL forever, and by the numbers you're somewhere from Arlington to Olympia & part of the Boeing support vendors, just a easy guess.

I'm learning CNC myself & plan to offer some junk at some point, but my way would involve sending a prototype to 3 people:

@nukegoat - destruct / deform testing
@sleeoffroad - because if neither nuke or Christo break it, then -
@NLXTACY - because he can re-engineer it to perfection.

Then I know I'd have some serious gear.

Or hell, offer beer to let some 80 owner drive by so you can measure his junk.

 

[jcardona1]

Or hell, offer beer to let some 80 owner drive by so you can measure his junk.

Take this to the 100 section please.

 

[LINUS]

Take this to the 100 section please.

Well played Jose

 

[bhicks]

Are you wanting a plate style bumper or tube bumper? I designed in CAD a couple different bumpers for my 80s but they were both mainly tube bumpers.
Here's a couple pics of the different bumpers.
This is the Trail Gear center section (purchased off their site) with my own tube design welded to it. Here's the link:
Trail Gear Custom Bumper Design

 

[bhicks]

Here's my older all tube bumper. This was a non-winch receiver mount style bumper. Here's the build thread for that one:
Stage 2: Front Bumper Design

 

[Marine7]

I don't see why you don't offer to help somebody do their bumper swap.

Just standing there with your hand out & ability to take home scrap, let alone a drunken welder - doesn't exactly make you catnip to our crowd.

Or why not just find a parted 80 & measure the frame?
There's that one on Whidbey Island been in CL forever, and by the numbers you're somewhere from Arlington to Olympia & part of the Boeing support vendors, just a easy guess.

I'm learning CNC myself & plan to offer some junk at some point, but my way would involve sending a prototype to 3 people:

@nukegoat - destruct / deform testing
@sleeoffroad - because if neither nuke or Christo break it, then -
@NLXTACY - because he can re-engineer it to perfection.

Then I know I'd have some serious gear.

Or hell, offer beer to let some 80 owner drive by so you can measure his junk.

Please release it BEFORE NLXTACY gets it! With his precision and perfection OCD it will be years before he releases it! Lol