Bumper Fab Questions

[new at this]

This has likely been covered before, but my search didn't uncover the thread.

I obviously want some bumpers on my truck-to-be but costing $3000 for a full set isn't really an option. So I had two questions:

1) How difficult, say on a _/10 scale, to do something like this? On top of that I'm new to welding, however I luckily have access to a full metal shop (aside from a tube bender) and lots of experience.

2) Is it worth it? After factoring in materials and the inevitable cases of beer bought to solicit help is there worthwhile costs savings to justify the time? That being said welding is a skill I want to pick up at some point, and I don't have a wife and kids so I have more free time than most.

Thanks

 

[-Spike-]

It's worth it, depending on what value you put on your time. I like playing around with stuff, so I put very little value on my time. I would probably be better off spending the time working on someone else's stuff and spending that money on the truck toys, but that's no fun. I can buy the materials for a bumper for under a hundred bucks easily, most bumpers are ~$800 or more so the savings are definitely there.

I think bumpers and sliders are great projects for learning how to weld. Take it slow and do some testing though, especially if you plan on using the bumpers for recovery points. Overkill is always better than underkill.

 

[2mbb]

Start easy and work up from there. Don't jump right in and as your first fab project make a rear bumper with swing outs etc.

Here's my thread on my front bumper build. It uses a simple design and I was able to do nearly all of the fab with a 110V mig welder and a 4 1/2" angle grinder. I purchased the bent tubing pieces, then cut to fit and welded them on.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/77311-front-bumper-project.html

I tried to take into account in the bumper design my lack of professional welding skills. The recovery points and the main winch mount plate bolt directly to the frame. That way, a critical weld isn't going to fail in the middle of a recovery situation.

Good luck

 

[shotgun]

I used to borrow my friends welder and I would tack together my parts. Then I would take it to my buddys welding shop and have him weld it up . that way i could build what i wanted and it only cost beer to have it welded. Then I took a class and bought a welder and I am having fun practicing my welds

 

[pillguy]

go for it....

CHeck out mine (start at page 4)
https://forum.ih8mud.com/ga-georgia-cruisers/274928-pillguys-4runner-build-pics-4.html

I bought a HH 140 last year (great, but might sell) and steel and looked for builds for my 4runner. Recently picked up a readywelder for a deal and it rocks. The build coming along and I have learned a lot reading all the threads as I am using the "engineering as you go" methodology, foamboard and grinders. I did use a larger welder for the bigger stuff.
Frame brackets made of 1/4" and 3/16"
Rest of it will be 3/16"


To me, its more of a learning experience, so that is priceless. I say go for it