This bumper looks like exactly what I've been wanting. The ability to get it in kit form is icing on the cake. I am definitely in when it becomes available. It sounds like the welding will be a pretty quick and easy job. Getting it in raw form sounds like a great option to me. I've never been fond of powder coat on things that get scratched and chipped. To me it seems like paint is a much better way to go because of the ease of touch up.
Can't buy the bumper I want, so I'm going to build it... (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter bamachem
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I like the idea of you keeping your local people employed. By offering as a complete unit in the beginning you have quality control on your new product and keeping some local guys busy. I agree with Loud that finding a welder to do this for the first time your savings will be minimal if any. I have assisted with 3 of 4x4 labs rear bumper kits and there is a lot more to it then one would think.
- Thread starter
- #83
Got the center section (frame to frame) for both trucks tacked and mounted up. Very little adjustments needed there. Got the front-facing section of the wings trimmed and tacked on the cruiser. I'll upload and post some pics later.
My welder is certified for working on US Navy ship building along with high pressure vessels and piping. Think stacked dimes...
He's taking what's done so far on the center of the UZJ and his stuff for his P/U and welding them up tomorrow & Friday at home. Monday is when we're going to get the wings completed and finish off the winch plate for the UZJ.
Going good so far...
My welder is certified for working on US Navy ship building along with high pressure vessels and piping. Think stacked dimes...
He's taking what's done so far on the center of the UZJ and his stuff for his P/U and welding them up tomorrow & Friday at home. Monday is when we're going to get the wings completed and finish off the winch plate for the UZJ.
Going good so far...
- Thread starter
- #84
Pics so far...
As you can see in this last pic, the wings will need a few CAD adjustments before the next one is cut. We're going to just fill in the gaps on this one, then take final measurements and get the files updated. At least it's progress though!
As you can see in this last pic, the wings will need a few CAD adjustments before the next one is cut. We're going to just fill in the gaps on this one, then take final measurements and get the files updated. At least it's progress though!
Sorry, not to be critical, but bamachem, do you have a shop, or past experience? Why would I buy a your bumper over a tried and true company like ARB, TJM, Slee, etc? Just asking? Now if I can get a kit for $400 and weld it myslef for free, that is another thing entirely. Although my time, labor and powder coating are not free.
- Thread starter
- #86
No problem. It's a valid question and I don't mind answering it.
Do I have an offroad shop? No.
What do I bring to the table? I work at the US headquarters for an international company that installs pressurized piping systems in industrial applications. I am the Engineering Manager for our U.S. Division. We have a team of pipe fitters and welders that lay bead for a living when lives depend on it. We have a fab shop on-site. Work is slow and our welders are looking for "projects". I can help them (paying work) and I can help you (the community) by supplying a product. I have access to a local fab shop and steel supply company that has a CNC Plasma Table and a 10-Ton Press. They are slow on work and need "filler" jobs for their staff. This is good filler work for the shop. They typically build components for the windmill electric generation industry as well as offshore oil/gas platforms. They have two shops who do PC for them who also need work and would love to do bumpers to keep staff billable.
Why do it? Because I can. I have been building 4Runners for years. I'm relatively new to UZJ's but not to the offroad community. I have the CAD and engineering tools. I have the labor force, equipment, and talent to get the job done. I want a bumper that nobody offers, yet. I want the smaller profile of a TJM, but with the strength of an ARB and the lines of a SLEE at a good price, yet made by US labor.
This is not a profession for me. This is not a cash-cow. This is not what I intend to do as a steady income. I intend to pop out 2-4 bumpers at a time, each fitted and tacked up on my truck, then welded up and prepped for shipment. Sell those bumpers and start a new batch when interest is there and shop time is available. Basically, they won't realistically be built-to-order and they won't necessarily be on a shelf ready to ship when someone has the funds. However, not having to worry about foreign exchange rates, trans-oceanic shipping, cross-country freight, and all the costs involved with having inventory in the supply chain that is months-long in timing is allowing me to keep local guys busy while keeping pricing down to what I feel is a good point in the market. Having a shop with staff and bills to pay is not a necessity.
Don't get me wrong. I most certainly appreciate what Slee and the other companies do every day for the offroad community. I had an ARB on my old 4Runner and never had any issues with them. I've never owned a TJM, but I would have liked to have found one a few months ago when I was looking. I don't have anything of Slee's - yet, but that's not because I don't like his stuff. It's because I don't have rocks here. I have sand and mud. I'm at the beach. The nearest rocky trail is probably 150 miles from here. Go back 3 years and I was in East Tennessee living 40-minutes from the North Gate of Tellico. Now that was FUN.
Why do I want a bumper then? Because I like the look. I like the extra protection for the fire roads and trails in the woods. I like the ability to have a winch. Why not?
I believe this will fill a niche that just isn't out there. You can't touch a bumper for a UZJ for under $1000 anywhere. This one would be 15% cheaper than that. Will it be cut by the latest laser table and bent on the best CNC press for repetitive perfection from one bumepr to another like an ARB? No. However, I can guarantee that each bumper will be symmetric, durable, built to last as a quality piece of work.
What more can I say???
Do I have an offroad shop? No.
What do I bring to the table? I work at the US headquarters for an international company that installs pressurized piping systems in industrial applications. I am the Engineering Manager for our U.S. Division. We have a team of pipe fitters and welders that lay bead for a living when lives depend on it. We have a fab shop on-site. Work is slow and our welders are looking for "projects". I can help them (paying work) and I can help you (the community) by supplying a product. I have access to a local fab shop and steel supply company that has a CNC Plasma Table and a 10-Ton Press. They are slow on work and need "filler" jobs for their staff. This is good filler work for the shop. They typically build components for the windmill electric generation industry as well as offshore oil/gas platforms. They have two shops who do PC for them who also need work and would love to do bumpers to keep staff billable.
Why do it? Because I can. I have been building 4Runners for years. I'm relatively new to UZJ's but not to the offroad community. I have the CAD and engineering tools. I have the labor force, equipment, and talent to get the job done. I want a bumper that nobody offers, yet. I want the smaller profile of a TJM, but with the strength of an ARB and the lines of a SLEE at a good price, yet made by US labor.
This is not a profession for me. This is not a cash-cow. This is not what I intend to do as a steady income. I intend to pop out 2-4 bumpers at a time, each fitted and tacked up on my truck, then welded up and prepped for shipment. Sell those bumpers and start a new batch when interest is there and shop time is available. Basically, they won't realistically be built-to-order and they won't necessarily be on a shelf ready to ship when someone has the funds. However, not having to worry about foreign exchange rates, trans-oceanic shipping, cross-country freight, and all the costs involved with having inventory in the supply chain that is months-long in timing is allowing me to keep local guys busy while keeping pricing down to what I feel is a good point in the market. Having a shop with staff and bills to pay is not a necessity.
Don't get me wrong. I most certainly appreciate what Slee and the other companies do every day for the offroad community. I had an ARB on my old 4Runner and never had any issues with them. I've never owned a TJM, but I would have liked to have found one a few months ago when I was looking. I don't have anything of Slee's - yet, but that's not because I don't like his stuff. It's because I don't have rocks here. I have sand and mud. I'm at the beach. The nearest rocky trail is probably 150 miles from here. Go back 3 years and I was in East Tennessee living 40-minutes from the North Gate of Tellico. Now that was FUN.
Why do I want a bumper then? Because I like the look. I like the extra protection for the fire roads and trails in the woods. I like the ability to have a winch. Why not?
I believe this will fill a niche that just isn't out there. You can't touch a bumper for a UZJ for under $1000 anywhere. This one would be 15% cheaper than that. Will it be cut by the latest laser table and bent on the best CNC press for repetitive perfection from one bumepr to another like an ARB? No. However, I can guarantee that each bumper will be symmetric, durable, built to last as a quality piece of work.
What more can I say???
FullyLitLED
Supporting Vendor
sent you a pm, btw
No problem. It's a valid question and I don't mind answering it.
Do I have an offroad shop? No.
What do I bring to the table? I work at the US headquarters for an international company that installs pressurized piping systems in industrial applications. I am the Engineering Manager for our U.S. Division. We have a team of pipe fitters and welders that lay bead for a living when lives depend on it. We have a fab shop on-site. Work is slow and our welders are looking for "projects". I can help them (paying work) and I can help you (the community) by supplying a product. I have access to a local fab shop and steel supply company that has a CNC Plasma Table and a 10-Ton Press. They are slow on work and need "filler" jobs for their staff. This is good filler work for the shop. They typically build components for the windmill electric generation industry as well as offshore oil/gas platforms. They have two shops who do PC for them who also need work and would love to do bumpers to keep staff billable.
Why do it? Because I can. I have been building 4Runners for years. I'm relatively new to UZJ's but not to the offroad community. I have the CAD and engineering tools. I have the labor force, equipment, and talent to get the job done. I want a bumper that nobody offers, yet. I want the smaller profile of a TJM, but with the strength of an ARB and the lines of a SLEE at a good price, yet made by US labor.
This is not a profession for me. This is not a cash-cow. This is not what I intend to do as a steady income. I intend to pop out 2-4 bumpers at a time, each fitted and tacked up on my truck, then welded up and prepped for shipment. Sell those bumpers and start a new batch when interest is there and shop time is available. Basically, they won't realistically be built-to-order and they won't necessarily be on a shelf ready to ship when someone has the funds. However, not having to worry about foreign exchange rates, trans-oceanic shipping, cross-country freight, and all the costs involved with having inventory in the supply chain that is months-long in timing is allowing me to keep local guys busy while keeping pricing down to what I feel is a good point in the market. Having a shop with staff and bills to pay is not a necessity.
Don't get me wrong. I most certainly appreciate what Slee and the other companies do every day for the offroad community. I had an ARB on my old 4Runner and never had any issues with them. I've never owned a TJM, but I would have liked to have found one a few months ago when I was looking. I don't have anything of Slee's - yet, but that's not because I don't like his stuff. It's because I don't have rocks here. I have sand and mud. I'm at the beach. The nearest rocky trail is probably 150 miles from here. Go back 3 years and I was in East Tennessee living 40-minutes from the North Gate of Tellico. Now that was FUN.
Why do I want a bumper then? Because I like the look. I like the extra protection for the fire roads and trails in the woods. I like the ability to have a winch. Why not?
I believe this will fill a niche that just isn't out there. You can't touch a bumper for a UZJ for under $1000 anywhere. This one would be 15% cheaper than that. Will it be cut by the latest laser table and bent on the best CNC press for repetitive perfection from one bumepr to another like an ARB? No. However, I can guarantee that each bumper will be symmetric, durable, built to last as a quality piece of work.
What more can I say???
- Thread starter
- #88
sent you a pm, btw
PM replied to.
LSUfj
SILVER Star
I like where this is going. Im still interested in a template or a weld-it-yourself kit. Are the fog lights going to attach the same way they do on the stock bumper? I'm sure everyone would like to take a look at the welds as well. Sounds like you have some guys that know what they are doing though. Keep up the good work!
- Thread starter
- #91
awesome! Do you plan on doing the hoop still? Interested in a naked one
The hoop that I have is an aluminum take-off from a TJM T3 and is ONLY for my bumper - maybe. I haven't decided if I want to use it or not. I will NOT be providing any hoops for the bumpers. It would be best to get a local fab shop with a bender to make your hoops to your liking to be honest. I have the ability to add anything up to 2.5" diameter schedule 40 pipe for hoops if someone wanted it, but that's going to add some serious weight.
The weld-it-yourself kit seems to be really popular! Once the cut files are "massaged" so that there's very little trimming for final fitting, it's definitley going to be an option. I think that package will be the pre-cut plates, bent and ready to weld up with some easy to follow directions. That would allow for at-home fitting/trimming and welding as well as very affordable shipping. However, it's can still be a lot of work to make sure everything is true/square and fits properly, especially if your truck has ever been in an accident or had the frame tweeked.
The holes for the factory fogs are dressed in some sheet metal to help aim them to center, and they will attach just like OEM by sliding the tab into a slot and then a single nut on a stud opposite of that.
I don't see why we wouldn't have it ready for the powdercoating shop by Wednesday unless we run into an issue somewhere else. The bumper on the 91 pickup is probably finished by now, and there's not much left on mine at all.
I've found a couple minor things I want to address on future plate cuts, but nothing major really. I'm thinking about going to a round hole for the fogs... On the fence with that.
Last edited:
FullyLitLED
Supporting Vendor
when can we start ordering?
Post pictures of the welds and the bumper pre-coating if you could. Helps to see what's really under there first...at least for some.
No problem. It's a valid question and I don't mind answering it.
Do I have an offroad shop? No.
What do I bring to the table? I work at the US headquarters for an international company that installs pressurized piping systems in industrial applications. I am the Engineering Manager for our U.S. Division. We have a team of pipe fitters and welders that lay bead for a living when lives depend on it. We have a fab shop on-site. Work is slow and our welders are looking for "projects". I can help them (paying work) and I can help you (the community) by supplying a product. I have access to a local fab shop and steel supply company that has a CNC Plasma Table and a 10-Ton Press. They are slow on work and need "filler" jobs for their staff. This is good filler work for the shop. They typically build components for the windmill electric generation industry as well as offshore oil/gas platforms. They have two shops who do PC for them who also need work and would love to do bumpers to keep staff billable.
Why do it? Because I can. I have been building 4Runners for years. I'm relatively new to UZJ's but not to the offroad community. I have the CAD and engineering tools. I have the labor force, equipment, and talent to get the job done. I want a bumper that nobody offers, yet. I want the smaller profile of a TJM, but with the strength of an ARB and the lines of a SLEE at a good price, yet made by US labor.
This is not a profession for me. This is not a cash-cow. This is not what I intend to do as a steady income. I intend to pop out 2-4 bumpers at a time, each fitted and tacked up on my truck, then welded up and prepped for shipment. Sell those bumpers and start a new batch when interest is there and shop time is available. Basically, they won't realistically be built-to-order and they won't necessarily be on a shelf ready to ship when someone has the funds. However, not having to worry about foreign exchange rates, trans-oceanic shipping, cross-country freight, and all the costs involved with having inventory in the supply chain that is months-long in timing is allowing me to keep local guys busy while keeping pricing down to what I feel is a good point in the market. Having a shop with staff and bills to pay is not a necessity.
Don't get me wrong. I most certainly appreciate what Slee and the other companies do every day for the offroad community. I had an ARB on my old 4Runner and never had any issues with them. I've never owned a TJM, but I would have liked to have found one a few months ago when I was looking. I don't have anything of Slee's - yet, but that's not because I don't like his stuff. It's because I don't have rocks here. I have sand and mud. I'm at the beach. The nearest rocky trail is probably 150 miles from here. Go back 3 years and I was in East Tennessee living 40-minutes from the North Gate of Tellico. Now that was FUN.
Why do I want a bumper then? Because I like the look. I like the extra protection for the fire roads and trails in the woods. I like the ability to have a winch. Why not?
I believe this will fill a niche that just isn't out there. You can't touch a bumper for a UZJ for under $1000 anywhere. This one would be 15% cheaper than that. Will it be cut by the latest laser table and bent on the best CNC press for repetitive perfection from one bumepr to another like an ARB? No. However, I can guarantee that each bumper will be symmetric, durable, built to last as a quality piece of work.
What more can I say???
That's awesome Andy. Good for you for generating some work for your local shops.
Just a thought on those protruding anchor points - I don't think they would be legal in Australia. Since the ban on using front mounted fishing rod holders (pedestrian cheesecutters), all protrusions have been banned. I think that is why ARB has such rounded bars, and uses the tow points below the bar.
Just a thought, in case the good old USA has similar rules.
Just a thought, in case the good old USA has similar rules.
LSUfj
SILVER Star
well, its thursday. Any updates?
- Thread starter
- #100
Unfortunately, no. Patience Grasshopper...
I had to go out of town on business on mon & tues, I had some s*** to take care of yesterday, and our welder here at the shop wanted a couple days off to hunt in the cold weather that just moved in (today and tomorrow). To be honest, neither of us are in a hurry to get something out there w/o making sure that everything is just right. We're working on it as we can get to it for December, then we're planning on doing a group buy on a half-dozen or so in January. I brought the bumper home w/ me yesterday and I'm planning on taking a day off tomorrow to do some fitting and tacking. Once I do that, he'll take care of zipping up the seams next week in the shop.
I had to go out of town on business on mon & tues, I had some s*** to take care of yesterday, and our welder here at the shop wanted a couple days off to hunt in the cold weather that just moved in (today and tomorrow). To be honest, neither of us are in a hurry to get something out there w/o making sure that everything is just right. We're working on it as we can get to it for December, then we're planning on doing a group buy on a half-dozen or so in January. I brought the bumper home w/ me yesterday and I'm planning on taking a day off tomorrow to do some fitting and tacking. Once I do that, he'll take care of zipping up the seams next week in the shop.
