cargo bumper... for a long trip

[joshoisasleep]

Just had this beefy cargo-carrying bumper custom built, and I'm pretty stoked about it. These guys built the bumper, the swing-away jerry can holders, and the fold-down strong box all for $260 US!


under construction...

finished, and full of stuff

20L jerry can holders can both support an extra can strapped on with handy fold-down flap... currently secured with wire

The can holders and the box are all secured by a single metal pole that slides through a receiver at the back of each object.

pole locks at the end, and nothing can move while it's in there...

strong box opens from the back, so you can't open it unless you can fold it down... requiring pole removal. also adds security for my back doors, as they're blocked from opening.

ship's cat. necessary for a long expedition...

I walked into this little welding shop with no plans whatsoever. They built it exactly to my specifications, as I came up with them off the top of my head. I thought it was pretty impressive!

This should free up some space inside the vehicle, and make it a bit quicker and easier to set up camp at night. Also, I can now merge as I please, striking fear into the hearts of even the fiercest of south american motorists...

 

[made4surf]

Very impressive.
BTW, what country did you have it done in?

 

[e9999]

interesting. Why did you have it stick out so much in the back and on the sides?

 

[made4surf]

I think even when its full of gear you can still use it as a step.

 

[joshoisasleep]

Had this all made in Ecuador

interesting. Why did you have it stick out so much in the back and on the sides?

At the back I wanted it to not be way farther in than the box... I wanted it to offer protection to the box and the jerry cans as well. For the sides... well let's just say they weren't exactly the measure twice cut once kind of guys.
Also I designed it big because originally I wanted additional storage inside the bumper... they didn't do that, but I'll probably have it added later.

I think even when its full of gear you can still use it as a step.

yeah actually with the jerry's swung away and the box down, I want to give it a little leg or something so we can sit on the bumper and use it as a table. This morning we witnessed a family having breakfast on it, where it was parked.

Only down-side so far is the paint job sucked, so it's starting to get some oxidization already... I don't really know what the best course of action is with that, as I probably won't go so far as to have the whole thing sandblasted and redone.

 

[Bogo]

Only down-side so far is the paint job sucked, so it's starting to get some oxidization already... I don't really know what the best course of action is with that, as I probably won't go so far as to have the whole thing sandblasted and redone.

Just use plain old Rustoleum on it. Cheap, sprays on, and easy to touch up in the future.

About the bar, can it be removed to either side? I can see potential problems if you are in a confined space.

Looks good. I like the added security via obstruction.

 

[joshoisasleep]

Yeah well it can be initially slid in from either side... I was thinking of just adding another hole and having padlocks on both sides for that reason, but my truck is way too covered in padlocks as it is. I just try and think of it before I park.

You just spray rustoleum right over the rust?? Sanding required?

 

[made4surf]

I forgot to ask but how much do you think it weighs?

 

[Bogo]

You just spray rustoleum right over the rust?? Sanding required?

I just knock off the rust scale. Often I'll attack it a bit with a wire wheel on an angle grinder then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Wait till the dampness dries and spray it. You want to get all loose rust scale off so the rust converters in the paint don't get overwhelmed. For more serious rust control I have used POR15 and Chasissaver, but those should have a coat of some other paint over them if exposed to sunlight. Even exposed they last longer than rustoleum, but are much more expensive.

 

[latinoguy]

Functional, how are the swing outs mounted exactly sans a spindle?

 

[joshoisasleep]

Functional, how are the swing outs mounted exactly sans a spindle?

Err, exactly that, functional. There is one large steel tube welded vertically, and the jerry holders have a smaller one on the end of the bar that slides down inside. It actually works fine.
I'm sure some day I'll have it done properly, but for our purposes this is cheap and works. Adding spindles would have been a major communication issue, as well as irritating my welder guys, and increasing the project cost by what... 50%? Also, my time budget said no to finding parts.

As for weight... who knows. 400lbs? You can lift the bumper itself on your own. Full of stuff in the box and filled up jerry's? I dunno a lot. I had an extra leaf added on each side in the back before having it built. I'm sure it would sag like crap otherwise.