Cheap rear bumper

[rondog]

who's building $50. dollar bumpers?

get ahold of woody, he owns this site: http://www.ih8mud.com/ads.php#banners

good luck and nice work you do there!

I'm just saying you get what you pay for - right ? a straight peice of 1 3/4" tubing with frame mounts - there's your $50.00 bumper !!
thanks for the info.

 

[rondog]

$50.00 dollar bumper

please describe what a $50 bumper is? is it just C channel? that would be cool..

A staight piece of 1 3/4" tube with frame mounts - raw !!

 

[OCHO4I]

Rondog, I really like what I’ve seen, but the problem I have is that my 60 has a ladder leading up to the roof rack on the driver’s side of the rear lift gate. (And before everyone asks, I don’t know the origins of the ladder as it came with the 60 when I bought it. I can tell you that it’s sturdy enough to support my 190 lb. body without damaging the rear lift gate or damaging the ladder.) I’d be looking for a set-up similar to the one in your photos, but with the tire carrier set up to mount the spare on the passenger side. (My tires are 32 X 11.5 r15’s if that info helps.) Is that possible? Also, I could have sworn that I saw you post some photos of sliders for the 60 somewhere else. Could you post photos of those as well?

With regard to the price issue, it’s like I always tell my kids: You get what you pay for and quality always costs more. Inasmuch as they don’t carry bumpers for my 60 at Wal-Mart, I’m expecting to pay a fair price for a quality bumper that can put up with abuse. The distinction really needs to be made between “cheap” and “fair” pricing. All the stuff I’ve seen from Ron of Vigilante Offroad & Jim of Rock-Solid Offroad is well made, of high quality and priced correctly for what you get. I’d rather spend a little more up front for the protection I feel I’ll need than purchase a bumper “on-the-cheap” now and then purchase a replacement once the bumper fails.

 

[brokenparts]

99% of the bumpers made for 60's are more than I need and more than I wanna pay for a bumper that I am going to beat the piss out of. All the ladders, can holders, swingout, and other stuff is a complete overkill for most situations in my opinion.

Again, this thread is about a "cheap" no thrills wheelin style bumper similar to Marlin's tube bumper. I consider Marlin's bumper "cheap" and would say the quality is still top notch.

 

[rondog]

rear bumper build

Rondog, I really like what I’ve seen, but the problem I have is that my 60 has a ladder leading up to the roof rack on the driver’s side of the rear lift gate. (And before everyone asks, I don’t know the origins of the ladder as it came with the 60 when I bought it. I can tell you that it’s sturdy enough to support my 190 lb. body without damaging the rear lift gate or damaging the ladder.) I’d be looking for a set-up similar to the one in your photos, but with the tire carrier set up to mount the spare on the passenger side. (My tires are 32 X 11.5 r15’s if that info helps.) Is that possible? Also, I could have sworn that I saw you post some photos of sliders for the 60 somewhere else. Could you post photos of those as well?

With regard to the price issue, it’s like I always tell my kids: You get what you pay for and quality always costs more. Inasmuch as they don’t carry bumpers for my 60 at Wal-Mart, I’m expecting to pay a fair price for a quality bumper that can put up with abuse. The distinction really needs to be made between “cheap” and “fair” pricing. All the stuff I’ve seen from Ron of Vigilante Offroad & Jim of Rock-Solid Offroad is well made, of high quality and priced correctly for what you get. I’d rather spend a little more up front for the protection I feel I’ll need than purchase a bumper “on-the-cheap” now and then purchase a replacement once the bumper fails.

First off - thanks for your understanding !! I am more than willing to be a competitive builder. If I could afford to make bumpers a cheap as marlin , all-pro, bent-up, or any of those other guys I would !! SROR and my self from what I take are smaller independent shops that don't (and really can't afford to) buy in bulk. That is how they do it, and yes they earned it. Anyhow I would love the opportunity to build you a bumper. Are you wanting to keep the ladder ? and does it attach to the gate ? If you could send some pics I'm sure I could do It with no problem.Also I can mount the spare on either side and any height.With a reciever or not ? I am also lowering the cost a bit to suffice some of the cautious buyers !! Thanks for your interest,

Ronnie

Here are the pics of the sliders

 

[OCHO4I]

Your point is well taken. I agree that there is sometimes a tendency to go “overkill” with some of the equipment we put on our Land Cruisers. I also agree that going back to your original post, the Marlin rear tube bumper, (once they tool up and make one for the 60), is an incredible deal for what you pay. However, as the folks from Marlin pointed out, its economies of scale and given that they are able to purchase the raw material needed to make the bumpers in bulk, it’s somewhat unrealistic to expect the fabricators who frequent this forum to compete with them on price. As far as a high quality, basic but functional bumper goes, the Marlin is hard to beat.

 

[rondog]

fair pricing

Your point is well taken. I agree that there is sometimes a tendency to go “overkill” with some of the equipment we put on our Land Cruisers. I also agree that going back to your original post, the Marlin rear tube bumper, (once they tool up and make one for the 60), is an incredible deal for what you pay. However, as the folks from Marlin pointed out, its economies of scale and given that they are able to purchase the raw material needed to make the bumpers in bulk, it’s somewhat unrealistic to expect the fabricators who frequent this forum to compete with them on price. As far as a high quality, basic but functional bumper goes, the Marlin is hard to beat.

YESSSS SIR !! those guys have it locked down, and hard to beat. I guarantee those marlin bumpers would'nt hold up to the wieght of the pigs though !! especially dropping off a ledge or dragging AZZ up one. Not saying they are'nt very well designed and built, just not for the 60's. I'm sure when they come out with that design I 'll have to think of other options for the 60's !!!

 

[brokenparts]

hey you guys gotta charge what you gotta charge....I understand that. If you cant build at that price then ya cant and you wont. If a cheap quality bumper cant be built then so be it. Simple as that.

that being said...

I think the number of views and responses to this thread would also show that buying in bulk for a market that wants and needs a cheap(er) 60s bumper isnt a pipe dream.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

First off - thanks for your understanding !! I am more than willing to be a competitive builder. If I could afford to make bumpers a cheap as marlin , all-pro, bent-up, or any of those other guys I would !! SROR and my self from what I take are smaller independent shops that don't (and really can't afford to) buy in bulk. That is how they do it, and yes they earned it. Anyhow I would love the opportunity to build you a bumper. Are you wanting to keep the ladder ? and does it attach to the gate ? If you could send some pics I'm sure I could do It with no problem.Also I can mount the spare on either side and any height.With a reciever or not ? I am also lowering the cost a bit to suffice some of the cautious buyers !! Thanks for your interest

One point that some people fail to make regarding the small operations is the time, care and effort that goes in to a custom fabricated piece. Aside from the economies of scale there's also the individual attention to detail that may fade when doing mass quantities. "One-Off" products should be considered custom fabrication which merits top dollar, unfortunately the little guy is expected to compete with the big guns on price. The thought of paying less for a custom piece is absurd but everyone does it. It's not the simple matter of making a change, these parts are designed and engineered to work, be strong and last forever.

As an example it can be compared to having a home custom built. People accept the custom home will cost considerably more than a tract house and pay the difference because you get exactly what you want. That should apply to custom Cruiser products as well. I'm sure that if any of the big producers were asked to add this or that, move this to the other side or make it 2" higher their price would jump considerably. The time spent before the actual fabricating is extensive.

Just something I want to make others aware of and I also want to specify I'm speaking for myself though I'm sure none of the little guys would argue with what I've said.

 

[Dirtgypsy]

dood did you build your own rack? its cool!

it is a garvin wilderness rack 5x5. thanks! it is now on another 60 in WA.

clint

 

[brokenparts]

One point that some people fail to make regarding the small operations is the time, care and effort that goes in to a custom fabricated piece. Aside from the economies of scale there's also the individual attention to detail that may fade when doing mass quantities. "One-Off" products should be considered custom fabrication which merits top dollar, unfortunately the little guy is expected to compete with the big guns on price. The thought of paying less for a custom piece is absurd but everyone does it. It's not the simple matter of making a change, these parts are designed and engineered to work, be strong and last forever.

As an example it can be compared to having a home custom built. People accept the custom home will cost considerably more than a tract house and pay the difference because you get exactly what you want. That should apply to custom Cruiser products as well. I'm sure that if any of the big producers were asked to add this or that, move this to the other side or make it 2" higher their price would jump considerably. The time spent before the actual fabricating is extensive.

Just something I want to make others aware of and I also want to specify I'm speaking for myself though I'm sure none of the little guys would argue with what I've said.

Again, if they cant make for that price ($300ish)... so be it.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Again, if they cant make for that price... so be it.

I am NOT speaking for anyone considering this project.

Just spouting off from the sideline.

 

[Shinichi]

I have one of Jim's rear bumpers and love it. I think the design of the blade is about perfect for our rigs. I also think a lot of time goes into building the swing out and the trailer axle it swings on. I am not sure, but I bet SROR could build that style bumper pretty quick and economically without the swing out. I know I would buy another one without the swing out for my dad's 62. I also think it will hold up to abuse better than any tube style bumper, but I haven't realy had a chance to test it yet.

On a side note, Jim, build a front bumper that uses the lines of your rear, and the stock one, more or less. Simple, tight approach, and add a winch the way you would to a stock bumper. I will buy one as soon as you make it.

 

[brokenparts]

I am NOT speaking for anyone considering this project.

Just spouting off from the sideline.

This is starting to take a sideways angle... and I dont want this to become a negative thread . My overall goal when starting this thread was to reach out to some of the terrific fabricators that we have around this sight and let them know that I thought that they were missing (along with 60s owners) out on some products that could be "massed" produced at a price point that I think most people could afford. Much like what Marlin Crawler/all-pro/ and that other one have done in the mini truck market. Maybe this is an opprotuntity for the smaller guy to jump into a product that can be "mass" produced since no one is producing these yet?

I really really really really dont want to ruffle feathers here, I just want to get a good product at a reasonable price and if that isnt possible... that's cool too.


Zach

 

[Front Range 4x4]

This is starting to take a sideways angle... and I dont want this to become a negative thread . My over goal when starting this thread was to reach out to some of the terrific fabricators that we have around this sight and let them know that I thought that they were missing (along with 60s owners) out on some products that could be "massed" produced at a price point that I think most people could afford. Much like what Marlin Crawler/all-pro/ and that other one have done in the mini truck market. Maybe this is an opprotuntity for the smaller guy to jump into a product that can be "mass" produced since no one is producing these yet?

I really really really really dont want to ruffle feathers here, I just want to get a good product at a reasonable price and if that isnt possible... that's cool too.


Zach

Hey Zach, I agree 100% and accept some blame for the slant this seemed to be taking. I edited my post only by adding the post I was referring to which was Ronnies as now showing above. My apologies if what I was saying was being misconstrued as critical of anyone and referred to any other post.

We're very lucky to have the businesses, large and small, that give us choices. We're also lucky to have companies that are responsive to our wants and that we are able to ask for something new.

 

[Landcruisin'60]

I'm interested in a cheap bumper. I think I'm going to make my own and make a few extras if people like the design. My school picked up a CNC plasma cutter, so I think I can cut 1/4in plate and weld it up into a nice bumper with no problem. I also met a person with a fab shop that charges only $35 and hour, so he can bend up the tube I need.

 

[OCHO4I]

Don't get me wrong . . .

Zack:

I share Chris’ thoughts regarding the responses posted in this thread. I think it’s great that there are so many options out there for those who are willing to do the legwork necessary to find what’s “just –right” for their needs. I in no way want to bash or otherwise disparage those who want to track down inexpensive alternatives for their Cruisers. I agree with Chris that the point needs to be made that there is value in going either “cheap” or going “custom,” but folks, as a rule, having custom work done by any quality fabricator is always going to run more than what you’ll get from a production shop. Now, if we could all just give the guys at Rock-Solid, Vigilante and the other custom fabricators who frequent IH8MUD with enough business to get them to the point where they can buy in bulk and mass produce their designs, I think the wheelin’ community in general would be better off!!

 

[brokenparts]

Zack:

I share Chris’ thoughts regarding the responses posted in this thread. I think it’s great that there are so many options out there for those who are willing to do the legwork necessary to find what’s “just –right” for their needs. I in no way want to bash or otherwise disparage those who want to track down inexpensive alternatives for their Cruisers. I agree with Chris that the point needs to be made that there is value in going either “cheap” or going “custom,” but folks, as a rule, having custom work done by any quality fabricator is always going to run more than what you’ll get from a production shop. Now, if we could all just give the guys at Rock-Solid, Vigilante and the other custom fabricators who frequent IH8MUD with enough business to get them to the point where they can buy in bulk and mass produce their designs, I think the wheelin’ community in general would be better off!!

 

[brokenparts]

Good to talk to ya again today Jim...

so that we are on the same page i wanted to use my skillz in paint again.... the angles and lengths have been exaggerated to protect the innocent.

so were you thinking like this for the body quarter:

or like this:

the advantage I see with quarter "wings" being flared out is that if your pressed up against a rock it would take more to press them into the bodyand the disadvantage would be possibly getting hooked on that same rock you were trying to avoid in the first place?

 

[Landcruisin'60]

I would think aslong as the wings are attached to the frame it should be fine to have them straight. No need to make a cruiser wider then it already is.