I just finished my custom rear swing away bumper before my last trip to the eastern Sierra and took a couple pics (more coming soon). Its all aluminum, titanium and stainless. It swings completely out of the way including dual bike rack, spare, and stainless 
jerry can.
(click on the pics for larger version)
I wanted to build something lighter weight than the steel ones on the market and I wanted to be able to use this style of bike rack and have it all swing out of the way and be hi and clear for 4 wheeling. It was mostly made by TIG welding water jet cut aluminum and a little custom turning.
The lower bumper is made of 1/4" wall 4x6" box tube cut away to wrap over the frame/standard bumper mounts. I added four 3/8" tabs to pick up some extra direct frame mount bolt holes. The wing plates on either end are 3/8" aluminum.
Embedded in the left (my drivers) side is a piece of 2.5" diameter aluminum rod that I turned a hole into for my hinge pin (1" 6-4 titanium). That piece is welded in and a 3/8"-16 stainless set screw grabs the pin in a hole I machined in it (the hinge is also captured by a stainless circlip on top of the bearings). The upper portion of the hinge is made from a piece of 3" aluminum that I turned with an oversized 1" hole and bearing seats for 1" ID tapered roller bearings (corrosion resistant). That piece was then welded to the 2x4" cross member (3/8" wall) with some extra bracing and a titanium top cap/brace is fastened to the top.
The hinged arm has an upright for the wheel mount, a through bolted 2" receiver mount for the bike rack, and the custom made jerry can holder. The jerry can is held in place by a stainless J bolt with a butterfly nut on the back side and security lock. The arm is held in the closed position with a stainless latching destaco clamp.
Under the 2" receiver for the bike rack is a chunk of braced 1/2" aluminum that takes some of the downward force of the bikes when the arm is closed. It is also drilled to allow a locking point that locks the cross arm closed and the cable to the bikes.
Afterthoughts:
- I want to add some beefy pickup points to the lower bumper for recovery and a hi lift jack.
- I still need to add a spring loaded pin to lock it in the out position.
- I should have pre-angled the swing arm so I don't have to lift it, for it to close all the way. I may still solve this with a ramp on the hinge now that I know the total sag when loaded.
jerry can. (click on the pics for larger version)
I wanted to build something lighter weight than the steel ones on the market and I wanted to be able to use this style of bike rack and have it all swing out of the way and be hi and clear for 4 wheeling. It was mostly made by TIG welding water jet cut aluminum and a little custom turning.
The lower bumper is made of 1/4" wall 4x6" box tube cut away to wrap over the frame/standard bumper mounts. I added four 3/8" tabs to pick up some extra direct frame mount bolt holes. The wing plates on either end are 3/8" aluminum.
Embedded in the left (my drivers) side is a piece of 2.5" diameter aluminum rod that I turned a hole into for my hinge pin (1" 6-4 titanium). That piece is welded in and a 3/8"-16 stainless set screw grabs the pin in a hole I machined in it (the hinge is also captured by a stainless circlip on top of the bearings). The upper portion of the hinge is made from a piece of 3" aluminum that I turned with an oversized 1" hole and bearing seats for 1" ID tapered roller bearings (corrosion resistant). That piece was then welded to the 2x4" cross member (3/8" wall) with some extra bracing and a titanium top cap/brace is fastened to the top.
The hinged arm has an upright for the wheel mount, a through bolted 2" receiver mount for the bike rack, and the custom made jerry can holder. The jerry can is held in place by a stainless J bolt with a butterfly nut on the back side and security lock. The arm is held in the closed position with a stainless latching destaco clamp.
Under the 2" receiver for the bike rack is a chunk of braced 1/2" aluminum that takes some of the downward force of the bikes when the arm is closed. It is also drilled to allow a locking point that locks the cross arm closed and the cable to the bikes.
Afterthoughts:
- I want to add some beefy pickup points to the lower bumper for recovery and a hi lift jack.
- I still need to add a spring loaded pin to lock it in the out position.
- I should have pre-angled the swing arm so I don't have to lift it, for it to close all the way. I may still solve this with a ramp on the hinge now that I know the total sag when loaded.
Last edited:
Holy Bank account batman
