Delta VS rear bumper sneak peek

[Feldrian]

Thanks I am really happy with how it came out.
Regarding your pintle hitch, you should be fine for light towing (think small utility trailer), but I wouldn't recommend using it for recovery. The shock loads that recovery will put on those threads could turn that whole pintle into a missile firing at the vehicle behind you that is either recovering you or you are recovering. The Delta bumper has two very stout recovery points built in already, I would use those with a rated shackle for all recoveries.

Agreed on the missile comment - Seen it happen before. I have shims between the frame and the Delta bumper so the bumper will bear shock load at the same time as the frame (which isn't all that stout) and I have max diameter 1/4" thick bearing washers on the lower bolts snugged behind the frame and torqued to 100 lb-ft. Same way I've seen pintle hitches mounted on gravel trucks in the past which have way more load on them than I'll encounter. Snugging against the Delta bumper gave me the extra piece of mind; while I may bend the assembly if something goes wrong and I snatch something too hard with unforgiving rigging I think the risk of pull-through is extremely low.

Also only planning on using this for my kinetic rope, so shock load will be minimized.

To be honest, I really like your set up. If it looks like it'll work with my air tank placement I'll likely upgrade.

 

[Dirty Koala]

To be honest, I really like your set up. If it looks like it'll work with my air tank placement I'll likely upgrade.

I have the Wit's End air tank mount with a 2.5 gallon tank on top of it. It works great with the hitch...no clearance issues all all.

 

[Feldrian]

I have the Wit's End air tank mount with a 2.5 gallon tank on top of it. It works great with the hitch...no clearance issues all all.
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I went with a home-grown 5gallon tank solution. Looks like it might interfere with the Slee hitch legs. Although, comparing the pics side by side now I post this I may be OK.

 

[Dirty Koala]

I went with a home-grown 5gallon tank solution. Looks like it might interfere with the Slee hitch legs. Although, comparing the pics side by side now I post this I may be OK.
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The two factory threaded bolt holes on the rame rails that used to be what held up the spare tire carrier brace, are what the Slee hitch bolts into. You can see in your picture that those bolts are aft of your OBA tank....you should be fine to fit a slee hitch.

Separately, I think your axles needs a bit of cleaning, they look really dirty.

 

[on the rocks]

You certainly are hanging a lot of weight off the back there. What did you do to mount your bike up there? I love my Yeti...its an SB5.5, I am heading down to Moab this weekend to hit Porcupine Rim, hence the push to figure out the hitch situation.

Moto Jack Rack, I think they have moved on but there are others very similar. Like everything else on my 80, this is old and seen a ton of mileage and works great. Even with all the weight I'm not needing the air in the bags. 149lb fat pig spare now so I might be getting up there but will replace the bags after the new lift is on. I've even towed a camper 100 times by now with the bike mounted on a home brew stacked hitch. Hitch welded to the frame but he bottom two bolds tying in the Delta only making it more solid. I since moved on from the bike camper combo and it was a bit much with adding the spare and bumper but it worked out ok. got me by for a long time.
This is without the safety bolt in but in the first stage of figuring out the spare tire clearance.

 

[Dirty Koala]

Moto Jack Rack, I think they have moved on but there are others very similar. Like everything else on my 80, this is old and seen a ton of mileage and works great. Even with all the weight I'm not needing the air in the bags. 149lb fat pig spare now so I might be getting up there but will replace the bags after the new lift is on. I've even towed a camper 100 times by now with the bike mounted on a home brew stacked hitch. Hitch welded to the frame but he bottom two bolds tying in the Delta only making it more solid. I since moved on from the bike camper combo and it was a bit much with adding the spare and bumper but it worked out ok. got me by for a long time.
This is without the safety bolt in but in the first stage of figuring out the spare tire clearance.

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Nice, that is slick!

 

[Delta VS]

Nice clean install @Dirty Koala ! Thanks for posting pictures. Get lots of questions about this, and I know a few people have said they were going to attempt, nice to know it works well.

 

[Feldrian]

Separately, I think your axles needs a bit of cleaning, they look really dirty.

I blame COVID and nothing better to do with my time.

 

[Box Rocket]

Nice hitch solution for an already great bumper!

Every time I look at this thread I feel like my truck is a dirty coal miner that just walked into a black tie event. My home brew rear bumper will hopefully one day get a bath and a shave and be replaced with a Delta to join the black tie event and I will feel less self-conscious when viewing this thread. Lol.

 

[midfat]

FINALLY wrapped up my OBA set-up now that the bumper is installed. I’ve been stalled on this for well over a year since I knew I wanted to mount the access points on the swing outs. Mission accomplished!

Each swing-out has a coupler comfortably reachable standing behind or on rather side of the vehicle - with the swing-out open or closed. The air tube slips PERFECTLY into the recesses of the Delta bumper and hinge. Almost like it was designed for this solution. Really happy with the results.

 

[Dirty Koala]

FINALLY wrapped up my OBA set-up now that the bumper is installed. I’ve been stalled on this for well over a year since I knew I wanted to mount the access points on the swing outs. Mission accomplished!

Each swing-out has a coupler comfortably reachable standing behind or on rather side of the vehicle - with the swing-out open or closed. The air tube slips PERFECTLY into the recesses of the Delta bumper and hinge. Almost like it was designed for this solution. Really happy with the results.

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Nice work, handy placement. I would get a passifier from Wits End for those quick connects...keep that dust out. Also may want do something ot keep the dust out of that hose too.

 

[midfat]

Nice work, handy placement. I would get a passifier from Wits End for those quick connects...keep that dust out. Also may want do something ot keep the dust out of that hose too.

Already placed the order with Joey. Just need to make a few little cable leashes. Learned that lesson the hard way.

 

[midfat]

In case anyone was wondering, you can most definitely install a Slee hitch into a Delta bumper. The process to do so is pretty simple following the Slee instructions since Dave designed the Delta bumper with the intent on allowing folks to do just this. I just used a sharpie to mark out a box around the 4 factory bolt holes in the rear cross member and then used a zip wheel and saw-zall to cut a rectangle out of the bumper shell and rear cross member. Apply some primer and black paint to the cut edges and then bolt it all together. The result is nice and clean bumper, now with a super bomber hitch.

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Really like this set up. Curious if the safety chain plate on your hitch is what came from Slee or if you added that? On the Slee website, the kit is shown with a different plate. Not sure if you had to weld a new one on to account for a difference in mounting depth...

 

[Feldrian]

There's a couple of different options on the Slee site. I think the one pictured is the legacy receiver.

 

[midfat]

Already placed the order with Joey. Just need to make a few little cable leashes. Learned that lesson the hard way.

 

[Dirty Koala]

Really like this set up. Curious if the safety chain plate on your hitch is what came from Slee or if you added that? On the Slee website, the kit is shown with a different plate. Not sure if you had to weld a new one on to account for a difference in mounting depth...

There's a couple of different options on the Slee site. I think the one pictured is the legacy receiver.

Yes Slee has two hitch options, the legacy version (the one I installed) and the one for their newest bumper design. I also have a legacy Slee bumper on my other 80 and so took measurements of that beforehand to see if it would work. The newer Slee hitch has a narrower footprint so will also work, I wanted to prove out that the wider legacy one would fit...it was also on sale for $145.

 

[Delta VS]

Guess we owe this guy a new wheel adapter.

First crash test we are aware of.

 

[ThomasMore66]

That’s my 80. I was in your very first batch. I’ve been rear ended too. Nothing happened.

Right after work. Dallas, TX.

I had just turned onto i35 in lite traffic at 6 pm. It's 6 lanes wide. I eased over to the forth lane and settled in for the drive. Went through a low spot and when I crested the hill a Kia Sol was stopped in my lane or at least barely moving. I screamed and swerved.

I cannot remember rolling. I remember seeing the Kia. I remember yelling. I remember swerving. I remember the impact. I remember sliding on the roof. I remember two guys helping me crawl out the window.

I walked away. I have bruises. My head is a little fuzzy.

 

[Delta VS]

That’s my 80. I was in your very first batch. I’ve been rear ended too. Nothing happened.

Right after work. Dallas, TX.

I had just turned onto i35 in lite traffic at 6 pm. It's 6 lanes wide. I eased over to the forth lane and settled in for the drive. Went through a low spot and when I crested the hill a Kia Sol was stopped in my lane or at least barely moving. I screamed and swerved.

I cannot remember rolling. I remember seeing the Kia. I remember yelling. I remember swerving. I remember the impact. I remember sliding on the roof. I remember two guys helping me crawl out the window.

I walked away. I have bruises. My head is a little fuzzy.

So glad to hear you’re ok. That sounds pretty terrible.

 

[Feldrian]

Hopefully the Kia driver stopped and helped after you literally saved their life with your split second decision.