Factory Bumper Swing Out Build

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

Latch plate - curious but why not include it? Seems to be one of the simpler items to fab, all things considered.

I would include a latch plate. Just not the full on receiver through the crossmember setup. It's like another project to build one of those (let alone hacking up the crossmember and all that) and I'm still not finished with the receiver.

 

[bloc]

I forgot to compliment you on the work as well. Brilliant stuff.

I could see the taillight being all over the map.. in large part because of the cutting required to install. best bet would maybe be to offer them as a separate part?

I also came up with an idea for it being a bolt-on option. If you supplied another piece of 1/4" plate to slide into the end of the frame rail and bolts that went through the plate with the 2x4 welded on then the flat plate, sandwiching the side of the frame rail between them.. this seems like it'd be solid enough. I came up with this mainly because I plan to install a 4x4labs bumper at a later date and removing the welded on 1/4 plate to make room could be tough.

Also, if the angled bottom of the sleeve for the spindle had a larger round disk welded to it this would help prevent punching through the bumper cover if you drag it over something.

Just a couple ideas.

Personally? I have access to the welder but a harder time scrounging up the materials.. so my request would be a pile of parts that I assemble myself (and dial in the tire mount vertical for my setup)

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

Parts are starting to arrive for my passenger side swing out. Two weeks left of class and then the build can begin.

Some JDM goodness

Plans for the Yeti swing out
-hold a Yeti 45 or 3-4 jerrycans

-fold down table on the back

-slide out two burner propane stove below the cooler basket

-integrate reverse camera into JDM License plate holder

+more

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

USPS just dropped two spindles off. One for myself, and one for @SUMMIT CRUISERS III who is getting the first kit to assemble. Comp4x4 was slacking on the shipping this time around. It took several weeks, and after accidentally ordering the wrong sleeve length, emails and calls were placed with no reply. They ended up getting the right length, and in the end all is good.

Next up is to pick up some materials, some FJ40 bits, and I am undecided on if I want to do a metal fold down table or a cutting board type table.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I see how it is. You give your little brother the first swing out kit. Man...

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

I see how it is. You give your little brother the first swing out kit. Man...

And he gets to deal with any issues that may arise to test out the first run of parts to make a kit. Just kidding, but it will be good since I'll be building a cooler basket, and then I will be switching into the tire swingout building mode.

 

[grizzlygibbs]

Subscribed. Top notch work on the tire swing out. I would be in for a kit! Been looking at the logistics of doing one, but an affordable kit would make it that much better. I would love a full on bumper but... Money.

 

[msapers]

I've gathered all the parts and am about to start on my own based on this build. Great work.

 

[n00g7]

I've gathered all the parts and am about to start on my own based on this build. Great work.

Just make sure you support everything as well as he did, or...

 

[msapers]

Just make sure you support everything as well as he did, or...

Yeah...made that mistake on an old Scout 20 years ago when I used to weld with batteries and coathanger... Lesson learned.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

So after roughly 9 months and 10,000 miles, I took the swing out off for the first time and I'm really pleased with how it has held up. The swing out arm has not deflected, bent, or warped whatsoever, and the only slight issue visually is some rust forming out of the welds, but POR-15 will fix that issue.

Back when installing the gas strut, I sleeved the smaller ball stud onto a bigger bolt to beef it up, but after taking it apart today, I did see that it has started flexing and a tougher solution is in the works. I haven't been easy on the swing out over, usually just letting it fly open, but I am glad to see this as an issue when I thought it wouldn't have been an issue after sleeving it and using a bigger bolt.

Thankfully, it didn't break off and it was pretty easy to unscrew using a pair of vice grips.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

I've been working the past couple days on making some parts and prepping my truck for installation. So far I have the most of the lower pieces for 3 swing outs completed.

I still need to drill out more 2x4 pieces for the frame mounting extensions, the rest of the parts that go above the swing out arms, stop plates, and latch drop downs.

Tomorrow I will be welding everything up, and hopefully getting the spindle through my stock bumper. I am also making a pretty detailed installation guide as I go.

 

[Death Star]

Subscribed. I really need to get my spare out of the back of my rig.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

After assuming I had the correct spindle sleeve length since Comp4x4 told me the spindles were on the way with the correct length, I went to weld it on the 2x4 and noticed it was too short. I tried to find the same tubing locally, but with it being such a strange size I had to figure out another solution. I decided to take my brother's sleeve and cut it down to length and weld it on. Comp4x4 is was very understanding and sorry so they are sending out one longer sleeve at their expense.

Then I started thinking more about a bolt on design like @bloc had mentioned, and thought about welding on four studs that would go through the frame and another 1/4" plate on the backside, but The issue of mounting the forward 1/4" gusset plate onto the frame with the edge of the body mount arises. Not to mention how much the ball stud flexed vs how much 4 bolts could flex with this much weight leveraging on them. I don't think I a bolt on design could be near the strength of the weld on design.

Therefore, I will only be offering a weld on design.

If someone wanted to drill holes and add 4 studs I wouldn't be opposed to sending them another piece of 1/4" to go inside the frame, but the front gusset would still need to be welded on.

I just set these two pieces down to see how it looks and I'm really glad I did the double stack of 2x2's. Really makes it all flow together with the factory bumper and not leave any gaps.

 

[Death Star]

I really dig this. It looks like a fun, relatively easy project. It's been a year or so since I've welded anything, so this would be a good project, heavy gauge steel that's mostly hidden... I'm definitely keeping my eye on this.

 

[grizzlygibbs]

Looking good.

 

[Luke111]

Parts are starting to arrive for my passenger side swing out. Two weeks left of class and then the build can begin.

Some JDM goodness
View attachment 1172503

Plans for the Yeti swing out
-hold a Yeti 45 or 3-4 jerrycans

-fold down table on the back

-slide out two burner propane stove below the cooler basket

-integrate reverse camera into JDM License plate holder

+more

Love the Build!

I may have to source one of these.... When I built my Jerry Can rack I sourced a license plate lamp from a 70 series but really like the one you found. You may already know this but the factory lamp connector inside the tailgate makes wiring the new lamp a breeze.... Pulled it out from below the truck extended the wire and it plugs right in... Also sourced some LED bulbs

 

[96Cruiser]

great work, and nice bike too..........my FS mt bike is a "retro" 2004 GT Ruckus I built up last year from an ebay frame

 

[Wayne]

SCJr, you're a true artisan. You do great work and I've enjoyed following your every step. Excellent!

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

Love the Build!

I may have to source one of these.... When I built my Jerry Can rack I sourced a license plate lamp from a 70 series but really like the one you found. You may already know this but the factory lamp connector inside the tailgate makes wiring the new lamp a breeze.... Pulled it out from below the truck extended the wire and it plugs right in... Also sourced some LED bulbs

View attachment 1187436View attachment 1187437View attachment 1187438

Awesome! I didn't even think about that connector. That's good to know. I plan to bring wires up through the bumper and run them through the swing out arm.