Sorry I couldn't make it to the meeting, but thanks to Skipper and Cathy for hosting!
Feb Meeting
- Thread starter SteveLCetc
- Start date
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DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
Well, what's the new toy and what's the input???
New toy is a bumper. Still need to run more support from the rear bumper to the rear tires. That's what I need(ed) input on. I still haven't decided if I want to run tube from the ends of the bumper, which will mean I need to fabricate a plate to go under the body to protect it, or if I want to run tube along the bottom of the body and tie it into the bumper--which will not be a very smooth surface with the bumper itself, which might be a bit of a concern in terms of a hangup. Kind of hard to describe the options here, it's easier in person with a scrap of rectangular tubing to explain the two options.
Also, if I do that, I'll have to do "something" about the exhaust, as it currently exits behind the left rear tire, exactly where I'd like protection. And if I'm going to be making a trip to the exhaust shop, I might as well make another small change there *cough*--straight pipe--*cough.*
But here's what I've got so far...
Amazingly, it's both stronger than the Smittybuilt tube bumper that was there, while also being about 15 pounds lighter so far. It'll probably be a wash after I weld on some runners between the rear tires and the bumper.
The LED backup light is sweet! It's like a full moon back there all the time now! It'll also double as a worklight without having to worry about draining my battery too much.
Dan
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Nice build Dan. Real quality work indeed.
i see the stub for a swing out tire carrier. is that in the plans too? looks good.
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
Don't know. But before I boxed it in was the time to weld in the spindle, so I did. I actually put a plate underneath the spindle inside the box, and welded the spindle to that as well. Since I wouldn't want to cut open the box just to add a spindle like that, I put the spindle on while I was there. I've got LOTS of tube that fits over the spindle (I just put a piece on there to protect it for a while), so I could make multiple things to attach there.
Swing out tire carrier isn't in the immediate plans, but it's not much work at all if I want to add one.
Dan
Looks good Dan! I'd like to see it in person. I like the LED back up light. Is that on a separate switch, or is it wired to the reverse gear?
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
The LED is currently wired to the backup light circuit, but at some point I'll use a diode to isolate the light, so that it will come on with the backup light, or on all by itself (or, with other general work/rock lights--which will all be LED to keep the power usage down). I'll make that change when I wire in the HAM (still have yet to order that though).
You can check it out at the next meeting, or whenever. I'm kinda busy with preventative maintenance on the sister and girlfriends' trucks, along with the 40 body panels that I'm currently waiting for the excessively slow UPS guy to drop off today. So the bumper won't be getting the last bits for a little while still. It'll stay this way for a good while now.
Dan
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