Front bumper build pics?

[kevine]

I have a 2000 LC. I'm about to build my own front bumper (plate steel, not tube). I've printed a few pics of bumper builds but wanted to see if anyone could post up pics of their bracket designs and info on spacing for a winch. Probably using a Badlands 12k lb winch. 3/4" flat bar for shackle mounts, all the way through the bumper and lined up with the frame mounts so that the shackle mounts can be welded front and back of the bumper, and mated to the frame bolts.

Also, thoughts on using 1/8" plate versus thicker for the bumper. I'll be using 3/16" for the brackets, and 1/8" for the actual bumper. I do not do any rock crawling, mostly just overlanding and camping with the kids, so I don't need a bumper that's super heavy.

Thank you.

 

[BillZ260]

Also interested in this

 

[corleykj]

I have built a few bumpers for 100 series cruisers. I have used 3/16" to build bumpers out of, and used gussets behind the bends to help give it some strength. I did the mounts to the outside of the frame rails (and used the winch plate underneath) to mount the bumper to. On one bumper I added the shackle mounts to the frame mounting plate and it worked well. There are some great bumpers for sale on Mud from a few good vendors. If you are set on building one it is doable and I have some pics I can share of what I have done. I actually got a message from a MUD member today to build him a second after his got in a wreck.

 

[highonpottery]

I would personally use 3/16" instead of 1/8" unless your design keeps the thinner stuff away from the main components that will see impact. 3/16" what most recommend for the "field" of plate bumpers, 1/4" is kinda overkill unless its for the bracketry.

I built a plate bumper once for a friend's Subaru after he liked the armor I was making for my K5 Blazer at the time. Used 1/8" on the "field" to reduce weight and if I were to do it again I'd use 3/16" or change the design so the field sections are smaller with less surface area exposed. He never "really" hit anything and I overbuilt it with plenty of gussets on the back-side -- but everywhere on the field that received impact from road debris and whatever else he hit while "rallying", I saw shallow dents where there was no support behind it. On a much larger vehicle like a Land Cruiser, I would definitely beef it up.


BTW on this subject -- does anyone know if a Trail Gear winch plate would work as a starting point for the 100? Obviously you'd have to make your own mounting system, but for the price it looks like a good thing to start with if you have limited tools.

 

[REZARF]

I would go lighter if you don't do much off road driving. 11-12ga. is a good thickness if you aren't going to beat on them. 3/16" for the brackets would be thicker than the frame. Your design, triangulation of parts, and load bearing surfaces are more important that raw thickness of materials. I would suggest a cradle for a winch, then add the sheet/plate steel around it. Here is how my ARB winch cradle goes on...