Front Bumper Feedback

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C

CurleysRacecars

Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Threads
4
Messages
28
Hey all,
New guy here, but I frequent other Toyota boards. Im wondering if you guys would give me some input on the plate style front bumpers Im designing/building. They are for 89-94 trucks. My original intent was to keep them as small as possible, but still house a M8000 style winch inside of it. Im trying to stick with that, and as you can see, the winch is a TIGHT fit.
Anyways...would just like to hear what people have to say. Heres a couple pictures to look at. One is a PDF of the completed bumper, and the other are the center section of the bumper lasered, formed, and installed.
Thanks in advance!
Kyle
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looks good so far, but how much does that beast weigh? since it doesn't look like the top is structural (securely connected to the truck) you could probably shave a bunch of weight by going to a thinner gauge top plate - even bolt it on for easy access. Another argument fot a thin sheet metal top: if/when you ever hit the front of that bumper hard enough to deform/bend the winch is going to go straight into that top plate . . . if it's thin it'll bend, if not the winch will probably go "crunch"

Another thought might be to louver the top to provide an escape for the heat that winch is sure to generate.

How are you finishing the sides?
 
Thanks for the feedback Corax. You brought up some good points. I never thought of dropping the bumper on something and having it collapse against the winch. Then again, Im hoping I can build them strong enough to not deform.
The piece picture was mistakenly done out of .25" material...should have been .188". The outside pieces will be made up of .134" material, with internal gusseting, and tubing going from the frame mounting plate, out the to "corners" of the bumper for support. I attached a PDF picture for a complete view of the finished product.
As for the heat...Im probably going to laser cut my logo in the top piece. I was planning on doing it in the part where the winch attachment bolts would be, but dont want to compromise strength there. Ill think of something else to put in that area to break up the boringness of a big flat piece.
Any and all input is appreciated!
Thanks!

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Looks really clean Kyle. I'm shopping for a front and rear bumper set. When will you have this one ready to market (if that's your intent)? Do you have plans for optional lights/corner protection?
THX RS
 
Gotta just whip out your 3 lb sledge and get enough vibration goin through the planitary to get her to switch! :flipoff2:
 
These will be manufactured and be sold, however that is not the intent of this thread, and I know I dont have the credentials to be a seller, so therefore Im looking for feedback only. Im hoping to have the first couple prototype front bumpers done by the end of the month. Once everything is worked out with them, I will be designing a rear bumper to go along with the front.
As for turning the "engage" knob...there will be a notch lasered into the top of the bumper for access with your fingers. As mentioned, this is the very first article, and doesnt have quite all of the bells and whistles on it.

Thanks for the feedback!


Kyle
 
Also, as you can see there is some interference with the factory hood latch support. This problem will be addressed soon. Seems the easiest way to solve it is to cut the latch off at the top of the bulged part of the core support, and include a small 90* bent bracket to reattach the hood latch. Ill deal with this when the time comes.

Kyle
 
So I dropped off the center section back at the sheetmetal shop so they can make the minor necessary changes. They said I should have another piece to fit up by the end of next week. Let me know if theres anything else anyone would like to see done to them.
After these are complete, Im planning on going right into the design process of a "matching" rear bumper for these same trucks. Thanks for the input so far!

Kyle
 
:hillbilly: I like mine fine, but it's tube with just a winch plate. ;)

Make something that doesn't necessarily have a huge a$$'d stinger and removable light hoop and you should be fine.

corax said:
Another argument fot a thin sheet metal top: if/when you ever hit the front of that bumper hard enough to deform/bend the winch is going to go straight into that top plate . . . if it's thin it'll bend, if not the winch will probably go "crunch"...
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*Not to mention a pierced radiator or A/C condenser and canister, all right there below the grille.
 
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Your going to have to do something to distribute loads from the top part of the bumper down to the frame or it will just fold back in an impact. A flat fore/aft verticle plate attached to the original bumper mount horns and connecting to the top, bottom and front faces of the bumper. Also a similar plate at the side of the frame. Take a look at how an ARB mounts.
 
Consider how close you make the bumper to the body. Some crush room is needed to handle the flexing from small impacts.
 
Bogo said:
Consider how close you make the bumper to the body. Some crush room is needed to handle the flexing from small impacts.
Click to expand...
Both good points Bogo. They have both been addressed. Ill post pictures when the time comes. Nothing worse than waiting on other people!

Kyle
 
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