Looking for ideas. The price of 3-4k seems outrageous (I don’t disagree with the price as it’s a lot of work and R&D, but I’m looking for a more budget friendly option for someone who is capable and has time. I can weld up to 3/16”. Looking for simple builds, plans and sourcing for spindles etc. Thank you!
Don’t have a brake. So emphasis on the simple. Looking for straight bar and cut plate builds. Thank you
Literally just installed the 4x4 Labs rear bumper the past 2 days... it was the pre-fabbed one. Hardest is cutting everything out, bumper went on in less than an hour with 10 bolts. I went this route to save time and not quite the welder...
I just finished installing the Pacific Coastal and regret not waiting for the 4x4 labs. Needed something faster, so…. yeah.
I do like the heim joint spare carrier; it’s stout. The issues I had were with them sending me the wrong hardware - no jam nuts for the heims , instead they put nylocks which can’t be put on in reverse as the plans show.
Poor instructions with no dimensions. I bought it for my Landcruiser - don’t tell me to figure out how to make it fit!! A kit should mean the engineering is complete for the vehicle that it was purchased for.
It sticks out too far. (Marketed as high clearance) Their tow hitch is a joke. Tire carrier I like. Got a bill from Fedex for $56 in tarrifs a few weeks after delivery.
TLDR; get the 4x4 Labs kit. Or go super simple and stick a 1x3 across the frame rails as I’ve seen some do.
I’m of the opinion you only get two out of three. Cheap / fast / quality. Pick your lane also it helps to be in the right place at the right time…. Such as life.
I built my own double swing out for less then 700 bucks in total cost for all the materials used to make both sides. I made the tire swing out first as proof of concept, then made the gas can swing out as a mirror image of the tire swing out. The swing outs i made, were made to bolt on to the factory bumper.
I built my own double swing out for less then 700 bucks in total cost for all the materials used to make both sides. I made the tire swing out first as proof of concept, then made the gas can swing out as a mirror image of the tire swing out. The swing outs i made, were made to bolt on to the factory bumper.
What i did, i put a extra thick reinforcing steel plate on the outside of the steel factory bumper. That plate is sandwiched in between the swing outs base 2X3 inch steel tubing, and the bumper. Along with the above i put a steel reinforcing plate mounted on the inside of the factory bumper. Both reinforcing plates are meant to keep the factory's 3/16 inch thick bumper from wanting to flex under the weight of the swing outs.
Another option that is worth considering is Coastal Offroad (https://www.coastaloffroad.com/shop...#attr=2360,2362,2367,3613,2372,2377,3611,7919). I haven't built their rear bumper but I used their front bumper for a school welding project for my daughter on the 4runner and was so impressed with the kit that I bought one for my 80. $800 gets you almost everything you need.
You will spend close to the same amount for a kit as to buy the metal and doing it yourself.
Companies offering a kit are buy wholesale and in bulk.
You my friend will have to pay full retail.
If you really want a nice final product, DIY is not worth it, at least from a totally from scratch perspective. I would buy something that is already cut out where you can buy all the pieces ready to weld. IMHO, you will save yourself five grand of hassle for $2000.
Do it yourself can be done for less money, and you can end up with a nice finished product. But here's what most people don't think about before they start a project like this from scratch.
First do they have the required skills to engineer the bumper and complete it's construction, and second, do they own, or have access to the required tools for a job like this.
This last one can be an expensive hurtle for many to overcome for a one off project. Having access to a full shop with say a metal lathe, milling machine, drill press, band saw and a Mig, or Tig welder sure makes this kind of fab work a heck of a alot easier.
That being said, if they don't have the skills, or tools for a job like this, then i whole heartily agree with you, spend the money and buy a prefabbed kit, or better yet a completed bumper. In the long run it'll be easier, and a much cheaper way for them to get the bumper they want.
