Just another 4x4Labs rear bumper build, nothing to see here

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Joined
Aug 12, 2011
Threads
129
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Location
Sacramento, CA
Last time I went from AOE front bumper to 4x4Labs front. Now I went from Huston Fab rear bumper to 4x4Labs. As with the AOE, I had no real complaints with Sean's bumper. It's an incredibly well built bumper. Everything is well thought out and made with convenience in mind. But it's no fun to wheel with that thing in the rocks. It sticks out way too far and hangs too low in the corners. It's an anchor dragging along the rocks.

This is what I had before

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I'm gonna skip all the build pics and details, those are in my build thread. Or just let me know if you have any questions. Let's jump right in

Color is Rustoleum 'Hammered Gray" to match the front. Also decided to change up the wheel color. This is Rustoleum "Annodized Bronze". As you can see there's nothing bronze about it.

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Bumper is a single swingout with several changes. The tire carrier is all DIY. It was supposed to be a swingdown hence extra framing. But decided it was pretty easy to get the tire up that high. Using the swingdown would actually be more hassle. So I just welded it in place. Now the tire carrier is attached at 4 points so it's extra sturdy. I also changed the gas can basket a bit. Added some tube to support the basket and the whole thing is welded solid to the ladder. You'll notice the ladder is welded to the swingout with gussets on the side.

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Since my rear fenders are trimmed I also cut a bit off the Labs bumper

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High and tight in all the right places

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Here you'll see where it once started out as a swingdown with the bushings. Up top you can see where I then welded it in place.

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Initially I just had the vertical latch. But if I pulled on the bumper with some force it wanted to slide backwards. I didn't like that so I added another perpendicular latch. Not going anywhere now. The little platform off to the right is a step I built to help get on the ladder because shortpeopleproblems.

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Mounting box for the hi-lift and skull for #swag

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The giant gate fully open. The little strut that Luke provides is really strong. Need to hang on to this thing cause it wants to fly open.

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Instead of the cam stops that Luke provides I went with a spring loaded pull pin to lock the thing in place.

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Back side of the ladder showing the upper hi-lift mount.

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Cont.

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Now some clearance differences. At the rear-most corner, Sean's bumper was about 26" from the ground.

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Spare tire was 31" off the ground

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Measuring how far the bumper sticks out with the tape measure against the body crossmember. Sean's stuck out 8 5/8".

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This departure angle is what I love about Luke's bumper. It's just built to slide off obstacles with little effort.

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Damn fine job you did there. What you built is my favorite rear bumper hands down!
 
Why did you decide to go with one massive swing out instead of two shorter swing outs?
 
Looks like the door of a bank vault! Nice!
 
Why did you decide to go with one massive swing out instead of two shorter swing outs?
Swingout bumpers are a royal pain in the ass. I've dealt with a dual swingout so this time I went single to make getting in the truck that much quicker.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!
 
Then added dual latches :)

Looks good Jose ! Like that color a lot
 
Wow, looks like about 500lbs of junk hanging off that swing-out. Good stuff.
 
Then added dual latches :)

Looks good Jose ! Like that color a lot

And a funny story about that. The latch Luke supplied is the one on top. I stupidly assumed it's the same one he uses on his dual swingout bumpers, with the latch parallel. Welded it all in place and it wouldn't latch. Looked up the item # online. IDIOT. It's a perpendicular latch. So I had to buy the vertical latch. Luckily I found one on eBay for about $35; these normally go for about $80+. Worked out in the end since I needed a 2nd latch :)

Wow, looks like about 500lbs of junk hanging off that swing-out. Good stuff.

This whole setup is actually lighter than my old bumper as I still have an extra 1/2" in tire-to-fender clearance than I did before. These things are heavy no matter what - if you need a fullsize spare and a gas can or two.
 
Looks really good!!
I like how you addressed the small things too!

I'm also thinking of going with one swing out, as I use the rear hatches of the 60 so often.
Then I would also want it to be able to swing 180 and lock at 90, 135 and 180.
Only issue I see with it being one big swing out, is that you can't open it in tight spaces, for example in the garage.
The benefit of two swing outs must be that you can distribute the weight on two spindles.

When you unlock it, can you just let it go to open by itself with the gas strut, or do you have to hold it back?
 
Looks really good!!
I like how you addressed the small things too!

I'm also thinking of going with one swing out, as I use the rear hatches of the 60 so often.
Then I would also want it to be able to swing 180 and lock at 90, 135 and 180.
Only issue I see with it being one big swing out, is that you can't open it in tight spaces, for example in the garage.
The benefit of two swing outs must be that you can distribute the weight on two spindles.

When you unlock it, can you just let it go to open by itself with the gas strut, or do you have to hold it back?

Yeah that is the downside of a single swingout; it needs a lot of open space behind you to open. Having it lock at different positions is easy to do with spring loaded pull pins - just drill several holes in the shell.

The gas strut is really strong. You have to hold on to or will swing open FAST. And I'm afraid what all that weight and force would do to the pull pin.
 
The side wings will mash into the body a little bit. Doesn't bother me, but just an FYI
Yeah I figured they would if leaning against a rock. I did add a small gusset inside, let's see if it helps

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