Look what came out of my garage!

[DRTDuck]

After many evenings in garage after the kids went to bed, it is done!! Well basically (a couple more wires to run).

A few details:

2x2 tube, 1/8 in. wall IIRC.
Slee's spindle.
Spindle attached to frame with 2x4, 1/4 inch thick tube.
Spring loaded pin to keep open.
Spring loaded pin to help keep closed in addition to latch.
Hi-lift can be attached behind the tire. (you can see the base plate for it, I loaned it to a friend for the weekend, therfore, not in the pic)
License plate mount is the OEM one I removed from tailgate and mounted as you see.
Backup light is tapped into OEM back up lights, it is a 100w trapezoid pattern (came as 50w but I put in the larger bulb) .

I can't think of anything else right now. I'll post couple more pics of the pin and spindle in open postion and a side view.

 

[DRTDuck]

In the first pic below, it appears that the tire is slightly leaning away from the vehicle.

Must be my photo skills, it is actally slighty past level towards the vehicle.

 

[MoJ]

Looks good!

 

[TX_TLC]

Very Nice!

 

[Asiarider]

Something is missing !

It is looking great

But you should get a neat tire cover with "Climax of 4WD"

Then and only then it is perfect

 

[Tooth Fairy]

That looks good!


That is a stock bumper right? Curious why you stayed with that instead of fabbing a new one.

 

[DRTDuck]

Thanks to all.

Yeah, I was thinking about a tire cover to match the interior!! Haw.

A rear bumper fab is second on the list after sliders. This was my first "real" fabriction job, so I didn't really want to do a bumper until I was more comfortable with my skills.
I have read the rear bumper FAQ about 4 times, and have a pretty good mental picture of what I want to do.

 

[Junk]

Great job. FYI, may want to check the local laws regarding placement of liscense plates. I believe that would be too high in NJ. I simply welded a bracket on to the swingarm so it's legal.

 

[bjowett]

Nice job!

 

[Newps]

Looks really good, I like it a lot, very clean design. I have not checked the strength of my stock bumper yet. Did you have to reinforce it to support the weight of the tire carrier? I never would have thought the corner of the stock bumper would handle that leverage when it is open and or bouncing up and down on the trail.

 

[DRTDuck]

The coner of the stock bumper is actually just the plastic cover, so no it wouldn't support anything.
I used two 3/8" steel plates on with side of the end of right rear fram meber, drilling through the member and using 4 grade 8 bolts. I then welded the 2 x 4 x 1/4" thick tube off of the outer plate. The spindle is welded in the outside end of the tube. A coupld of gussets on both ends.

Hope that's not too confusing. Take a look at Slee's orginal rear tire carriers, that is where most of the inspiration came from.

 

[Newps]

That makes a lot more sense. If you have any pictures of that internal brace I would like to see it. Now that you mention it, it does look a lot like Slee's design. Two thumbs up on your first attempt at fabrication.

 

[DRTDuck]

Newps,

Yeah, I didn't take many "along the way" pics. And that is certainly one I should have. If I get a chance or have the cause to take it off the spindle so I can remove the bumper end in the next few days, I'll get some pics.

For those of you who don't like the aluminum color step plate on the rear factory bumper, or want to touch up the rear cross member, I discovered Rust Tough by Krylon. The semi-flat black works nicely for this application. (3rd pic in first post)

 

[waldrtw]

Wish some company would make and sell that for a good price!!

tim

 

[Mudshack]

How is the rattle factor.

 

[DRTDuck]

Mud-

Not any "rattle". The 2x2 sets completely on the bumper, with the latch and a nylon pad it fits snug enough there is no movement or rattle. There is some slight for and aft wobble if going over an even bump such as speed bump or pot hole. No side to side wobble at all. It's got a 265-75 on it now, I'll keep and eye on it when I put a heavier tire on someday.

I thought about making a squre support design as opposed to the triangle. This may be necessary with a heavier tire, I don't know. The good thing is, even I re-do that part of the design, it's only a couple of hours of re-fab work. The greatest amount of time was getting the 2x4 mounted to the frame and the spindle so it all came out even.