LX450 rear bumper build

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

That stuff isn't for me but I just gotta say it- You is one talented sonombeech! (ski)
 
Very nice pieces, it would be nice to have a cnc laser cutter or a water jet and brake.
 
Looks good Mat, I just need to take some time and plan my tire swing out to make sure that's the route I want to go.

We where able to get the engine and tranny pulled on Gavin's truck last night so that project is done for a bit as we wait for parts to come in for his 5spd swap. So I will be back on the bumper this weekend.
 
This is a sweet bumper build! Very nice work... Looks nice and beefy! :D

-Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.
 
Adventure Copan said:
This is a sweet bumper build! Very nice work... Looks nice and beefy! :D

-Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.
Click to expand...

Thanks

This weekend I spent a few hours working on the bumper. The Bumper its self is mostly done just need to finish the end caps and a few filler bits. I worked on the swing outs and got the arms cut and tacked into to place so I could start figuring out the latches. The pass side Jerry can arm is 24" and the drivers side tire arm is 35.5" with a 1/2" gap between the two.

I'm stuck trying ot come up with a latch that works now though. The clamps I got although the same as all the other ones used by Slee and Cruzin are a bit to short for the way I have the arms positioned. The u bolts on them need to be 3/4" longer. Trying to come up with a solution that does not force me to buy new ones. I have an idea how I can make it work just need more metal again. My metal budget is now blown I'm over $400 in metal alone now.
 
If you have't already, check out McMaster-Carr for some latch ideas. The De-Sta-Co style work, but they tend to come loose after awhile fom vibration and need adjustments. A spring loaded pin type might be a better option.
 
Enigma said:
If you have't already, check out McMaster-Carr for some latch ideas. The De-Sta-Co style work, but they tend to come loose after awhile fom vibration and need adjustments. A spring loaded pin type might be a better option.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's where I got my latches and gas struts from.

My issue is the gas struts need 1" of clearance but the latches only seem to work on 1/2" gap, I'm trying to come up with a way to get the latch closer together. Gavin is getting me some metal today so I can try one idea and see if that works.
 
Jeremy, sorry to hear about your budget going out the window, when everything is finished, if you add your time, material, shop supplies not including research and design, I would not be surprised if you end up around $2000, and that's with a modest hourly rate.
For that style latches, McMaster or direct to Destaco is your better bet.
 
Fantom said:
Jeremy, sorry to hear about your budget going out the window, when everything is finished, if you add your time, material, shop supplies not including research and design, I would not be surprised if you end up around $2000, and that's with a modest hourly rate.
For that style latches, McMaster or direct to Destaco is your better bet.
Click to expand...

Its not so much out the window more so off budget. its looking like metal segment will be $100 over. The rest of he budget it right in line. I can never ad in my time on things like this nor should anyone that does it as a hobby or as a learning experience. If I was doing again the time investment would easily be half what it is this time, I also would have made templates so I could get the sides bent out of one pice of material instead of welding it all together.

I have been more concerned with quality on this build than time invested. Granted my taste for quality of work far out weighs my ability but I'm doing my best.

In the end I will have a bumper that would have cost $2500 if I was to buy but only cost me $800 ish in materials. Then there is the value in more knowlage and enjoyment along the way. Plus I can say I made it with some pride.

To each there own :meh:

Oh I'm also going to have about $100 in metal that I did not use or did not work when done so that if I was to make again would not be on the budget. All my adding is totals not minus of materials I never ended up using.
 
Fantom said:
I know you can't look at it in that aspect, but it puts things in perspective and makes it appresciate the work all that much more. Also it gives an appresciation of other's project too because you know what they went through.
Click to expand...

Yes I have built bumpers before, I know all about the little things that eat up time and money when fabricating parts. I appreciated others DIY projects as well since they have the willingness to take on a project and do it them selves. I get a great pride in knowing I made a part something I have not and will not get buying something pre made. Yes its easier to just shell out the money but that money is hard earned as well so I like to invest my time into the process of making things like this. Its an investment in learning that pays off over time as things like this get easier and smoother in the future.

This thread is starting to get a bit off track, I'm not here to tell people to make there own bumpers and save money..........I'm also not here to defend people that make a living off of making bumpers. I'm simply using this thread to show what can be done with some simple tools and imagination. Trust me I'm not going into the bumper business.

Back onto the Bumper.......nothing new. :p
 
Ok so I have the bumper its self done now, the wings worked out great as I had them mocked up in the last picture. The fitting welding and grinding sucked up days of work. Once I had all the grinding done I was able to lay a thick coat of POR15 on the back side and areas with heavy wear, I also put it on all welded joints to make sure they where sealed well. I then laid a 6 coats of krylon Duo Semi gloss black.

383474_10152171587420237_1528038013_n.jpg


I will post some more pictures of the process once I have access to my computer.

Over all I am very happy with the outcome, the bumper its self weighs about 170-180lbs not too bad considering its all 3/16th. The swing outs are not done yet as I needed the bumper on the truck to finish them off. The truck was in the body shop getting damage from a rear ender my Wife got into 2 days before our wedding (got an ARB winch bumper out of it though ;) )

Hope to get the swing outs done in the next few weeks. Looks like the Jerry can side carrier will have a ladder too since we are looking very closely at getting a ARB Sampson III RTT in the future. I will have a jerry can holder that bolts onto that I think.......still mulling this over. My issue is the trips I use the RTT will most likely also need the 15 gallons of fuel in the cans. :confused:

I will try and get the last part of the build pictures up in the next few days.

:cheers:
 
Very impressive! Now go let someone rear end you so we can see how it holds up. :D

-Daniel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom