most over engineered 80 part? (1 Viewer)

[semlin]

There is a 3 foot long 3/4" round solid steel bar that runs across the inside of the rear bumper and is attached to the cross member at either end. I took it off and repainted it because it was rusty. Plenty beefy but I can observe no structural function for it and I am wondering if the thoughtful engineers left it there as a handy weapon in case you are attacked by robbers or wild animals in your travels? Of course, there are four sturdy bolts holding it to the frame so it would take a while to remove it when being attacked by dingos, but on the other hand, a team of trapeze artists could hang off it if the truck was on a lift. Maybe you are supposed to back the truck up to a cliff and clip a rope to it with a carobinier for rescue extractions? Hltopper can you comment?

Seriously, I can't figure out what it is for unless it is a spacer/brace for the spare. If it is just to hold the spare wheel in place then it that has got to be the most over engineered part on the cruiser. Has Araco never heard of stamped steel? Can anyone top it for 80 design overkill?

 

[e9999]

I assumed this was indeed primarily a stop for the spare, but could be also for reinforcing the cross member. Anyway a piece of rod with flattened ends (IIRC) is not too hard to make...

 

[semlin]

since it bolts to the cross member itself instead of the frame there would be almost no reinforcing effect I think to protect from a rear end hit. Maybe it would do something from a hit from the side hard enough to bend a frame rail inward, but if it was that big a hit I doubt it would make much difference.

I am sure it is easy to make, but it is still way more expensive than a piece of stamped steel which is even easier to make and uses way less steel.

 

[cruiserdan]

Spare tire brace.

 

[ogsuv]

The stereo.

2 amps and 9 speakers and still sounded like crap. I did get $225 for it on ebay though.

 

[GXO]

Muffler bearings...damn things last forever.

 

[gbell210]

Blinker fluid refill is so well hidden, it better last forever