Where to Cut Frame for Rear Bumper

[Tooth Fairy]

Gettin' ready to hack the frame on the 80. Hehehe. Got some spare time, steel and I need a new rear bumper. The factory crap just looks sooo lame in pics that I can't stand it anymore. Plus there's the matter of smacking it and the spare on everything I drop off of and throwing it down as an anchor to strip me of my momentum on steep transitional climbs.

Initial thought was to reuse the holes for the tow hooks, but, that doesn't move it in far enough for my taste. So I am going in a little further than that. Thinkin' in the 3-4" range.
I'm also not concerned about having a step in the back anymore so I'm only makin' it out of 2x4( steel ). Whatchuthink? and Whereducut?

 

[NW-sickboy]

these pics should give you some idea of how i did mine.... make sure you WELD in a new cross member. then mount from thiere... the 4x4 labs bumber seems to have a decent departure angle as well......

I
oh.. not on my comp right now.. i will post some pics when i get back to work.

 

[Junk]

When my bumper was mounted about 1-1/2 ago, it used the factory holes. Since then, part of the bumper has been shaved off and about not quite 2" has been cut off the rear of the frame. Any tighter and it wouldn't have enough clearance.

Why not fab it up, then slide it on and take a look. Adjust from there.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Why not fab it up, then slide it on and take a look. Adjust from there.

That's a great idea. I was planning on using that technique to fab the side wings up anyway.
Whadyaknow? Junk said something useful.

sickboy, What I was planning at first was sleeving over the frame until I saw where the body mount was and using the new bumper as the functioning Xmember. That's not gonna happen now, so, I think I'll rethink that.

 

[ginericLC]

I wouldn't hack the rear frame. If you do much you won't have much room to put your swingout on for the tire carrier. I cut my crossmember out on my 91 and took a piece of the 3x5 rectangular tubing and notched it out and slid it over the existing frame rails. I did grind on the corners slightly to get a snug fit. I haven't slammed down on my rear bumper at all since I did this. Then again my knee has sort of had me laid up for awhile. But I did take it to Cruise Moab this way.

For mounts I drilled through the frame on the sides to make two additional holes on the inside of the frame and then took small tubing and tucked in between the frame rails. This way when I tighten up the bolts I don't compress the frame rails.

 

[Uglibus]

We could always practice on mine first! Since I don't need the room for the spare underneath (taken up by V8 exhaust) or a swing out (keep the tire inside) we can cut as much off as we feel like at the time.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Eric and Mike,
I will be in Boise this weekend. Maybe I can hook up with yous guys.
pm phone #'s and I'll see if I can run by. Eric I think I can get to you on late sunday night.

Butch

 

[Uglibus]

Won't be around but still planning on doing the slide show in August.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Won't be around but still planning on doing the slide show in August.

First week of aug. on any weeknight or mon or tues following week. Eric's pad? Or are we goin' for the biggest tv here or what?