winch bumper build

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yotawheeler

yotawheeler

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Apr 13, 2006
Threads
104
Messages
1,370
Location
Edmonton, AB/Vancouver Island, B.C.
Hey guys...i dont usually post much in the 80's section, im more of a 40 guy myself but i just thought i would toss up some pics of the winch bumper i just built for IronYuppy's 80 series...not as many pics as i thought i had but here they are. hope you like them.

the idea
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anyways...there she is, that was my first crack at a 80 bumper...i had build a SIMPLE bumper for my 40 but its got nothing on this as far as fab ect goes.

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protecting that silly AC condenser....couldnt have picked a better spot for it eh?
 
the pictures don't show up for me
 
That thing is beautiful. Any shots of the mounting?
 
for the mounting, you can see the top mounts in the second pic and the last pic, the bottom mounts are the same as where the stock tow points are attached. so the bumper is attached in 4 places on each side...i should have taken more pics...i will have the bumper back in a little while to do a tube wrap from each end of the bumper around the headlights and into the uprights...just have to get a bender built to do it

just got an action shot from the brother in law...thought i would toss it in for interest sake..that and i thought you guys would appreciate my work bench (the two 35" boggers with plywood on top)
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looking good!
I'd like to see some more metal around the winch... maybe expanded steel?

post more pictures, please. Measurements, if you've got 'em. I'm planning to build a winch bumper in the near future and I like most of your ideas very much.

What is the weight so far?
 
sancruiser: where would you have put more metal? i wanted/needed to leave the winch open a bit to be able to get at the controlls for winch in and free spool, the mount is PLENTY solid...and i have no worries about it going anywhere. unfortunatly i dont really have much in the way of measurments...it was all one of a kind stuff so i mostly made templates and tweaked things here and there where needed, the first picture there is essentially what i had for a plan, the rest was done out of my head and with the input of iron yuppy the owner of the truck...what measurments are you looking for? and sadly....i neglected my camera for most of the build....those are the best pics i have...i might be able to get a few more next time i have the truck for tube work
 
I think it would look even better with a skin that comes off of the fairlead to the uprights- essentially enclosing the winch.

As it sits now, I like it! But I think that the winch looks .... naked.
To gain access to the right side of the winch (where the clutch is) you can clock that side so that the clutch control is on top, I think, and access it from above?

ok, one more question: A friend observed that hitting a big puddle without a front bumper can throw a lot of water forward (and it flies back into the windshield). It was one argument against a very-low profile bumper. Have you had any experience with that?

If you used expanded metal, it would still encourage airflow, if that matters.

Finally how thick is that winch plate? is it gussetted or otherwise supported? In a strong off-angle pull I'd be a little worried about torqueing the winch plate, but maybe I'm just being nervous-nancy.
 
Looks stout! I'm looking forward to seeing the wrap around the headlights.
 
sandcruiser: ill try to answer ur questions...

Im not sure about clocking the winch....i havnt played around too much with it, however your solution may have its merrits...i think it could look good as you sat also.

I live on the wet (west) coast of canada and go through some pretty good sized puddles, have done so with both my 40 series, 60 series and a taco...with all of them the water sprays up over the windshield, i dont know there there is anything really to be done other than shift out of 3rd gear and into 1st or 2nd when going through a puddle. i dont think it has so much to do with the bumper style as how fast you are actually hitting the water

the winch plate is made out of 3/8 mild steel welded to a 1/4 wall 2x4 and gusseted with more 3/8 welded to the 2x4. did at least 2 passes on everything iirc...she's pretty solid, im not worried about it going anywhere. you should use 3/8 or half inch plate to mount the winch to...i used 3/8 here with gussets and i think i used 1/2 when doing the plate for my 40, im not at all worried about either one, either one should be plenty strong. here is a picture of roughly what the gusset looks like, this is when i was doing some mock up and just layout kind or stuff one night at about midnight...

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thanks for the props guys, ill keep this thread updated when i get my bender done and start in on the tube work
 
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Nice work......I like the stand-ups for grill protection (and pushing wrecks off the Johnson Street Bridge). Pretty "shipy" looking colour.;)
 
thats just the primer color....i still have a few loose ends, like the tube before it gets painted final coat&color
 
I see the gussets now.

You did a great job! Looking forward to seeing the light's bars go on, and final paint.

I'm planning to use 3/8" C channel for the winch plate. I've got the chunk sitting in my garage now, just need to trim it to fit. The rest.... well... I just hope it looks as good as yours when we're done.

Keep the pics coming!
 
That's what I call a bumper! All is missing is wrap around tubing around the headlights.:steer:
 
dusty: sorry dude...i was slacken on the camera front and didnt take very many pics of this project. i should have been more on the ball i know....will take some more when i get 'er back to do the tube work

sandcruiser:that 3/8 C channel should work pretty well for you, that stuff should be pretty sturdy. just take your time nd do it right, it'll look just as good as the one i made im sure. good luck

jvazquez:the wraps around the headlights are on their way, just put in my order for the bender die yesterday. will be building the bender in the comming week or so.
 
You have inspired me to attempt to build a front bumper for my 80. I hope mine it will look half as good as yours. This will be a good excuse to get more tools.:bounce:
 
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