1/8" bumper

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:13 pm

if i were to make a bumper using a 2x6 would 1/8 steel be too thin or could i do it and just gusset the heck outa it and use 1/4" angle iron to mount to "frame"?

would i have to make a special mount for a winch if its 1/8 or could it go directly on the bumper?

Detour · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:41 am

You could use 1/8 if you worked around it's weak points......
Recovery would need to penitrate thru the tube to your 1/4" unibody connections & be connected......
As far as a winch goes, if engineered correctly and the load is spread again, to your unibody connections,
it could be worked out....

There is'nt a hole lot to work with behind your stock bumper, a well thought out design could get you where
you want to be, keeping your nose wght down at the same time. (1/8")

2 cents..... :wink:

Jeger · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:45 am

I'll say it...

Just build your bumper off of Detours backbone and you will be good to go. :wink:

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:32 am

Yep, the Detours is a good starting point for a tube style bumper too... :idea:

CRDburnouts · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:22 pm

jsc7002 wrote:

if i were to make a bumper using a 2x6 would 1/8 steel be too thin or could i do it and just gusset the heck outa it and use 1/4" angle iron to mount to "frame"?

would i have to make a special mount for a winch if its 1/8 or could it go directly on the bumper?

There is no way you can safely run a winch on 1/8", end of story. Why would you want to use 1/8" at all it warps and bulges from the factory laser welds. 2x6 will not provide adequate coverage for your washer fluid res and may expose your radiator. And 1/4" angle iron, my god, why would you use angle for the mounts? No offense but everything you are talking about scares me, I have experience with building bumpers for KJs and I would not use any of those materials...

Why don't you just let me build you one and you wont have to spend the hours and hours like I did getting it right. I even have a jig to set the mounts to. Check out my photos...$750 as shown

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560488866Dcrbjv?vhost=rides

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:32 pm

WOW! I am impressed. That bumper looks tough! Have you ever thought of making one without a winch for less $$$?

CRDburnouts · **Posted:** Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:34 pm

I will make them however you want it, no winch, no bar, no problem :lol:

I would make a plain bumper for about $500-$550

jereosbou · **Joined:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:22 am **Posts:** 97

2x6 will not cover washer bottle but is a good size for bumpers. You've seen mine. I think 1/8 inch is not really the route to go unless you already have it laying around or something. A 24 ft stick of 2x6 by 1/4 should only be like 80 bucks and will make three front bumpers. But thats just my thoughts after spending 500 dollars on a bumper. Buy what you want then. ARBs aren't much more and it's just personnal taste. Then heck if you werent so far away I'd make you one like you want for about 300 just for my labor and materials... .....
Bottomline though, 1/8 inch will work but you will need to attach tow mounts to frame attachments and I would use tubing of some sort for that. If you did 1/4 inch angle it might hold up ok might not..... might is a bad thing though when it means the difference between a 150 pound bumper flying through the air or not.

JHCRASH · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:29 am

I mean no offence here but why would you want an 800$ winch just hanging out there for a hit to demolish it looks useful but not real appealing. However I will say what they are all leaning towards NO 1/8" tube will not work for the core of your bumper. You can use 3/16" tube and still tie in the tow points to the main mounts.It is also sufficient to mount a winch to. however you could use 1/8" for the cosmetics like out towards your fenders and such for all the pretty angles and having the angles will increase your strength to make 1/8" a useable thickness.

And for anyone wondering I am a fabricator and have built a whole lot of bumpers from 1/2 tons to 1 tons to tj's. and coming very soon to kj's.

CRDburnouts · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:44 pm

jereosbou wrote:

2x6 will not cover washer bottle but is a good size for bumpers. You've seen mine. I think 1/8 inch is not really the route to go unless you already have it laying around or something. A 24 ft stick of 2x6 by 1/4 should only be like 80 bucks and will make three front bumpers. But thats just my thoughts after spending 500 dollars on a bumper. Buy what you want then. ARBs aren't much more and it's just personnal taste. Then heck if you werent so far away I'd make you one like you want for about 300 just for my labor and materials... .....
Bottomline though, 1/8 inch will work but you will need to attach tow mounts to frame attachments and I would use tubing of some sort for that. If you did 1/4 inch angle it might hold up ok might not..... might is a bad thing though when it means the difference between a 150 pound bumper flying through the air or not.

When did you price that steel? A 24' stick of 2x6 1/4" is $250, an 8' peice for a bumper might be $80 :roll:

. 1/4" is overkill for the entire bumper and twice as heavy as 1/8".

Also, what year KJ do you own? That will play a big part in what you have to do.

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

I have been thinking about building a bumper that has a 1/4" thick section in the middle for the winch, and then make bolt on pieces for the corners (which won't be holding weight or having to resist force under "normal" conditions.) Therefore, these outside corners could be lighter material, I was thinking Aluminum or something. Right now my mechanical engineering courses in college are holding up designing these things.
Couldn't find a pic, will find one later.

Stephen

Detour · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:06 pm

Just for fun...............(I dont care to get into a 'my dad is bigger than our dad' kinda thing)

Good points are made about coverage. ie: washer fluid

As far as the rest goes, I respectfully disagree..........if you learn to think abit differently, you would/could
use the 1/8" material and use it like a skin.....creating your shape/design of the desired bumper, anything
beyond that would need to be tied back into its mounting as mentioned prior. I'm not suggesting the tube
described is optimum for the project, but it maybe what he already has & can work with.....

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:12 pm

3/8"...the forgoten middle child :oops:

Detour · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:21 pm

3/8's is the cat's booty of the iron industry!

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:25 pm

If you look at the current bumper there is nothing there, but it seems like if someone wants to build one it has to be 1 inch think all over? I agree with Detours ( sorry I forgot your name) but build a frame work keeping the strenghth of it but with a lighter weight covering. I think in some ways it may be easier, of course should be lighter weight, cheaper to ship etc. I have it in my head but since I am not a mechanical engineer my drawings are readable only to me!
I could see a pipe framework built in three sections, with a center section bolted firmly to the main mounting points ( DETOURS ALREADY HAS A START HINT HINT ) and then wings that could be bolted on or taken off all covered in a thinner metal.

jereosbou · **Joined:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:22 am **Posts:** 97

ive bought some at that from alamo iron works the other day a 24 foot stick of 2x6 x 1/4 and 24 foot of 2.5x2.5x1/4 and 20 ft of 2x2x1/4 for 279.00 because they cut it for me to five foot lengths with one four foot drop. on 24 footers. ive bought three such loads. as far as washer bottle move it the approach angle with 2x6 is killer. with conrers tapered i can almost drive up 60 or so degrees with a little angle very improtant wiht out top heavy vehicles. but it doesnt really mate just do what you like best.

CRDburnouts · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:57 pm

jereosbou wrote:

ive bought some at that from alamo iron works the other day a 24 foot stick of 2x6 x 1/4 and 24 foot of 2.5x2.5x1/4 and 20 ft of 2x2x1/4 for 279.00 because they cut it for me to five foot lengths with one four foot drop. on 24 footers. ive bought three such loads. as far as washer bottle move it the approach angle with 2x6 is killer. with conrers tapered i can almost drive up 60 or so degrees with a little angle very improtant wiht out top heavy vehicles. but it doesnt really mate just do what you like best.

Thats a good deal, you must be getting hooked up. As for the corners, look at this and tell me 2x6 would be better. I like having more coverage and not bashing up my radiator and washer res, my approach angle is cool too

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:24 pm

wow looks like someone has been out in the garage a lot! Looks pretty good, great start

1/8" bumper

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