Rear bumper mock up

[1der]

Very nice!

[Flux]

Awesome and good for you!! You'll have that thing done soon!

In my internet travels looking at all kinds of offroad fun stuff, I found this:

https://atozfabrication.com/tire-car...ategory_id=130

Seems like a cool idea for locking down those swingarms and could work easily for you since you did the front entry box on you bumper. Certainly one idea of many and I am sure you have a plan. I like the steel uprights!!

Keep on Fabbin'.

[boywonder]

Interesting lock down...rather primative.....

hopefully I'll do better.....or at least slightly more aesthetic..

[Flux]

Primitive, but effective!!

Question:

On the Original Aluminess, did the main upright go all the way through the bumper?? It couldn't have been just welded to the top surface right?

Looking forward to seeing the finished product! I like the way the load will tie right into the bumper mounts, Strong.

[joefromsf]

Originally Posted by boywonder

working on swingarm mounts.....both swingarms are Aluminess...

Great timing. Today I was looking all over the web for pics of the Aluminess swingarms "without" tires or boxes on them. Thanks.

[VOODOO7.3]

BW, have you thought about putting the catch/latch for the spare tire swingout on the top(towards front of van) somehow? Maybe if the steel angle went all the way across, but notched around your storage extension? Since the passenger side has to be opened first anyway. Maybe even for both swingouts? I don't know but I really like the look and function of your door location. I guess if there's one big advantage of having hatch on top, it is that with both swings locked, storage bumper would be extra secure from theft! Love the bumper, very nice work!

[boywonder]

....I've thought about lots of configurations for the latches....

Modifying the latch locations on the swingarms is do-able, but a little tricky.......grinding away welds with a dremel, relocate, re-weld, re-powdercoat, etc.

I talked to my sheetmetal guy about moving the hatch; they can weld and grind the existing hatch closed but cannot weld the hem/latch support for the top mounted hatch....not enough room to weld even reaching through the existing hatch hole.......

My plan is to cut the top hatch hole rough with a jigsaw then clean the hole up with a router and a wood template.......the rough hole will be about 1/16" small all the way around (assuming things go as planned!)

For the hem/frame, I'll probably fabricate one and screw it under the top of the bumper...and fabricate a new hatch.

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by Flux

On the Original Aluminess, did the main upright go all the way through the bumper?? It couldn't have been just welded to the top surface right?

...just welded to the top of the bumper.......but they get lots of stiffness from the brush guard tubes.

[Jsweezy]

Looks good! Just another "Have you thought about..." integrating a hitch into the bumper instead of having it hang below the bumper?

I like how a lot of the Toyota aftermarket bumpers integrate the hitch for even more departure angle.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by Jsweezy

...I like how a lot of the Toyota aftermarket bumpers integrate the hitch for even more departure angle.

Just keep in mind a lot of integrated bumper hitches are more accurately accessory-hitches, and not tow-hitches, even if that's what some people use them for.


Herb