Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-10-2012, 05:37 PM   #31
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: Alumi-less

FWIW I have an all-steel Reunel tow-bumper with similar swing arms (also tire mount and baja-style box). I haven't had a pivot issue, other than I did not like hitch noise that was transmitted into the door, so I un-bolted the top pivot from the door, and it is all bumper-only mounted now. Even though it is steel, I still had the latch holes all wallow out, so the arms have some slop in them now. I will have re-weld those, and hopefully find a better larch setup (I'm thinking maybe even automotive trunk latches so I can pop them open from inside too).

One downside of steel of course is rust. I just plan on periodically painting mine. Although, I would eventually like it powder-coated to match the front Buck-stop. Also, last week I spent a full day R&R-ing the bumper, so could straighten the bumper's mounting brackets, which I bent in the fall (the van might have gone airborne when I hit a water-bar across the forest road at ~50mph, and there might have also been a loaded car trailer hitched to the back of my hitch rack, which was carrying an array of coolers and dry boxes, which was hooked in a hitch extension so said array would clear the tire and box ).

If I did it all over, I'm not sure I'd go with steel again. Plus, these vans can use all the weight saving they can get, especially towards the rear.

__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2012, 08:46 AM   #32
Senior Member
 
BIGVANS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Up In The Mountains
Posts: 427
Re: Alumi-less

Also on your Reunel bumper you will see that when they weld the long flat support plates to the upright tubes that pivot on the stainless support tubes they are not round tubes any more they are oval from the welding heat, this makes the latch holes wallow out faster.
__________________
2003 Ford E-350SD 4x4
V10 / 4R100 / NV271
Front Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/King Pin/Open Knuckle/High Steer
Rear Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/Full Floating
Eaton E-Lockers Front And Rear/4:10 Gears
ARB Differential Covers - Nodular Iron With Dipstick And Drain Plug
Leaf Spring Suspension Front And Rear
46 Gal Transfer-Flow Fuel Tank
ExtremeAire Magnum Air Compressor
Reunel Rear Bumper
On And On ...
BIGVANS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2012, 02:40 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
Zeta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Preston, ID
Posts: 1,213
Send a message via Yahoo to Zeta
Alumi-less

Until I can do the big rebuild on the swing-outs, I installed one of these:


http://www.amazon.com/Avibank-Mfg-Inc-R ... +Grip+Long

I had to ream the holes to slightly larger than 3/4", but it made a noticable difference.


Z


http://www.tomsinclair.net
Attached Thumbnails
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1345581605.008111.jpg   ImageUploadedByTapatalk1345581629.088766.jpg  
__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net
Zeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2012, 03:13 PM   #34
Senior Member
 
Zeta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Preston, ID
Posts: 1,213
Send a message via Yahoo to Zeta
Alumi-less

WARNING!! Not for the squeemish.

Started on remaking my Aluminess rear swing outs recently. I'm using a couple of swings outs from RockSlide Engineering. They each have their own little axle and tapered wheel bearings so they can carry a good load.

You can't make vichyssoise without peeling some taters:






There is a steel substructure under the bumper. It bolts to the bumper bracket and to the bumper itself which is incredibly strong. Hopefully I'll have the rest mocked up this week. Right now I'm a bit tired of grinding--Aluminess knows how to weld aluminium!

Z


http://www.tomsinclair.net
Attached Thumbnails
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1347484108.985522.jpg   ImageUploadedByTapatalk1347484165.164477.jpg   ImageUploadedByTapatalk1347484183.695808.jpg  
__________________
'06 RB50 SMB Diesel

https://www.tomsinclair.net
Zeta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2012, 08:01 PM   #35
Member
 
notmiller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Re: Alumi-more! (was Alumi-less)

Nice, Zeta! I still have the OEM bumper and consequently no spare, so I've been debating what to do for a rear bumper. I had been thinking about buying just the basic bumper with no swingouts and doing exactly what you're doing. Thanks for being the guinea pig! Can't wait to see how it turns out!
notmiller is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.