Homemade bumpers and mounts in Cali

[Brian94ht]

Originally Posted by rallypanam

I'm not 100% sure what pictures 2 and 3 show, but if you just use the frame tabs as in picture 1, you'll have no issues interfering with any 4x4 conversion.

I disagree, even the OEM bumper needs to be clearanced to fit after the ujoint front spring hangers go on. They sit below and forward of the mounts.

Additionally, we need more pics of the van in the cellphone pic or tell the owner to start a thread about his van. Looks like a coil-over Shock set up, and some hardware, like the track bar, that I haven't seen on any 4x conversions yet. Who did it?

[kccourtney]

Originally Posted by Fredycruz68@gmail.com

I see this hole is use for some bumpers but I feel like it will get in the way of shackle placement? Here are some pictures. One from Google and the other from the van I have right now.

Fredy, I like the fact that you're doing your homework and excited about your enthusiasm. I'd say that 95% of the leaf sprung 4X4 vans out there have the shackles in the rear. That being said, the front leaf hangers on those vans are as big or even bigger than the front mounted shackles used on the other 5%. I've owned both. You're definitely good to hang your bumpers off of the front of the frame side rails but if it wraps under at all, you'll need to account for those hangers.

[kccourtney]

Originally Posted by Fredycruz68@gmail.com

I see this hole is use for some bumpers but I feel like it will get in the way of shackle placement? Here are some pictures. One from Google and the other from the van I have right now.

Fredy, If you look real closely, you can see where this chap had to notch his (incredibly gorgeous) front bumper for those front hangers. If your bumpers wrap under, I would just notch them to accommodate those hangers.

The coil sprung vans are not an issue. (had one of those too) Hope this helps. Let me know if you want me to drop off my van for a mock up ; )

[rallypanam]

Originally Posted by Brian94ht

I disagree, even the OEM bumper needs to be clearanced to fit after the ujoint front spring hangers go on. They sit below and forward of the mounts.

Additionally, we need more pics of the van in the cellphone pic or tell the owner to start a thread about his van. Looks like a coil-over Shock set up, and some hardware, like the track bar, that I haven't seen on any 4x conversions yet. Who did it?

Hmm, never knew that, and never noticed that.

So how does Chris mount Aluminess bumpers on so many of the vans he converts?

[Fredycruz68@gmail.com]

My plate style bumpers have been mounted to leaf sprung front ends. I worked from dimensions given to me not knowing the shackle could be an issue. But the design worked out. I'm sure they thought that through when designing.

As for the coil spring van picture I posted. That was an image on Google I found. I don't know who did it. Does any one in southern California have a leaf spring van they could spare for designin a tube bumper on?

[kccourtney]

Originally Posted by Fredycruz68@gmail.com

My plate style bumpers have been mounted to leaf sprung front ends. I worked from dimensions given to me not knowing the shackle could be an issue. But the design worked out. I'm sure they thought that through when designing.

As for the coil spring van picture I posted. That was an image on Google I found. I don't know who did it. Does any one in southern California have a leaf spring van they could spare for designin a tube bumper on?

I'm listening..... You lookin for pre or post '08 front end? BTW, I sent you a PM.

[Fredycruz68@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by kccourtney

I'm listening..... You lookin for pre or post '08 front end? BTW, I sent you a PM.

Good morning, I did reply. But I don't think my responses are going through. Maybe I'm doing some thing wrong.

Here is my contact info.
(619)288-0747
Fredycruz68@gmail.com

[Fredycruz68@gmail.com]

This is as far as I got today. Have a lot going on right now. I am out of 2" tube till my delivery in the morning but this is where I got today. Excuse the aluminum tube, just there for reference against the body.

[boywonder]

When mounting my shiny new Aluminess front bumper to my 2008 van, I had to significantly modify the bumper to clear the front leaf spring hangers that Advanced 4WD welded to the front frame horns.

I also had to add a spacer between the bumper and frame to allow reasonable clearance for the hatch to swing up to be removed. Between the spacers I fabbed and the front leaf spring hangers, I've now got about 7/8" of spacers between the bumper and the frame.

I met up with Fredy (Alfredo) yesterday and discussed fabricating some stuff for my rear swing arms, and a million other things. He was mocking up the tube style bumper above when I showed up. He does tube pre-runner style stuff as well as welded up steel bumpers and also a few "hybrid" designs with plate and tubes.

He can bend up and weld aluminum or steel.

We discussed bumpers, swingarms, sliders/nerf bars........There's a good chance that I'll do a little design work and Freddy will do some fabricating and we'll see what happens....he is very enthusiastic.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by boywonder

We discussed bumpers, swingarms, sliders/nerf bars........There's a good chance that I'll do a little design work and Freddy will do some fabricating and we'll see what happens....he is very enthusiastic.