Custom Rear Bumper

[blackcoffee]

I'm gonna start sketching up some ideas for a rear bumper. I'm just gonna do real thick steel and make a rectangle and a recessed area for the licsense plate. 2 D Rings and 2 holes for some lights. It's gonna be an airtight bumper with compressed air inside for the compressor. So it's gotta have blow off valves and drain plug. Anyone ever made their own?

 

[drifter666]

I would think twice about having the plate in the bumper unless you make the license plate fit IN the bumper without anything hanging like below the bumper or it will act like a shovel and you will lose your plate....found that out the hard way . you should also put a 2" receiver hitch in it because they ALWAYS come in handy. I love the idea about having air threw the bumper but you will have to figure out a way to keep the dirt off of the plug.

Found this searching on google, thought it looked pretty sweet.

http://www.thedownings.us/images/tb/rear-bumper-4.jpg

 

[1weasel]

I would be leary about making my rear bumper an air tank. That could become pretty dangerous if you get rearended or hit a rock on a trail.

 

[upgrayedd]

boom!!! hahaha

 

[99denali]

But thats a really cool idea, ive never heard of anyone doing that...

 

[drifter666]

Hey man I did some more searching and I think this is an airtank rear bumper

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Bumpers/Rear_Bumper.htm

 

[blackcoffee]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna go a different route now though. I've decided against the air tank bumper. Because as I already have an air system, I'm just gonna change it and its location. I'll be running a 5 gallon tank in the INSIDE of the cab, and the viair compresser in the engine bay. I did a little mach up for the bumper in paint ha.

---------- Post added at 12:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 PM ----------

I also don't see the point of having an additional hitch when the hitch is not attached to the bumper and it will be staying as is.

---------- Post added at 01:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:15 PM ----------

56K warning big picture, I'm working on the bumper in google sketch up. This is what I've come up with so far, I've pretty much copied kenn. mt accesories bumper because its nice and simple. But for them to expect me to pay almost $500 for that thing is a joke. I'm making almost an exact replica for possibly an 8th of the cost.

 

[Chrislovessushi]

dude...make me one

 

[blackcoffee]

I havent started working on it yet ill be getting the metal tuesday. Ill see how much it costs in metal. Then will price the welds i dont have a deceNt welder. If i can get it together for under $150 ill make a few more slighty different designs.

 

[Rebelution]

Hey man just throwing it out there, I found a ranch hand bumper on a silverado at a junk yard for 50 bucks. Check your local yards, it might save you some time and money.

 

[the big blue bus]

kma has nice looking rear bumpers but 500 for a piece of 6x6 square tube is crazy. my back bumpers crap. i drew up one today will upload tomorrow. mines similar to urs but has oval lights in it and the bottom agle up with built in hitch too. need to add some d shackles. i want a built in hitch cuz i have bl and took off hitch for now and put one of the front hooks out back to get pulld with. if i can find some 6x6 locally ill make my bumper. dont want to pay 300 for a stock rear bumper. i want somehting lil more beefy looking and wont bend up from a tree and mess the bottom corner of my tahoe up again :/. also thining of spare tire carrier but idk if id actually need it if i ever get a full size spare. i want to make this sometime in spring. i just dont know how to get it to work with the bl and bumper lift brackets i bought.

 

[T-Bagg]

I think you'd be fine using the bumper as an air tank. I know guys who race that use their roll cages as tanks. Not only do you save weight/space by not having a dedicated tank but you'll know if you have a crack, so lost strength.
The bumper won't explode or anything crazy it'll hiss and not hold pressure letting you know you've got a break somewhere.
My opinion: it's a great idea.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

thats an awesome idea! think I'd have the fittings on the top of the bumper instead of the back of it. mount the KMA spare swing arm on there and its a home run in my book.

I think you'd be fine using the bumper as an air tank. I know guys who race that use their roll cages as tanks. Not only do you save weight/space by not having a dedicated tank but you'll know if you have a crack, so lost strength.
The bumper won't explode or anything crazy it'll hiss and not hold pressure letting you know you've got a break somewhere.
My opinion: it's a great idea.

x2 i don't see any harm unless you plan to pressurize something thats flammable in the bumper

 

[blackcoffee]

Got the front diesel bumper today. Now I need to figure out what I'm doing for paint (it came very nicely primered in adhesive type stuff.) I need to make up my mind for paint color front & rear. Should I do a satin finish black or a shiny black? I was gonna do a satin finish for the front and the rear, that way its easy to touch up and everything. I just don't have the money for powdercoating is all.

And well I have a BRAND NEW 5 Gallon air tank and a BRAND NEW Viair 250C Heavy Duty compressor. & with what I plan with the rear of the truck (interior) having the tank back their will be fine. I'm just gonna have to find a good permanate place for the compressor.

So as far as the rear bumper, I think I'm gonna end up building my own thing and ordering the KMA Spare tire swing arm like 96procomp's saying, good idea man!
Gonna have to get the KMA swing arm for the jerry cans to though..
Which is why I keep saying to myself that I should just get the KMA rear bumper...
Except its like $700.00 shipped the way I want it, they said they'll give me 10% the bumper since its my 2nd one. I'm gonna talk to them again here in awhile and say that I'll get one if I can have like %30 off or more?!

 

[the big blue bus]

i got front diesel bumper on mine. i want a rear that wont fold over like the stock one did on me. kma with all options i want would be over 500 bucks

 

[the big blue bus]

heres what i drew... started rom a 6x6 square tube

 

[blackcoffee]

Hummm... Interesting! Dimensions?! Are they accurate?!
I like that you integrated the hitch, I would do the same because my hitch is bent and ****** up and I'm gonna have to replace it otherwise.

 

[the big blue bus]

they are all based off real dimensions. i will get them. i think its like 74 wide. i started from a 6x6 square tube. think its 4 inches down on sided then angles in. dont remember the other stuff. i modeld it after one made by shrockworks for a frontier haha. i forgot to add the d shackels though. I integrated the hitch too because i have a body lift and it looks bad hanging down so its off for now

 

[blackcoffee]

Cool, I'ma probably be making my own bumper like you as well. We shall colloberate. Tell you know what we need to do, go out and get some steel and start putting these together, you can just rivet it together and then have someone weld it if your not experienced in welding. Get the pieces of steel you need cut you know 8 pieces of steel or whatever it is (dimensions on each). I mean you can put one of these together for under a $100.00 dollars.

 

[the big blue bus]

yea it would be easly doable for way cheaper than ones you buy. if rear goes good ill start drawing up a front bumper design. my dads an engineer so i think he know poeple that couild cut out the pieces for me if i get the dimensions and everything. ill get the dimensiuons off the one i drew. i think it might be easier to start from a 6x6 likke 3/16 square tube and build from there then weld all the pieces together. one thing is though idk how to mount it and i have body lift... i also saw this like hitch that can be bolted to bumper and unbolted so i can take it off when i dont need it but idk if that would be strong enough to pull me out by but i only used my hitch for bike rack and come spring ill be puttin it back on