[GreenTaco]

I'm going to build a new bumper for my Taco next weekend and am looking for Ideas. I'm going to be building it out of 1.5x.090 steel tubing with an aluminum skid plate. I'm looking for pictures of how your bumpers are attached to the frame (where they are welded on) any help is welcome.

 

[hytenor]

I'm going to build a new bumper for my Taco next weekend and am looking for Ideas. I'm going to be building it out of 1.5x.090 steel tubing with an aluminum skid plate. I'm looking for pictures of how your bumpers are attached to the frame (where they are welded on) any help is welcome.

I wouldn't weld it to the frame. mine is mounted using the OE mount points as well as attachment to each frame end.

Why Al for a skid? Unless you are using something like 3/8" plate or thicker it won't be much use. Stainless steel is a better choice if you are looking to save some weight.

 

[TacomaNova]

I'm going to build a new bumper for my Taco next weekend and am looking for Ideas. I'm going to be building it out of 1.5x.090 steel tubing with an aluminum skid plate. I'm looking for pictures of how your bumpers are attached to the frame (where they are welded on) any help is welcome.

there are only 4 bolts that hold the bumper on, 2 on each side, well, and then you can take the endcaps off the front of the frame, and can make that a mounting point as well, its what i have been thinking about

 

[bigrubbers]

Here are some pictures of the one I just made for my 96.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bigrubbers

 

[Wgasa84]

I wouldn't use .090 wall. If you plan on using it for rock protection, go with .120.

 

[GreenTaco]

I don't do aloy of rock crawling, my tuck is a prerunner and I like to do desert and trails. I want to build this bumper so that it protects the radiator from any damage and a place to mount some lights. I had a friend that came down hard on his front end and it damaged the radiator and lines that came out the bottom (he has a Ranger).

 

[hytenor]

there are only 4 bolts that hold the bumper on, 2 on each side, well, and then you can take the endcaps off the front of the frame, and can make that a mounting point as well, its what i have been thinking about

4 bolts and two nuts, one for each fender.

The frame end-caps are an "ok" mount point unless you plan on making a winch bumper. the caps will pull right out under heavy winching. A Prerunner style tube bumper can be mounted to the OE mount points along with the end-caps; just don't add a winch.

 

[TacomaNova]

4 bolts and two nuts, one for each fender.

The frame end-caps are an "ok" mount point unless you plan on making a winch bumper. the caps will pull right out under heavy winching. A Prerunner style tube bumper can be mounted to the OE mount points along with the end-caps; just don't add a winch.

so where else is youre bumper mounted? when i took the bumper off, i seen the stock locations, and then i seen the end caps came off, those were all i seen for threaded holes to mount a bumper, i also plan on cutting that thin cross member where the front of the skid plate attaches, and replacing that with 2x2 .120 wall left over from my sliders, maybe making a mounting point on there. what do you think?

 

[TacomaNova]

Here are some pictures of the one I just made for my 96.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bigrubbers

you just used the stock mounting points for youre new bumper?, does it feel sturdy? looks good

 

[kapu419]

Here are some pictures of the one I just made for my 96.

http://community.webshots.com/user/bigrubbers

Nice looking bumper. Wouldn't happen to have rough plans would you?
I have a friend who's a welder and will work projects for beer. (those are
the best kind of friends...hehe)

Would it be easy to implement a front receiver into that bumber strong
enough for winching?

 

[GreenTaco]

Why shouldn't I weld the bumper to the frame? I had a duffco bolt on bumper before and it mounted to the Frame and to the stock bumper mounts and it sucked, it wasen't sturdy at all. All my friends with truck weld it to there frames in at least 4 spots and have no problems.

 

[hytenor]

Why shouldn't I weld the bumper to the frame? I had a duffco bolt on bumper before and it mounted to the Frame and to the stock bumper mounts and it sucked, it wasen't sturdy at all. All my friends with truck weld it to there frames in at least 4 spots and have no problems.

"All my friends with truck weld it to there frames in at least 4 spots and have no problems"

except when they need to remove the bumper for whatever reason

 

[hytenor]

Nice looking bumper. Wouldn't happen to have rough plans would you?
I have a friend who's a welder and will work projects for beer. (those are
the best kind of friends...hehe)

Would it be easy to implement a front receiver into that bumber strong
enough for winching?

there's no way that bumper will work for a winch platform. He has that mounted only to the OE mount points and not tied into the frame...won't work. It sure is a nice replacement for the OE plastic rock grabber bumper though

 

[hytenor]

so where else is youre bumper mounted? when i took the bumper off, i seen the stock locations, and then i seen the end caps came off, those were all i seen for threaded holes to mount a bumper, i also plan on cutting that thin cross member where the front of the skid plate attaches, and replacing that with 2x2 .120 wall left over from my sliders, maybe making a mounting point on there. what do you think?

Mine is bolted to the OE mount points as well as the frame ends which have been modified and plated with 1/4" If you want to use them as your only mount point you MUST do the end cap mod that has been posted a few times. the cap is removed and a 3/8" bar stock with the end bent to 90* is inserted and welded into the frame end. the new cap can be drilled and a gr8 bolt can be welded into it or it can be drilled and tapped.

replacing that thin metal "crossmember" with your 2x2 would be standard for a winch/bumper to add rigidity to the frame. If you thing you need to use part of it for mount points I'd use 1/4" wall tube instead. This way you could add a front hitch recepticle as well.

http://www.norcalttora.com/~chris/mods/KenMt. front bumper/photos/photo_3.html

 

[TacomaNova]

Mine is bolted to the OE mount points as well as the frame ends which have been modified and plated with 1/4" If you want to use them as your only mount point you MUST do the end cap mod that has been posted a few times. the cap is removed and a 3/8" bar stock with the end bent to 90* is inserted and welded into the frame end. the new cap can be drilled and a gr8 bolt can be welded into it or it can be drilled and tapped.

replacing that thin metal "crossmember" with your 2x2 would be standard for a winch/bumper to add rigidity to the frame. If you thing you need to use part of it for mount points I'd use 1/4" wall tube instead. This way you could add a front hitch recepticle as well.

http://www.norcalttora.com/~chris/mods/KenMt. front bumper/photos/photo_3.html

i would plan on using every mounting point i can possiby use, i haven't seen the end cap mod i guess i will look it up, thanks chris

 

[hytenor]

i would plan on using every mounting point i can possiby use, i haven't seen the end cap mod i guess i will look it up, thanks chris

http://www.wattora.com/mods/endcap/

 

[bigrubbers]

I dont have any plans on how I made it because, well basically, when I thought of something, I did it. Could I do it again...probably not. It is only mounted to the stock location ...for now. I added gussets to it to make it strong enough to accomodate a winch, however, when I do add the winch, I will have to better secure it to the frame using additional mounts. As it is now, it is very sturdy.

 

[TacomaNova]

http://www.wattora.com/mods/endcap/

awesome, thanks chris, i even have some extra half inch steel laying around the house, maybe i will do it in preperation

 

[GreenTaco]

What kind of problems could I run into with a welded on bumper? also I still need more pics of bumpers and close-ups of how they are mounted. Thanks for the help so far.

 

[hytenor]

What kind of problems could I run into with a welded on bumper? also I still need more pics of bumpers and close-ups of how they are mounted. Thanks for the help so far.

you smack something hard enough to push the bumper into something...it needs to come off to be repaired. You will have to cut the darn thing off to fix it. I just don't see the point of welding stuff on like that. Unless you are building some sort of tube buggy trailer rig it just doesn't make much sense to me.