SG Mason

I am planning on making my own bumpers over the winter and am just looking for a couple dimensions to help with the rough design of my bumper.

First off, like the title says, I need the dimensions for the winch plate. Not the hole pattern, just the overall size of the plate. My plans are to buy a Smittybuilt XRC-9.5K before the build starts if that makes any difference. I want to mount it low enough that it doesn't interfere with air flow to the rad, but high enough that it doesn't change the factory approach angles. Tall orders, and I know that I will have to make some concessions.

Next, and I know they are out there, a template for the extended front bumper mounts. I also know you can buy them pre-made, but I am a cheap SOB and have a nice new piece of 3/16" plate left over from another project that I can make the mounts out of. I also know that I could just pull the factory bumper and mounts off and make my own template, but it is -23°C (-10°F) here and I don't want to be rolling around in the driveway pulling the bumper and putting it back on in these temps just to get a template I have seen posted before. I don't have garage space available to me right now, but will in a month or so when I start the actual build. So if anyone has a link to the template that I can't find now that I want them it would be a great help to me.

I am thinking that I will build the bumpers from 3/16" plate and the winch plate from 1/4". Like I said I am still in the early planning stages of this so I have nothing other than an image in my mind. The rear bumper will be simple, same rough dimensions as the OEM, just beefier and a couple of D-rings added. I plan to keep my trailer hitch right where it is and create sort of a frame sandwich between it and the nut strip/rear bumper mount.

Finally, JB Weld should hold this all together safely right?


Just kidding, I do have a MIG welder that is capable of 1/4" steel if I multi pass and access to a larger MIG welder, O/A torches, and a plasma cutter if needed. I also have the help of an experienced welder for this project

HS00XJ

Get the winch and you can biild around it.and use cardboard for templates..I would asume most custom bumpers all measure different so it would kinda be hard to give deminsion.plus if you won't go out on the cold and measure your mounting points why should we?.jk. for real trial and error with cardboard

McCaffrey

^^^ Yes. Get a 1/4" YJ winch plate with front already bent/cut for the fairlead guide. Cut off any end parts you don't need. The bare metal will cost almost as much.
Mine is over simplified but that's what I did.

HS00XJ

Harbor freight has a winch plate that can be had with a coupon for 30 40 bucks.or take your measurement off it.

SG Mason

I live in Canada, that 30-40 bucks turns into $100 real fast once you add in shipping, taxes, and duties. I also live in a small community in the middle of nowhere important so just going someplace to measure one would cost almost as much in fuel We have lots of ATV places around here, but to get to a place that sells actual 4x4 accessories is a 1 hour drive, one way. It sucks not to have everything close by and being Canada means no free shipping from online shops in the States, but I do like the little town I chose to live in.

Steel on the other hand is fairly cheap here and easy enough to get, and that is the reason I am looking for dimensions of certain parts and a link to a good mount template. I am not looking to make the brackets from the templates, just get a close idea of the size. That way I can draw up my plans on the computer, get an idea of what I will need in materials, add 15-25% to that for adjustments, waste, and mistakes. Then go price everything out to see if it is worth my while to build my own bumpers.

The actual building of the bumpers, if I deem it is worth my while, will be from cardboard templates I make while rolling around in an unheated garage. Sure it will still be cold, but I will be out of the wind and snow I can't use my own garage because it is too small and I have a bunch of metal working tools in there. A metal lathe, 2x72 belt grinder, drill press, band saw, and a wood splitter I am converting into a pipe bender.

HS00XJ

Well I would wait till I got the winch then and use it for deminsions.Thats what I did on my hidden stubby.google smittybuilt winch demensions

HS00XJ

Mine is over simplified but that's what I did.[/QUOTE]
Have you pulled from that set up looks sketchy.

McCaffrey

I could have predicted this comment was coming with 100% accuracy. There's more to it than what you see. Everything is welded AND bolted. In addition everything is 1/4". I appreciate your concern.

HS00XJ

Have you used it yet?
Is it gusseted under the plate?
Not tring to be a di (k it just looks like it would fold down.

McCaffrey

Yes too all your questions. If anything it's overbuilt. You sound like my wife now.

HS00XJ

Oh crap .lol

martinfan

+1 Build around winch plate. Made it simple for me. I'll get winch plate dimensions if that will help, but not sure of how much material I used.

McCaffrey

Note: Sometimes the motor sticks past the end of the plate so make sure you know how long the winch you're buying is.