NewXJaddict

I want to some day make my own front/rear bumper. Nothing too fancy but I want it to be fairly sturdy. I went to Home Depot today to scope out different materials. I saw in the electrical section some 2" tube in 10 foot sections for like 40ish $ It felt heavy and sturdy but just because its heavy doesnt mean it's strong right?

I want to be able to figure out a way to mount the bumper to some brackets and the brackets get mounted to the frame rails. I am not doing anything too crazy with my Jeep but I would like to have plenty of recovery points in case I get stuck in the sand out on the beach.

Do you think this stuff would be ok to use?

Thanks in advance.

Abovetimberline

If you are talking about electrical conduit it is strong enough,it is also galvanized.

itsanxjthing

the best thing to do, at least here and it's cheap is to go to you local jy and ask if they have scrap metal for sale

NewXJaddict

ohhhh, thats the stuff that has some nasty toxic fumes? I am going to build one fairly simple something like just 2 sections of tube one above the other with the ends either cut to fit/welded or bent so they come just a little bit around the front corner.

Back bumper very simple one long lower tube and one top tube.

I have this idea of connecting the 2 parts top/bottom by drilling holes in the tube running a length of steel threads through it (not sure what its called just a long length of threaded metal) through the holes and using big ole washers and nuts.

Good or fatal flaw? I have no idea about metal strength, or how versatile it is.

Abovetimberline

I would weld them or have someone do it for you,you could put it together like you are describing,but use nylocks or double nut it so it stays tight.

NewXJaddict

sounds good. Thanks for the info. I have a rough idea and a @#$% drawing I just did for the front.

Is the galvanized a good thing or a bad thing when it comes to building bumpers with it?

Also, what can I use for brackets, has to be some pretty tough stuff right? Can I buy something premade that can be welded right on or will those also have to be created?

NewXJaddict

Just wanted to say this forum is awesome! Everyone is great at helping when they can! I know it must get tiring at some point hearing the same questions over and over but you guys/gals just jump right in when you can!

winston427

Do you have a welder or have access to one? I found a scrap yard near me that resells good scrap steel for 15 cents per pound. I picked up everything I need to build my front and rear for about $50 with a lot left over. I have only built the rear so far but it turned out pretty good.

The pile of scrap before I cleaned it up.


The finished rear bumper. 2x6 1/4 dovetailed with 2x4 mounts going into the frame rails.

NewXJaddict

I have a friend with a welder. Not sure what kind or what it can weld. I still have to talk to him some about it. Pretty cool to be able to run down to a scrap yard or junk yard. Just none of those around here, not close enough to make it worth while anyway. So I pretty much have to buy everything new.

winston427

Call your local metal recycling centers and ask if they sell scrap steel. You could get lucky on a scavenger hunt one day.

NewXJaddict

ahh, had not thought about the recycling centers. I had only been thinking about junk yards for cars and scrap yards like I remember going to when I was younger.

thanks! I will check it out tomorrow.

winston427

Recycling center, scrap yard, same concept. The one I go to recycles all forms of metals and places anything resellable on the yard for other customers. I went to one in South Carolina last year that had full 4x8 sheets of 1/4 aluminum diamond plate. New they would have cost several hundred dollars a piece and I could have bought them for about $75 each. But damn the empty wallet for holding me back.

sv41878

I made mine out of chain link fence posts I got from the crew up the street who were clearing the lot. No welding required, cut slots in the back so that they are adjustable (planning on putting caps on and as anyone knows, no every cap will go on the same depth) and bolted them to the original brackets with 3/8 grade 8 bolts, washers and nuts, after painting of course. I've already tested strength on a couple 4-5 inch trees, didn't effect them at all but knocked the trees over.