Ok so im going to be welding up my own steel bumpers. I want to see pictures of what other people have for homemade bumpers, or ones that a shop did a fab job to. Pictures and explaining how you did it would be great. Please people dont turn this into an ongoing sick wip chat. I just want to see peoples pics. for ideas so i can get some more ideas on what im looking to do myself. Front and rear. and if you have a rear tire mount swing away that would be great to see thats what i want to do. Cause i need my roof rack for lumber haulin and tool boxes

Thanks a bunch guys. And yes i know there are other threads. but thats why im just askin for pics and a short explanation.

 

alright, this took me about a full day worth of work, i build xj bumpers for ppl, so here goes, materials, 3/8th plate for frame mounts, 2x4 .25 inch wall and a prebent DOM prerunner from jeeptubes.com, then youll need a grinder with cutting disks, a torch or use the grinder, also flap discs i use 60grit, and a drill for the dring mounts here are pics enjoy, also look at my build thread i have more info in it

 

Now before I get into it, I know it is ugly as sin, and woodchuck as all *** but it serves very well nad has held up excellent, lol.
Obviously started by removing the old, then I made a template of the mounting to the rail (front bumper speaking). I made 12g plates and welded them to the rails of the jeep, I pre drilled the mounting holes for stock location bolt up. This was done for a little added support. I then made 2 more 1/4" plates with said mounting hole drilled, and bolted them on.

Next, I took two short lengths (12") of 1 x 2 tubing (1/8 wall) and welded them together for a 2 x 2 x 12 (I made a pair of these).
These got welded to the 1/4" plates bolted to the rails, first I tacked them lightly, put a level across the front to get them squared up proper, then burned them in.

Once done there, I got some 1 1/2 square tubing (1/8 wall) and tied the to 2 x 2's together, also over lapping the 1/4 plates.
Then, welded lengths of 1 x 2 tubing together (same way as before), and cut my new 2 x 2 in half.

The one thing I purchased (all other stuff was scrap steel) was the 2 1/2 receiver, this, after a few measurements, got welded to my 1 1/2 cross bar.

Followed by mocking up wher my 2 x 2 lengths butt upto it, I angle cut my 2 x 2 to where it needed to be, and burned them into the receiver and the 2 x 2's attached to the rails (they sit on top).

The mini stinger was next, I made a form from plywood and 2x4's to get the angle/size I wanted, then layed out my 1 1/2 square tube and welded away. Once done, lobbed off the excess.

This then got clamped to the bumper hitch deal (1 1/2 square), got it where I wanted and welded on. After that I made a couple supports to tie it into the 2 x 2's. The light support is simple welded on between the uprights of the stinger, lights mounted inside and back, for protection.

For my license plate, I started out with a slide out deal that was retained by a hitch pin, but this proved less than handy. So I had a rear license plate bracket gas door for an old GM laying around. I bolted that to the Offroad light support, so my plate hinges upward to gain access to the receiver (much better than possibly forgetting to reinstall my plate after use, lol).

Enough talk this is what it ended up as (yes I know, UGLY ).haha


this kinda shows the botton tie in bar the the mounts.

Shows how the stinger is tied in.

There it be, lol.

 

if i were u, id cap all of that tubing before it rusts, also i probably wouldnt trust that bumper to get pulled by

 

It's plenty stout, hooked many a stuck rig to it over the past 5 years, including fullsize trucks (I built it for my old jeep), never budged it. I broke it with a hard tree hit, impact didn't phase it, the stress of the rail crippling broke the opposte side (well actually, hairline crack on a weld, but broke in my book). Not worried about rust, I'm sick of looking at it anyway, time for a change in the spring, lol, I'll make my next one much prettier, haha.

 

the key is the mounting points. you can purchase them online (AJs Offroad, JCR Offroad to name a few). i CNC'd mine out.


this is the overall bumper done.

 

Awesome guys thanks for the pic.s and the tips/examples I really appreciate it. thats sorta what im looking to do for the front. still gathering ideas for the rear.
Ive got the 2x4 steel was thinking of going 2x6, and a brush guard for the front i pulled off a blazer. Also a swing tire bracket for the rear just need to figure out how to weld that onto the back bumper. I just hope mine turns out nice like your guys does. I got a crappy welder.

 

Mine bolts to frame exactly like shown above. used 1/4" plate for bottom, 1-1/4 tubing, then 1-3/4 tubing for the stinger.

 

I made mine out of 3/8" (1ga) steel with 1/4" mounting brackets incorporating 7 bolts per side, and a ball mount mounted thru the bumper. See sig for more pictures in the write up:

mine cost me like $40 with grade 8 bolts

 

Glad they don't look like this:

 

I love how you met the ends to the flares. looks great

 

Heres mine, 5/16" thick fork lift fork extender. Simple, tucked and functional...


When being finished.. Mounts are 1/2" plate

 

89 eliminator sweet job on that bumper man. i have been wanting to make one like that. did you stick or mig meld it?

 

I've been thinking about going to school for welding, my job pays for us "union members" to go to our choice of schools, anyways. I'd really like to try to make my own bumpers too, you guys bumpers looks really good
SwampDonkey, that bumper is AWESOME!, I like it because it's not too flashy or gaudy and definitely looks like a professionally built bumper, that thing is sweet man!

 

I didnt make mine, I had someone a friend knew make'm.
Since my welding skill isnt anything that great.
I also didnt include a stinger loop, because that would just bend or break off, with the amount of trees I "touch" or get close too.
Best thing is, it can be easily modified for the addition of a winch.