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YJWonderboy
Senior Poster Joined: 09 September 2006 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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Posted: 20 November 2006 at 7:35am |
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How difficult would it be to make a custom bumper for a Jeep Wrangler YJ? And could it be done with a MIG welder? Would it be cheaper than buying one? cause I've been looking and I haven't found one that I like, cause I want the grill and hood guard, like the ARB Bull bumper's got, but I don't want anything near that large and bulky. Edited by YJWonderboy |
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Just an '02 Cavalier right now...z24 auto...my 4x4 died...
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Al
Senior Poster Joined: 23 February 2004 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 3249 |
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If you already have the welder and you don't count your time, it will be much cheaper, cost of steel and materials is it. How hard depends on what you want it to look like and what it takes to get it there. Simple channel or rectangular tubing is simple and cheap (relatively); plate and complex shapes get more expensive in both time and cost of materials. If you have to buy the welder, it will probably be more expensive, but you'll have a welder to ammortize over many projects. A mig welder will work, even a 110 VAC version (this is what Jeremy uses), I did both of mine with my 240VAC L-E mig. If you have to pay someone to build one for you, get your checkbook ready, it will be expensive, also. The benefits of doing it yourself is learning how to design and fab, it's built like you want it with the features you want and you don't have to spend a lot of money on it (essentially the cost of steel and welding materials). Find one you like, get the appropriate materials and go to town. It's what I did for the two I've done. They haven't fallen apart yet and it got easier the second time around. Good luck. Al
Edited by Al |
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YJWonderboy
Senior Poster Joined: 09 September 2006 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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Well, I've GOT the welder. It's been sitting in my garage for ages, having only been used for light projects, like welding the steering in a buddy's go-cart back together after his mom hit it with her Van, anyway, I'm looking at the rock craler bumper desing, you know with the angled type corners, but it's square tubing? But it also has a brush guard to it. THe ones I've seen for sale are cool and all, but they are really big, and bulky, and I don't like the designs. Maybe something like this http://www.jeepbumpers.com/images/products/warrior/war57051. jpg, cause I like the D-rings, but seriously, ANY bumper with d-rings, and that styling is gonna cost you over $200-300 Edited by YJWonderboy |
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Just an '02 Cavalier right now...z24 auto...my 4x4 died...
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50Willys
RCRC Club Member RCRC Vice President Joined: 16 February 2004 Location: Trinity, AL Status: Offline Points: 2916 |
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The main part of that bumper looks like it's made from plate and not tubing. Most tube bumpers don't have all of those angles. Take alook at some of the bumpers our members have made on the website trail pics page.
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Bob S.
'96 Cherokee, 4.0L w/Auto Trans & locked D44s '99 Dodge 2500 CTD Tow Rig |
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YJWonderboy
Senior Poster Joined: 09 September 2006 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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Who said I wanted a tube bumper. I was just wondering if welding a bumper like that would be possible? Tube bumpers are cool, lovely, and oldschool, but I want something with a meaner look. Edited by YJWonderboy |
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Just an '02 Cavalier right now...z24 auto...my 4x4 died...
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50Willys
RCRC Club Member RCRC Vice President Joined: 16 February 2004 Location: Trinity, AL Status: Offline Points: 2916 |
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All I was saying is the type of bumper you're looking at are formed out of one piece of plate using a multi-ton forming press. That's hard to duplicate in your garage with a MIG welder. If that is the type of bumper you want then I would suggest you go buy one or plan on spending many many hours cutting and welding steel plate into the shape you want.
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Bob S.
'96 Cherokee, 4.0L w/Auto Trans & locked D44s '99 Dodge 2500 CTD Tow Rig |
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bluetoy
RCRC Club Visitor Joined: 17 February 2004 Location: Skyline, Jackson County Status: Offline Points: 2222 |
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Build one like this. I hear this is the newest trend for hardcore rockcrawlers. If you can't afford to have it chrome plated, you can just use some "chrome" spray paint. It's the coolest. Edited by bluetoy |
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TOYOTA FOUR WHEEL DRIVE................need I say more?
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cj8lvr
RCRC LLC Member Joined: 10 February 2005 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 7946 |
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All you need is an old bed frame... You see that on Pirate too? Coming to a cross-dressing 4wd shop near you! |
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___/| [_\__\],
l___l__L-O|||||O_ _()_)__()_)___()_) Jake White Owner of CartoTracks.com Trail Maps Past RCRC - VP Past Nat'l CJ-8 Scrambler Owners Association President |
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Case
RCRC LLC Member Have you seen my 9/16" socket? Joined: 20 September 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1773 |
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please tell me that picture is from the 80s
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06 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited all torn apart.
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cj8lvr
RCRC LLC Member Joined: 10 February 2005 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 7946 |
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___/| [_\__\],
l___l__L-O|||||O_ _()_)__()_)___()_) Jake White Owner of CartoTracks.com Trail Maps Past RCRC - VP Past Nat'l CJ-8 Scrambler Owners Association President |
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85cruiser
RCRC Club Visitor Joined: 21 April 2004 Location: Rogersville, TN Status: Offline Points: 391 |
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all I can say is WOW, I cant figure out what makes me want to puke first
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Patrick
2011 Ford F350, XLT, 4X4, Diesel, Crew cab, long bed 74' FJ-40, The "Bruise" 85' FJ-60, slightly modified 87' FJ60, slightly modified |
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50Willys
RCRC Club Member RCRC Vice President Joined: 16 February 2004 Location: Trinity, AL Status: Offline Points: 2916 |
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I've never seen a pimped out Jeep before. That's too stupid to be funny.
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Bob S.
'96 Cherokee, 4.0L w/Auto Trans & locked D44s '99 Dodge 2500 CTD Tow Rig |
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cj8lvr
RCRC LLC Member Joined: 10 February 2005 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 7946 |
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I think what is most disturbing about this Jeep to me is that there has only been one bid on it and that bid.... For $10,000!!!!! Florida is all I can say....second only to Kalifornia. |
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l___l__L-O|||||O_ _()_)__()_)___()_) Jake White Owner of CartoTracks.com Trail Maps Past RCRC - VP Past Nat'l CJ-8 Scrambler Owners Association President |
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Case
RCRC LLC Member Have you seen my 9/16" socket? Joined: 20 September 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1773 |
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more disturbing is the reserve is not met.
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06 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited all torn apart.
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50Willys
RCRC Club Member RCRC Vice President Joined: 16 February 2004 Location: Trinity, AL Status: Offline Points: 2916 |
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Watch out knocking Kalifornia, I'm sensitive besides even the folks in the land of fruits and nuts aren't stupid enough to build something like that
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Bob S.
'96 Cherokee, 4.0L w/Auto Trans & locked D44s '99 Dodge 2500 CTD Tow Rig |
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cj8lvr
RCRC LLC Member Joined: 10 February 2005 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 7946 |
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Come on Bob... the peoples republic of Kalifornia is just like a bowl of granola... what ain't fruits and nuts is flakes!
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___/| [_\__\],
l___l__L-O|||||O_ _()_)__()_)___()_) Jake White Owner of CartoTracks.com Trail Maps Past RCRC - VP Past Nat'l CJ-8 Scrambler Owners Association President |
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Al
Senior Poster Joined: 23 February 2004 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 3249 |
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Anything's possible. It sounds like you already have in mind what you want. That's good. It also sounds like you don't want to spend a lot of money. No problem, go to SS, buy 1/4" plate steel, design and make it. You've already shown it's possible by your previous post; the question, is it possible for you? I don't know the answer to that question since I don't know what tools you own and what you're skills are with those tools. If you have the Mig, you'll need some way to cut 1/4" steel, calculate angles and then grind/weld/sand/paint to suit. My BIL designs and builds bumpers like this, but he uses 3-D CAD software, and has his steel cut by professionals with a laser. My guess is that you're on the other end of the scale, but that's only a guess. One caveat if you decide to build yourself: be very careful how you design, install and weld any recovery points on your bumper. Lack of quality here can and will kill people. Do not second guess or cheap out on this specific issue: do it right or stay at home. Bottom line: It's either an Internet/Visa problem or a tool/skill problem, that's it. Good luck. Al Edited by Al |
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YJWonderboy
Senior Poster Joined: 09 September 2006 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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Well....it looks like I'm buying a bumper. Cause it sounds to be beyond my skills. Heh, $250 is like what? Three weeks pay on minimum wage? Edited by YJWonderboy |
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Just an '02 Cavalier right now...z24 auto...my 4x4 died...
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Case
RCRC LLC Member Have you seen my 9/16" socket? Joined: 20 September 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1773 |
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stick of "2x4" steel. Edited by Case |
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06 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited all torn apart.
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Guests
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This makes my eyes hurt. Thanks! |
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YJWonderboy
Senior Poster Joined: 09 September 2006 Location: Madison, Madison County Status: Offline Points: 201 |
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is that a bumper or a bike rail? Sheesh, park it outside the library, and have kids chain thier bicyles to it >.<...and he should be shot for welding sport bars on a CJ
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Just an '02 Cavalier right now...z24 auto...my 4x4 died...
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scoutman
RCRC Club Visitor Lame Duck Past Pres, Fab Guy & Club Cook Joined: 16 February 2004 Location: Monrovia/HSV Status: Offline Points: 3232 |
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20' stick of steel = @$100 It has been a while since I last priced it. The picture shows 2"x4" box tube 3/16" thick. If you buy a whole stick you can possibly build both bumpers and a set of rock sliders if you play your cards right. This is assumeing that you have the means to move something 20' long or you pay to have the shop cut it for you. Clevis bar = $15 each plus shipping Bumper brackets = $35 per end plus shipping Paint, misc hardware, welding wire, mig gas for welder, cutoff wheels, etc = $20 It all comes down to how much equipment and time you have. What is more valuable to you, taking something out of a box and bolting it on in 1 hour, or fabing something from scratch taking a few evenings... You decide.
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76 Scout II in pieces
96 Jeep XJ 33's 99 Jeep XJ Limited 06 Dodge 3500 W5LZQ |
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