BirdTRD
beLIEve
I made my own rear bumper. I wanted it to be high-clearance and high strength for off roading yet I wanted it to remain subtle while largely following factory lines. The receiver is stock but flipped upside down with new mounts. The receiver mounts and bumper mounts are 1/4" thick steel. The bumper skin itself is 3/16" thick steel. The factory bumper is 6" deep, 9" tall, and has the receiver hanging another 3" below the bumper. My new bumper is 3" deep, 6" tall, and has the receiver integrated. This greatly increased my departure angle clearance. I gained about 6" of clearance from the old low point. I shortened the overall truck length by about 3". The pictures are crappy cell phone shots. Sorry, I can get some with the real camera if anyone cares that much. Some of the camera angles make it look line my work isn't straight. It is though.
First, I flipped the factory towing receiver. I obviously needed to rebuild mounts. I boxed them in for added strength.
Next came the bumper itself. The receiver mounts, bumper mounts, and frame are all tied into one. The receiver mounts bolt to the frame and the bumper mounts. The bumper mounts bolt to the receiver (as mentioned) and the frame. The bumper skin is welded to the receiver at the tongue too. All of them tied together has this setup quite strong.
The finished product! These pictures are better quality but please excuse the fact that the bumper is dirty from winter road conditions. The side caps were the hardest part to get right. The compound angles are not "made from scratch" friendly. With time, I got it right though. The shackle mounts are 1" thick. The 7-pin towing plug is integrated to the middle of the bumper in a snag free location. The license plate lights are LED's integrated into the top plate mounting screws.
Whatcha think?
First, I flipped the factory towing receiver. I obviously needed to rebuild mounts. I boxed them in for added strength.
Next came the bumper itself. The receiver mounts, bumper mounts, and frame are all tied into one. The receiver mounts bolt to the frame and the bumper mounts. The bumper mounts bolt to the receiver (as mentioned) and the frame. The bumper skin is welded to the receiver at the tongue too. All of them tied together has this setup quite strong.
The finished product! These pictures are better quality but please excuse the fact that the bumper is dirty from winter road conditions. The side caps were the hardest part to get right. The compound angles are not "made from scratch" friendly. With time, I got it right though. The shackle mounts are 1" thick. The 7-pin towing plug is integrated to the middle of the bumper in a snag free location. The license plate lights are LED's integrated into the top plate mounting screws.
Whatcha think?
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