Interested in your opinions on my front bumper

[Firemedic 76]

Massive! A couple of holes in the front for lights. A bigger one for a winch. Maybe a Hoop for the grille and one each side for the headlights.

A little grinding/smoothing on the welds. Your good to go! Creativity i like that.

I bet you could get a military contract yanking Hummers and tanks out of the muck overseas. Weld on!

 

[KBennett]

I like it from the front but it seems to stick out too much when I look at it from the side.

Definitely adds character to the truck. An image of an old Power Wagon comes to mind



Keep on weldin'

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I think y'all will be surprised at how much smaller it looks once it's got a coat of black on it... it's not gonna look half as big or anything, but my buddy's ranch hand sticks out damn near that far... heck, it might stick out that far! LOL! but it's got pipe for the leading edge, and the rouded corners make it seem smaller compared to a square bumper.



it's not 100% my style, but I think it's gonna look damn good when it's all finished up, and I realize how much work you'll have in it when it's all said and done! LOL!



Forrest

 

[JAYoung]

Looks pretty beefy. I am also curious what thickness of material you used. 1/4" plate = 10. 21lbs. /sf, 1/2" plate is double. Any thoughts on beefing up the suspension to carry that load? I bet it's going to look great when it is finished.

 

[RACE427]

Bumper

I think that Bumper would be awesome in Diamond Plate Aluminum and probably just as sturdy. Remember the bumper is only as strong as the frame rails supporting it!! Any head-on collision is going to bend that front chassis section like a pretzel ! :--)

 

[Forrest Nearing]

any head on collision that bends the front chassis section with that bumper on it would have bent it without it...



the stock bumpers don't really offer much protection...



if anything, having something that solid tying the two front frame horns togther would strengthen the chassis as it essentially becomes part of the chassis.



Forrest

 

[Rocket]

Nice! Reminds of the vehicles in Mad Max

 

[Blakers]

I like it sticking out just fine. It also makes a nice place to stand while working on your engine. If you add tubes to protect your grill, consider making some sort of quick disconnect so you can take them off while working on your engine.



Blake

 

[RedDieselDawg]

man, it looks like if you could get that thing to vibrate as you drive down the road women would be falling down right and left tryig to get next ot you Oo.



On a more serious note, it looks a little large, but paint may make it appear smaller, hahaha. There's plenty of room to weld the the name in front... U. S. S... .



Congrats on the design, it's down right scarey

 

[bighammer]

It's a great start. I think it will look better with the lights, grill guard, hooks, etc. (and of course finish) on it.



The added length will be nice for working under the hood. (a place to sit with more room for your feet ) It will also make parking and fitting in the garage a bit tighter.



Keep us posted.

 

[daveshoe]

THAT would be a perfect match for my running boards. Oo. Oo.

 

[PJereb]

J



Looks good, you should be able to take out any small appliance, small tree or utility pole with that.



Only one problem that I see, and no one else has mentioned it.



IT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE BODY!



The bumper is mounted to the frame, as you articulate your truck off road, the frame will flex, and the rubber body mounts will deflect, causing the headlights, nose and fenders to rub into your very solid bumper. The body parts will lose; you may break a headlight, or crinkle up some sheet metal.

Leave yourself at least a 3/4" gap between the bumper and any part of the body.



Peter

 

[GFritsch]

Looks like there might be enough room inside the bumper to mount air horns with some ports on the side. Maybe open on the bottom, or a removable panel. Too big? Hell, the bigger the better! Look forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[y-knot]

Well you asked for our honest opinion, so here we go.



The biggest problem I see with your bumper is it doesn't enhance the truck it is mounted too. After all why do people add accessories to their trucks, because they add to the overall performance, function and or appearance. Your bumper Miss's on all three fronts. Don't get mad, you have alot of talent, but lack in the creative and design department.

The bumper should not protrude so far out in front of the truck, you went a little to far and it makes the truck look disproportionate.

Also, the bumper needs to be less boxy, their are to many edges. You have a new Dodge that has a large sweeping windshield, hood and grill, your bumper looks like it does not belong there, and it doesn't. To blind in, and enhance the look, it needs more of a curved front, that sweeps down and around. The box look like your bumper has belongs on a 70's truck, not a 2004 like you have.

Please do not use tread plate to fabricate the next bumper, if there is one. the bumper does not need all the ridges. they serve no purpose and make it look even worse then it is. Again, we are in the year 2004 almost 2005, and all of the trucks have a more smooth line with a rake from front to back. Your bumper should try and follow that rake, while holding a tight line to the front of the vehicle.

I am sorry if you feel like any of my comments are mean or personal, they are not, you like to make things and with the right plans you could make a very nice bumper. I can not remember anymore from the pictures I viewed, but the first thing I noticed was how out of place the bumper looked on the truck. The second was how boxy it appeared, and how it extended way to far out on front of the truck. If you had an old beater that drove around the farm, it would be OK. But you don't, and it does nothing to enhance the truck. Your truck would look better without it.

If you try again, make the top section one piece, without the kick-ups. It will look better. Use new and UN-blemished 3/16 or 1/4" steel, and rake the bumper down and to the back on the lower section. It you take a look at the side of your truck, you can pick out anyone of several lines and match it with your bumper, this way it looks like it belongs their and blends in to the truck. Good luck and I hope this gives you inspiration not heart burn.

 

[DCaswell]

I think you gotta get the grill guard & 4 Hella's on & then chrome it. Also need to have on the front in reverse lettering like the ambulances "YOU ARE MY CRUMPLE ZONE"

 

[JWerkheiser]

Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate them. For those that are curious, it's 3/16 plate. Still not sure if I am going to actually use it. I think it's more of a mad scientist creation, the more I look at it.

 

[rbattelle]

I have mixed feelings on it. The way it sticks out reminds me of a fire truck front bumper, or a cement truck, which are both really cool. I agree with Y-knot's suggestion to do away with the diamond tread top. I'd be interested to see it powder coated and cleaned up, and will reserve final judgement until then.



p. s. - I wish I had the skill and equipment to weld stuff!

 

[rbattelle]

Hey JWerkheiser, what ever happened with this bumper?

Ryan

 

[bighammer]

Ummm..... well, I suppose it will scare others out of your way.

Rusty

Especially if the paint job includes some teeth and/or "Kia Catcher" or something like that. :-laf

I think it looks cool. When it's all done and cleaned and painted it will really be something.

 

[JSzewczyk]

Just one thought. Instead of powder coating, consider having it sprayed with the material they use for sprayed-in bedliner material. I think that it would be more durable than powder coat. I have a ranch hand front and tough contry rear added to mine. As soon as they chip, I will be getting the bedliner applied.