The whole thing is "custom," I built it...you think anyone would sell something looking like that?

I finally got a chance to take the X out (met up w/ OffroadX to give him my Swampers) and apart from trimming up the plastic fender liner, I'm almost done w/ trimming. Here are the pics of my X crossed up in the parking lot at the end of the day.



It's *really* close, but I'm not touching in the front of the rear wheelwell...I did cut the lip out already though...is that where you rub? I am touching in the back of the rear wheelwell, lightly...just need a bit more trimming and I should be set. I just got an air nibbler, which makes trimming up this sheetmetal a piece of cake...wish I'd had it for the front wheelwells.

hey did you consider just lopping off those pieces of sheet metal behind the tire below the bumper line. I am just starting to draw up my own rear bumper and am considering just cutting that excess metal off and making a bumper with a much improved departure angle. Is there a problem with cutting those off will I compromise the rigidity of my body. Also the vent thing on the right hand side does it have a purpose.

The vent allows presure to be released from the cabin when doors are shut and the windows are all rolled up. If there was no vent, nor a way for air to be released you could expect a window to let lose and pop out.

I did consider it, but when I saw the way the body panels are joined there, I quickly dismissed it. The seam where the body panels join is the at the bottom of those metal pieces, so if you wanted to really trim it all off you'd have to do quite a bit of body work to join them back up again. (And you *would* want to join them back up again, otherwise you'd have a huge hole.) Considering how much swearing I did just trying to weld shut a 6" seam in the rear wheelwell, there's no way I'd want to pursue that...maybe you'll have better luck though. This was my first experience trying to weld sheetmetal, and it SUCKED.

Hope this helps. Sorry to kidnap stormy's thread.

Damnit I knew it sounded too easy. Maybe I will look to a body shop to do something like that and start with just a center section bumper. How exactly did you build the tire carrier arm specifically the turning joint. did you do some interior bracing to assure it was strong enough to hold the weight of the arm. Oh and by the way what thickness steel should I look into using.

Stormy, gothamist,

Are you running bumpstop extensions?

Are you talking about the front or the rear? Right now I'm not running either.

No problem... It's much more interesting talking about the bumper than my exhaust.

stormy--right on.

imacsae--I used 3/16" wall box steel for the main part of the bumper, and 1/4" for the frame mounts and crossbrace. The carrier portion's base is 3/16", the rest is 1/8" to save weight. The hinge is from Rockstomper.
http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/pieces/hinge.htm

I stuck it in a lathe and tapped the bottom of it, so that it's bolted into the bottom edge of the 2x4 and welded all the way around on the top edge of the 2x4. It's also welded in on the inside edge of the steel.

And I'm not running any bumpstop extensions either.

Rear bumpstop extensions. I was just curious if you were fully stuffing the rear tires, thanks.

Ok sounds interesting. what we really need to do is make up a step by step instructional on how to build a bumper. Beginning with exact measurements on marking the metal for cutting. Where to get the hinge etc. Later on I will probably ask you for some more details on the hinge design. I am going to build a center bumper to start with a tire carrier. Later something will need to be designed to replace the side plastic pieces. I figure the center portion will be easy it is the swing arm and sides that will need some work. How bout doing a writeup on your bumper on your site vikram with some measurements and specifics.

hey vikram what did you do with your KMA?

I still have it lying around in the garage. If anyone is interested in it I'll be happy to let it go really cheap. It needs about an hour's worth of work with a grinder and a drill to get back up to snuff.

imacsae--when I get the chance I can do a writeup on building a bumper. if you have any specific questions now I can certainly answer them. Also, just to let you know, the design I have won't work as well if you make the hinge come from the center section--on my design it's moved over about 4" from the end of where the center section used to be, which gives you the ability to make a longer swingaway (did this to ensure plenty of room for hi-lift + a spare 35" tire.) I think if you want to build out from the center section, a hinge that comes away from the face of the bumper, rather than the top, might work better--ala KMA and Calmini. You can adapt the Rockstomper hinge for this but it's a bit more tricky, especially to make it bombproof.

so how much do you want for the kma hee hee first to ask.

the silverado had to much over kill the X looked nice thou

I cut the bottom of my rear fenders off and had bumperets made in there place.I'm having the underside capped on Monday although I havn't noticed any flex in the body without them.Stormy posted some pics of it under custom bumpers in the pictures section.

ummmm were did you say those pics are?

why is this post here? It's 5 friggin months old?! (It was the first in the pics forum) date read 2-7-2003