Metal fab / rear bumper brackets

rcalexander105

rcalexander105

JV Wheeler
Joined
Nov 3, 2017
Location
High Point
Got a pretty good buy on a rear tube bumper for my 85 4runner which came off a similar 85 that had a body lift. The brackets on said bumper were modified to raise it up on the body lifted rig; however, I don't have a body lift on mine so I'm needing to get some new brackets made up. We were thinking this was a Dave's Offroad Performance bumper and I could have bought some of his brackets (Rear Bumper Brackets Toyota) but unfortunately we were wrong and these taint gonna work.

Any suggestions on a place around Charlotte (I'm near Mountain Island Lake...close to i485 and Hwy 16 intersection) that I could get something this small made up? Pics below are of the bracket mounted to the bumper and then the bracket unmounted with a template I made up out of cardboard for what should work for the new one. Thanks in advance

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Is it flat or bent? Either way, go grab some steel plate, some decent drill bits, a cut off wheel and knock them out in a hour. High dollar excuse: buy a plasma cutter, welder, 20ton hydraulic press, & drill press.

Cheap but still buy a few tools: welder & grinder & wheels. Cut off, relocate, & reinforce.

I've used the crap out of my 110v $90 special hf ac fcaw.. it's got limits, but hey, it was $90. And I have abused it since I got it (8-10yr ago). (Yeah cue welder people that they're not production quality & low quality, but I've ran 30+ 2# spools thru mine.. I'd say mine was heavy hobby use, but it will penetrate 1/4" plate in one heavy slow hot pass, I did some bend tests not that long ago on 3/16" and most of that was operator.. my bumpers (with hitches) haven't cracked yet, they get quarterly inspections)
 
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It's flat, 3/8" plate. I thought about doing the same with my grinder and cut off wheel but figured by the time I bought the plate I could just get somebody to make them for me... maybe you'll tell me I'm wrong. Any suggestions on a place to get some 3/8" plate? Size reference below
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3/8 flat bar, two angle cuts, weld and done. Few people are gonna have plate that size. Unless they burn it out on a table.

3/8 is also ridiculous. Thinner with some aditional design would be helpful. In a side impact 3/8 is going to give as well. Fight it with design not heavier material.
 
rcalexander105 said:
Got a pretty good buy on a rear tube bumper for my 85 4runner which came off a similar 85 that had a body lift. The brackets on said bumper were modified to raise it up on the body lifted rig; however, I don't have a body lift on mine so I'm needing to get some new brackets made up. We were thinking this was a Dave's Offroad Performance bumper and I could have bought some of his brackets (Rear Bumper Brackets Toyota) but unfortunately we were wrong and these taint gonna work.

Any suggestions on a place around Charlotte (I'm near Mountain Island Lake...close to i485 and Hwy 16 intersection) that I could get something this small made up? Pics below are of the bracket mounted to the bumper and then the bracket unmounted with a template I made up out of cardboard for what should work for the new one. Thanks in advance

View attachment 276408 View attachment 276409
Click to expand...

...OR, just buy a body lift...
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
3/8 flat bar, two angle cuts, weld and done. Few people are gonna have plate that size. Unless they burn it out on a table.

3/8 is also ridiculous. Thinner with some aditional design would be helpful. In a side impact 3/8 is going to give as well. Fight it with design not heavier material.
Click to expand...

This^^^

I'd make it out of 1/4" and tie in the side of the bumper to the frame bracket similiar to TG's bumper.
 
Chris_Keziah said:
This^^^

I'd make it out of 1/4" and tie in the side of the bumper to the frame bracket similiar to TG's bumper.
Click to expand...
Definitely agree w/ tying it back into the side like TG's. Certainly don't think just the one bracket on the end would be enough.
 
I would make it out of a couple pieces like @WARRIORWELDING suggested. Or just hack and weld up the existing brackets to make them match your template. If you wanted to cut out of one piece (wasteful), take and set the points down flat on a table and measure the highest height. Looks like 1/4"x6" flat bar might fit your pattern. I've got some at my shop but you're a good little drive from me.
 
Thanks fellas. Going to grab some 3/8 flat bar and see what happens. Going w/ 3/8 b/c that's what the old brackets were and hoping to get it as close to "how it was" as before. Will also likely add some of the TG pieces or something like it as mentioned from @Chris_Keziah . I'll revert back - appreciate everybody's $0.02.
 
Got them cut out... thanks again for dropping some knowledge guys. Got both of these out of a $20 16" x 10" flat bar. Now to get some holes drilled and clean it up a bit with a flap disc.
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I would drill the frame side first, bolt it up and then clamp the bumper where I want it to be (tilt) then use a transfer punch to mark the holes, remove, drill, and reinstall. That's my pennies I left at places today.
 
a_kelley said:
I would drill the frame side first, bolt it up and then clamp the bumper where I want it to be (tilt) then use a transfer punch to mark the holes, remove, drill, and reinstall. That's my pennies I left at places today.
Click to expand...
Good advice, I guess I'm still learning as I go. Unfortunately I drilled them out with my ol man's drill press last weekend when I was up visiting. I used the template I made to mark the holes but no transfer punch. Almost instantly figured out that was a mistake when I started drilling. I did bump up a 16th on the drill bit to give me some leeway fortunately so they worked but not perfect. Hit them with a couple coats of paint a few nights ago so it'll get bolted back up soon. Going to get the TG side braces and have somebody burn those in for me for added support and then I'll be done with it.

Thanks again for everybody's input. Learned a shit ton over the past year putting this rig together. I'm fairly competent when it comes to building and fixing shit around the house and tinkering on vehicles, but absolutely zero experience building a rig up like this and metal fab type stuff until here lately.

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