Ok so it's time to post some new pictures and give an update!

So last weekend I welded up all the plate work. Fully welded the outside, and stiched the inside. I tried my hardest, but as expected I got a little twisting from the welding. That is one of the draw backs of using 1/8" material... If I could do it again, I would have had a local do as many of the bends in the plate as possible so I wasn't welding as much. This would keep a lot of the twisting down. I am new to ABQ and have been having a hard time finding good machine shops and such to go to, so I have been having to do a lot of my work manually...

Anyways, the twisting isn't anything I couldn't deal with. I was able to get it very close to the original configuration, and actually some of the twisting helped with my spacing near the body and it worked out to my advantage. I got it all squared up the way I wanted, and sanded it all down. Still have a few small cosmetic things to do with the sanding, but things are coming along good so far.







After welding and hours of sanding, I was able to work on my blinkers. I got my lexan parts back from the laser cutter, and got the holes drilled in the bumper and my LED mounts all squared away. I think these are gunna look awesome when this is all done. The lexan is a clear that is frosted so it has a white tint. I will put clear corners on my rig and these should match real well.





That's all the pictures I have... sorry, I only get a few hours each weekend so I don't stop to take a lot of pictures, just trying to get things done. After messing with everything, I did put the bumper back on the 4runner (I will snap a pic this afternoon), and I am all ready for tube work. I also built my bender stand and handle and all that crap this weekend too. I was really hoping to get the top tube work done, but I just got my ass kicked on time and with broken tools. I had to go to Home Depot 3 times to get crap... But hey, I am ready to knock out some tube work next weeked, and I have the week off following so I am hoping I can get this bumper all squared away!!

Also, I mentioned doing 4 lights, well I have to do 3. I got a pair of them in last week and they are just too big to fit 4 across and do the tubing work like I want. This isn't a race rig, and I do plan on putting lights on the roof too, so 3 will be fine. I will get them mounted this week so I can be ready to bend tubing Friday hopefully! Ok, thats all I got, thanks for reading.

Looking good!

Been weighing the build vs buy pros and cons myself. I SHOULD do it myself darn it! Why have the tools and then not use them

Have you weighed it now that the metalwork is essentiall done?

I still have about 20 feet of tubing to add on, so no weight yet.

Before you build keep in mind a few things. By the time I am done with this, I probably could have just purchased a damn ARB bumper and just bolted that thing on. Also look into how much time you will spend on building one. I will have over 40 hours by the time I am done... I build all my own stuff because honestly I am stupid and picky for certain features. I should just save the money up and buy these parts but I have a weird obsesion for tools and I like to torcher myself and my family by spending time in the garage buring myself and after yesterday, getting welders flash and having trouble sleeping haha. Unless you have a true passion for building, just buy one, I will probably always buid my stuff, but like I said, I am stupid! haha

I'm thoroughly enjoying your work, my friend. Very clean, and the lines of the bumper are so nicely matching to the vehicle; most plate bumpers look thick, blunt, chunky and clunky but yours has a great look to it.

I also love the red and yellow beast you've fabbed up in your garage. That thing must romp...

Well said. I'm stupid in the same way!

Thanks everyone for the great words!!!

Here are a few pics on the 4runner. Poor cell phone quality, but oh well.

Looks Great!

This is 2014. Your phone should be as good as any camera now. Get a new phone!! LOL, J/K.

Haha, its am iPhone 4S, I could possibly just be camera stupid! Welder, not photographer... haha

Its not bad they look fine to me. I was just giving you hell.

Oh I picked up the sarcasm, just jokin with ya. Thanks again for the good words!

I have a pro-tools bender I will sell.

Got one now, thanks though.

Some teasers!!

That bender looks like it's doing it's job. How much floor space does that take up in the garage? A tube bender and a break press are like two things I'm conspicuously missing from my garage...

Pro-tools does a great job! If your doing manual you need about a 6' half circle around the bender. If you go hydro it's a lot tighter. Of course it depends on how long the tube is too...