Front cross member/skid mount rebuild - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Jakeepoo3 · 10-02-2022, 09:12 PM

F_cked up going hard last weekend, slammed a hidden field stump 👌. You know the usual adrenaline junkie stuff we get into. Got lucky the front cross member was not even a quarter inch from busting the bottom of radiator after stump slamming. Anyways here are a few pictures on how to fix a problem like that for free. Sh!tty I had to take the condenser and radiator out to get to the cross member mounting/weld point. New hand built one much beefier for radiator protection and skid mounting. Part of my fun 🤠👽

Jeremy556 · 10-02-2022, 11:23 PM

Thanks for the cutaway view of the front recovery point, they're even stronger than I thought, joined inside the cross member.

IIRC, that cross member is about $180. Not sure what you value your time at, but the fit up of that pipe to the frame seems to be a bit of a challenge.

CutthroatSlam · 10-03-2022, 12:47 AM

That round pipe will bend way easier than the box steel.

Humble Leader · 10-03-2022, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy556

Thanks for the cutaway view of the front recovery point, they're even stronger than I thought, joined inside the cross member.

IIRC, that cross member is about $180. Not sure what you value your time at, but the fit up of that pipe to the frame seems to be a bit of a challenge.

and everyone calls them tie down points for shipping lol. plenty strong I've never seen one removed before like in OP

Jakeepoo3 · 10-03-2022, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy556

Thanks for the cutaway view of the front recovery point, they're even stronger than I thought, joined inside the cross member.

IIRC, that cross member is about $180. Not sure what you value your time at, but the fit up of that pipe to the frame seems to be a bit of a challenge.

Appreciate the insightful observations Jeremy! I like your thought process. I wasn't expecting that extra brace on the interior of the recovery hooks either. Good job on that Toyota 👌 and those probably ain't cheap to buy new.

Time doesn't exist here 👽 and that fit up was the first thing I brainstormed. The diameter of the pipe is exactly what was needed to get a cope on the weld joint maximizing surface weld area, versus just a straight cut pipe to a flat surface.. gussets are also being added on front and back side for yanking jeeps out the cut 🤠

Pictures of fit up. Plumbers/pipefitters union welder of power plant, high pressure pipe for ten years.

Jakeepoo3 · 10-03-2022, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humble Leader

and everyone calls them tie down points for shipping lol. plenty strong I've never seen one removed before like in OP

Thanks leader!, I've also seen posts that say they are just tie down points. I thought that photo would help clear things up and get the real information available.. they've been through over ten years of heavy abuse never a budge.

Jakeepoo3 · 10-03-2022, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CutthroatSlam

That round pipe will bend way easier than the box steel.

You're correct, that's what the tube bender said. All and any cylindrical tubing or solid round bar will bend easier than square or rectangular tubing slamthroat 🤠 That's why the original buckled/broke rather than bending.. big difference..

The point is that this was lying in my scrap pile for free. I would have used rectangular tubing in a heavier gauge ideally. Not to mention It would have been much easier to miter those joints by hand on rectangle, with no chop saw or band saw, but this is much better than the original and free so f_ck yeah 👽

Check this picture.. notice the guage difference and seams.. way stronger.

If you want start a thread on physics, structural engineering, and metallurgy I'd be happy to join you there.

honda250xtitan · 10-03-2022, 08:18 PM

hell yea! love this stuff. solid work man!

Jeremy556 · 10-03-2022, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakeepoo3

Time doesn't exist here �� and that fit up was the first thing I brainstormed. The diameter of the pipe is exactly what was needed to get a cope on the weld joint maximizing surface weld area, versus just a straight cut pipe to a flat surface.. gussets are also being added on front and back side for yanking jeeps out the cut ��

Pictures of fit up. Plumbers/pipefitters union welder of power plant, high pressure pipe for ten years.

Very nice, not was I was imagining at all. Hell, I might even be able to weld that together...if you flipped the 4runner upside down.

Love seeing people do actual fab work around here, instead of the usual "will x tires rub with y offset?" and bolt on overland jewelry

Jakeepoo3 · 10-04-2022, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy556

Very nice, not was I was imagining at all. Hell, I might even be able to weld that together...if you flipped the 4runner upside down.

Love seeing people do actual fab work around here, instead of the usual "will x tires rub with y offset?" and bolt on overland jewelry

Thanks sir! I'd like to see more similar threads also. The OEM front skid got smushed in too. So custom skids will be the next project on my giant list! I like your avatar picture! I've owned 3 bikes myself, adrenaline junkie!! ✌️

honda250xtitan · 10-04-2022, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy556

Very nice, not was I was imagining at all. Hell, I might even be able to weld that together...if you flipped the 4runner upside down.

Love seeing people do actual fab work around here, instead of the usual "will x tires rub with y offset?" and bolt on overland jewelry

but me welding TC bump brackets and Marlin Crawler cam tab plates is kinda the combo of fab and jewlery.....so no pics for you!

Xtremluck · 10-04-2022, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy556

Very nice, not was I was imagining at all. Hell, I might even be able to weld that together...if you flipped the 4runner upside down.

Love seeing people do actual fab work around here, instead of the usual "will x tires rub with y offset?" and bolt on overland jewelry

Amen!

Grug556 · 10-04-2022, 02:55 PM

I dunno about your choice with the pipe vs structural tubing.. but hell man this thread is awesome the way you rebuilt it!!!

Humble Leader · 10-04-2022, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakeepoo3

Thanks leader!, I've also seen posts that say they are just tie down points. I thought that photo would help clear things up and get the real information available.. they've been through over ten years of heavy abuse never a budge.

I've yet to see a report of one of these failing. sure if you do anything dumb enough something will break. a lot of this misinformation is third party companies coming trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. I have my doubts as to whether any of these bolt on third party products are actually stronger/better than the factory loops. I will admit they do look pretty cool

Jakeepoo3 · 10-04-2022, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humble Leader

I've yet to see a report of one of these failing. sure if you do anything dumb enough something will break. a lot of this misinformation is third party companies coming trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. I have my doubts as to whether any of these bolt on third party products are actually stronger/better than the factory loops. I will admit they do look pretty cool

Yeah they do look cool with a coat of flashy paint, yet it's actually maybe a dollar worth of steel plate underneath. I could literally sit at home and bust out sets of those without even working hard and chill. 🤔 Light bulb! And always know that a bolt will never be stronger than a weld 🤠

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