Built my own "Artic Truck" fender flares

[Alaskastreamin]

:focus:

It's been a few weeks so I thought I'd share the progress.

The Visor is painted and installed.

I wanted to copy the Road Rhino bumper that is on our Dodge. I scored 6 sheets of 1/8" plate steel from the scrap yard. Each sheet was 12" wide and 10' long. It was pretty pitted with surface rust but no scale!!!
I borrowed a plasma cutter from a buddy and went to town!!

I cut in some 5" holes for driving lights.

I wanted to re-use the factory turn signal lenses ....BUT the mounting brackets are in the way so I will have to resort to the cheap-o sealed units from NAPA.
I need to get this done so I can get going on the rear bumper. Tomorrow I will install the turn signals and get the paint on.....

 

[TXRick]

Wow. Badass work man! :clap2:

 

[Canuckrz]

I like everything except for the fake raised cowl. Also the driving light location is interesting, however it removes the ability for you to put a winch in behind in the usual location.

 

[Semper_Fi]

wicked sick flares man, great job, you should make a few sets and sell on here, I would be up for a pair

 

[I'mStock]

Sub'd. Love these DIY threads.

Wish I had the tools and workspace to attempt things like this. VERY cool stuff.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Good looking bumper! I really like the chamfered pieces along the top front edges. I did that with mine also.

 

[PNW yota]

Nice work on those flares!

 

[Diesel_Dog]

Very nice job on the flares and bumper. Do you have any pictures of the bumper mounting bracket? I'm trying to get ideas for my DIY bumper. Thanks and keep up the impressive work!

 

[Alaskastreamin]

Hey guys,.... Got the rear bumper painted and waiting for it to dry to install.

To answer a few questions/ comments.
The fake cowl.... I wasn't happy with the hood when "visioning" the rig with the monster flares. The hood looked too smooth and flat. Once I saw the 2000+ Ford Ranger hoods, I immediately noticed them and thought,.... That's pretty cool looking!! When I chopped and widened my wifes VW Bug, the front "bonnet" was the only panel that wasn't "enhanced" and it ,....to me, stuck out like a sore thumb. I can understand it's not for everyone, but to me, I had to make the whole outside look "angular" or "chunky".

The driving lights in the front bumper aren't where I initially wanted them......
however, I had to use what I had available and rolling 1/8" steel into a 5" circle was challenging. Initially they were going in the beveled lower panels under the turn signals. The "tubes" would have to be around 5" deep. I don't have a roller so rolling a 1" piece to fit the flat (vertical) panel was do-able around a street light pole.

I really wanted to use the factory lights with a 1" trim ring welded in the opening,....however the mounting brackets wouldn't allow enough depth to use them. The "dump truck" style lights were my only "cheap" option. I personally don't like them but it was my only option OTHER than when I wired them up I realized I could have used the round smaller versions as the old lights were ONLY turn signals not running lights. AARRGGG!!!!

I didn't take pictures of the mounting plates for the front bumper. I mounted to the factory brackets , the threaded holes in the frame end caps, and the outer mounts on the radiator support for the ends.

Here's the rear bumper waiting to dry

I'll post some pictures in a day or two and then get that hitch raised to meet the bumper.

 

[Canuckrz]

Very nice fab skills on the rear bumper as well. Is that wrinkle black paint? I'm surprised you didn't weld on anything for shackle points.

I don't have a problem with the way the hood looks, it just bugs me that its just a non functional stick on deal.

 

[VA4Runner98]

Sweet build, that runner looks awesome!!

 

[tyr0981]

Superb sir, outstanding work! I've always wanted to become more familiar with fiber glass....

 

[Alaskastreamin]

That's the Dupli- color spray bedliner. It has a gentle texture. I top coated it with black to add some shine.

The front bumper was first sprayed with Herkaliner. It was way too rough!! After a day of looking at it dry and not feeling good about the appearance, I had to scrape it off. My first option was to paint it with car paint and clear coat but my budget is gone.

 

[TOY2G]

I was excited to see some more activity on this thread, as always, I love what you have going on there.......now give me you paypal so i can buy a bumper from you.

 

[Alaskastreamin]

$8k and I'll throw in the whole rig....:tea:

 

[Bandit Runner]

Compare:

Did you steal my bumper designs? jk

Your bumpers look great! (Probably because they look so much like mine - haha)

 

[Alaskastreamin]

WOW!! We think alike. Let's see your front bumper....... Is it like mine???

I like the taper in the beveled edge on your side panels..
You can see in mine I tapered the vertical side panel and using the same template reversed the taper for the beveled underside panel which returns the bottom edge to being parallel with the top.

I printed several pictures of "Toyota bumpers" off Google images. I took features from three styles I liked and put together for my design. I never saw your bumpers in my search though.

Like you,.... I love the beveled top edge. It's a lot of work but really sets it apart from the rest.

I would have added the pull out tabs but I messed up my only two pieces of 1/4" steel I had. This is just a street cruiser "poser" 4runner :sorry:

If I took my rig out where you guys go, it would probably fall apart!! LOL!!!!

It will probably get sold to some fisherman kid that just has to have it.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Dude you've got to start a build thread!


Call it "Bad@ss Blue's Arctic Blue Build"

:surfer:

 

[Bandit Runner]

WOW!! We think alike. Let's see your front bumper....... Is it like mine???

I like the taper in the beveled edge on your side panels..
You can see in mine I tapered the vertical side panel and using the same template reversed the taper for the beveled underside panel which returns the bottom edge to being parallel with the top.

I printed several pictures of "Toyota bumpers" off Google images. I took features from three styles I liked and put together for my design. I never saw your bumpers in my search though.

Like you,.... I love the beveled top edge. It's a lot of work but really sets it apart from the rest.

I would have added the pull out tabs but I messed up my only two pieces of 1/4" steel I had. This is just a street cruiser "poser" 4runner :sorry:

If I took my rig out where you guys go, it would probably fall apart!! LOL!!!!

It will probably get sold to some fisherman kid that just has to have it.

Yes, Our front bumpers are similar too. Crazy! Great minds do think alike.

 

[Alaskastreamin]

If I only knew at the time that I only had turn signals in the factory bumper and not running lights as well, I could have used the little round dump truck lights and put my driving lights where yours are. Yours look much better there.