Square Tube Bumper

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

Hey guys, I've always wanted to have a tube bumper for my 3rd Gen 4Runner but kept putting off the project, then yesterday me and my friend/partner from AfterSchoolCustoms decided to go down to our local steel supply and pick up the 12 ft 11GA 2 1/2 inch square tube needed for the project. I decided to go with square tubing simply because it's ASC's first time doing a project this big and I really wanted to make the project as easy as it could be. The pictures below show our progress in the first day of building the tube bumper. More pictures will be uploaded later on today and tomorrow and so on until it's finished!

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

Pics

Some pics from the beginning

 

[thebrandon]

Square tube bumpers always seem to be hit or miss. I'm interested to see how this turns out.

Any plans to incorporate a skid plate/light tabs/winch?

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

Yeah I'm planning on installing 2 light tabs for my KC's and a diamond steel plate for the skid . And yeah before I got the tubing I was set on making it all out of steel plate so we'll see what happens [MENTION=83792]thebrandon[/MENTION]

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

more pics from day 1

 

[kernel.panik]

Dis Gonna Be SICK!

opcorn:

 

[Singtoe]

You need more heat in your welder or you might have run out of shielding gas.

Practice more on your scarp pieces . It is important to have a strong bond for your bumper.

 

[pattycakes77]

That's a lot of bare skin next to some really HOT stuff. The first spark or piece of slag in those loafers is going to be fun! Burning flesh also doesn't smell very nice so break out the Febreze!

 

[t4r4life]

those welds wouldn't even pass for government work

 

[downpour11]

That's a lot of bare skin next to some really HOT stuff. The first spark or piece of slag in those loafers is going to be fun! Burning flesh also doesn't smell very nice so break out the Febreze!

those welds wouldn't even pass for government work

hash tag yolo!!! :lmao:

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

almost finished

here are some pics of our ALMOST-Finished bumper. blacked out the bumper and the background. Still need to mount my KC's and replace my temporary signal lights with some cool LED ones or something. might add another layer of tubing on the top aswell and curving in the edges of the bumper by the lights to fit the frame of the body so they wont stick out as much. In the end their was a gap between the body/grille and the bumper but nothing to abnormal in my opinion, nothing too bad, I love the turn out and we are still working on everything

 

[Canuckrz]

But seriously kudos to you guys for getting your hands dirty custom fabbing, however this could have been planned out a lot better and safer. Also looking at the thickness of those pipes and the support on the ends or lack there of after the welds you will likely have far less protection than the stock bumper.

Here is what I would do to make it stronger, and cleaner while keeping it simple.

-Push the two vertical supports out so they are at the ends of the center straight sections.
-Miter the two ends and turn them in so they don't stick out so far, and more match the curve of the front end.
-Cut and miter another two peices of tubing to go from the bottom tube, to the far miter joints on either side. This way it will give you added support, as well as giving you a simple triangle void which will make it easier to put in some plate metal now or down the road if you so desire.
- Cap the ends of the tubes, it makes them stronger, better appearance, and less likely to get filled with crap.

This can all be done with very minimal extra material, namely just the two roughly 2' extra supports.

 

[BillIam]

:fear:

 

[TXRick]

Good work in progress. I always loved the old Mad Max movies and the 70's classic Deathrace 2000. Looks like y'all are off to a good start Awesome tribute!

 

[eatmorechickenx]

Nice bumper but boat gas tank right next to where your welding? I hope it's purged or you guys moved it...

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

Thanks man! [MENTION=88740]TXRick[/MENTION]

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

Thanks for the tips, we will definitely be working on those things once we all recover from the flu. And yeah our safety could have been better lol [MENTION=99325]Canuckrz[/MENTION]

 

[tank_7]

It's like a dog with a bone that's too long for it...so it can't fit through doors.

 

[AfterSchoolCustoms]

Yeah it does kind of extended far out ATM, we'll fix it soon by either cutting off some on each end or making it curve inwards towards the car to match the body [MENTION=101387]tank_7[/MENTION]

 

[MStudt]

I hope your bumper turns out better than it's looking. As said earlier, practice your welding, put on some pants, socks, welding gloves, and get closer. I personally wouldn't be welding a bumper without gas, I don't trust it. It doesn't look like your welds are getting very good penetration. If you don't have access to gas, or the funds for the set-up. Try beveling the edges on the two pieces you're welding together. Beveling the edges will allow deeper penetration without getting a bigger welder or gas. On a bumper, you're going to want your welds to penetrate as much as possible. Good luck to you, and kudos for giving it a shot.