Simple automatic up would be spring loaded with a cable release. Kinda like popping the hood.

If you keep the mechanism it moves on simple and robust, you can fiddle with various actuators as time/funds permit.

now thats what i'm talking about!
all Mechanical, few possible scenarios for failure. I like that so far the best of all, and it could be real cheap. Too bad its already dark outside....I'm going to look and see how that bad boy really works tomorrow. Hopefully i can just adapt the same setup for the hood to the bumper... might could get the existing setup cheap from a junkyard.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dangit, he beat me to it. I was just reading this, thinking "what abou ta spring"?
Now there's 2 ways to do it - compressed when down so that they pop "up" when released, kinda like the shaft of a ballpoint pen -
or on a rotating arm that flips/swings around/along an axis from the side. If you went thso latter route, it would be easy to stop teh wing at 180 deg up w/ just an L or similar bracket it hits against. Actually if you decided manual was okay, thsi way would be very easy too - it rotates on a stud, you loosen a wingnut on teh end of said stuf, you flip it up, then tighten that 1 wingnut. 10 seconds.

yep, i looked at the setup the hood has, and i think it would work perfectly with a couple springs. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />
such a great idea...

the full design will take a little time, but i'll post it up whenever i get it done. I'm drawing it up piece by piece as though i was putting it together from just plating, so its taking a little longer than expected. Good thing is that i have the cradle almost done and its only at 70ish pounds, and thats with 3/16 carbon steel. I'm aiming for under 200lbs with winch....not sure if i'll make it though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Just remember hanging a bunch of weight out front has a serious effect on how the vehicle is going to feel, steer and brake. Think polar moments.

Not only do you ideally want weight down low, you also want it as close to center of mass as possible. You might want to temporarily bolt 200#'s to a temporary crossmember and drive around with it just to see what the truck feels like with the added weight, and realize the bumper/cradle will be even farther forward.

Well, 113 lbs was the lightest i could make this baby without the winch. The bumper is approx. 35lbs at 1/32", the rest is the cradle. The cradle is out of 3/16. I have the platform for the light bar in silver, and the arrow is pointing to where i've temporarily placed the hook for an internal latching system like the hood of the truck (not included in drawing). I was considering putting some springs under the platform, with a stronger spring on the side with the hook to balance it a little better. I'm pretty sure i will move the hook a little closer to the cradle, but that is just a minor fix.




I finally think i've got a pretty good idea of how i'm going to do this bad boy.

How low does it hang on the front end, and how far or how does it effect your approach angle? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

virtually no difference on my approach angle from where i have it now. It doesn't hang as low by about 2". It sticks out about 2" farther though. Its 12" off the frame, and hangs down about 2.5 inches from the bottom of the frame at its mounting point(its the part on an angle for backward facing lights.) Roughly have a 55* approach angle, and the bumper is on a 60*angle on the bottom part, the initial angle is the worst case scenario. As soon as i get 35's it should be about the same (both 60*), and as i do more mods like suspension it will only get better as well. It shouldn't drag, but if it does chicks dig body damage.....right??? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

But that isn't body damage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

You better watch out, Derek might begin to think his truck is more capable.....he might already <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />.

most chicks don't know that so <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />
unless its one of those wheelin hotties... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />


for all derek knows, his toyota can fly <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
j/k






<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />