Hey Bill. You gots any photos of how you did this and/or what the finished product looks like?

-Chris

I had a few on line but no longer. I guess I would refer you to this one: [EDIT: apparently direct linking is disabled on his website, bummer.}
Front Range bumper
It is a little hard to see, not being a side view, but note how he has tied in the lower frame crossmember with the upper captive nuts to which the original bumper mounted. That is the triangulation to which I was referring.

To get away with this, the front of the frame (below, rather weak) has to be stiffened significantly:
Before
Weak stock arrangement
After:
Beefy!

Not trying to be a commercial for Front Range, but he does have a good design. Friends have been very happy with his bumpers. Key is tying it into a strengthened frame crossmember.

Absolutely. This bumper is far from done. There are a lot of support pieces to add. I just needed to get the main assembly done and painted so I could park the truck for the summer. I wanted to have something to show as a "proof of concept" for the machine I built. When I get back to school in the fall, I will be adding support tubing in several places.

After spending 4 hours this morning changing my camshaft, there is one thing I would like to mention about this bumper: it makes working on the engine from the front a total pain in the @$$. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

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

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

Like I said.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Where's a Pirate4x4 emoticon when you need it? Haha.

It could be worse. I could have put a stinger on it. The only reason it's harder to work on is because it sticks out about six inches. My arms are only so long!

Brian are you planning on getting/building a wheeler ever again? I'd like to see some shots of whatever you had. I can't find anything about it and your rockota website is ancient/out of date.

Me? Wheel? uh... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I have an 88 4Runner right now that's sitting at my Mom's. Right now the focus is on work and getting back into a house (living downtown MPLS for the last year). I'm thinking about parting the Runner, though, and building a 3rd Gen x-cab for a DD/Wheeler/Expedition-type truck... But who knows?

Yeah, the website is out of date... but at least I still have the 96 4Runner that's on the index page. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You did have a wheeler at one point though, didn't you? I checked through all your PBB threads started in the Toy section and came up empty. You've gotta have some pics or info somewhere, right?

I can't wait 'til I'm outta school so I can build my 4Runner the way I want to.

You mean post "rockota" wheeler? Yeah - still have it.

Here's a pic from when I bought it from Jack Peeler on PBB:


I put my SSR's on it (sentimental value), installed a Badlands Bumpers rear bumper/carrier, frenched the rear hanger into the frame (BIG mistake) to lower it.. I also rebuilt the front suspension due to a cracked frame using a FRORF front hanger and frame brace, custom frame rail braces and a rebuilt ARB front bumper. We had to cut the sliders off to do the hangers, so I have to figure out what will replace them - likely AP units again.

Still needs work - front bump stops, rear shock mounts are hosed (due to the frenched hanger deal), the on-board compressor has a short so I have no ARB's, body work, etc. Likely will replace the rear 5" AP springs with Chevy's so I don't have to fix the frame - or I'll use my 85 pickup frame as a new foundation...

Or... as I said... I'll part it and build an 89-95 x-cab... I really want something that I can drive across country, go wheeling and head back. As if the "wheeling" part will ever happen. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />