Talon, don't worry you'll be able to help me figgure that one out! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We may need to start finding that mouse soon tho <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

snowtoy thats a great idea. I didn't even consider making them separate. I really like the cradle idea, especially because i can keep the design and lose a Lot of weight.
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I don't think i currently have the setup to weld aluminum, I've Got a miller running argon.

The problem with bumper design is not going so crazy that you add a ton of weight. I like your design, looks cool should you use a reasonable thickness of plate, and as mentioned, 1/16" is too thin in most areas. I'd likely go with a mix of 1/8" and 3/32"

While the popup lights look like a cool idea, in an offroad vehicle, exposed to mud and grit, simplicity rules the roost. You'll spend alot of time working up a design that will likely get gummed up with muck and rust down the road.

I've been in various engineering fields over the years, and have come to the conclusions that the best designs have zero adjustability. If something is designed correctly, it doesn't need to be adjusted, and there is less to go wrong. The simple design may appear obvious, but you never know how many itterations it took to get that way.

This is exactly why i've posted this guy on the wire, i'm lookin for that design that won't. I want this bumper and all features to last through everything. I've seen some great fabrication posted on this site, and the input on my design is awsome. Although, i would really like to continue to go out of the box and really come up with something which is basic, functional, and unique at the same time. I hadn't anticipated a couple of things already, like weight issues and now how to get these lights to efficiently go up and down, and now thinking about it i probably wouldn't want to use any motors to raise these lights. I also don't want to build them into the bumper because if they burn out or a wiring problem happens, i don't want to have to pull the whole thing off just to fix one little wire. I also would like them to be able to point wherever i want them to. I still havn't come up with the best way to do all the functions, but i'm sure we will by winter! I'm doing my measuring twice right now so i'm not under the gun later.
thanks for the input guys!
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I know i'm not contributing to the keep it simple idea <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />, but..

depending on how much you want to be able to protect the lights when they're not in use or whatever, maybe they could be mounted on a light bar type deal and be able to just flip down and rest pointed down on the top of the bumper. That way rocks flying up or anything you're worried about won't come in contact with the glass.

As for another overly complicated idea <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
i've always wondered about the turning light thing too, was thinking you could hook up a cable to the steering and have offroad lights on pivots also attached to the cables...with some levers or whatever added in to make it work/functional, have seen 10ft lengths of covered cable at parts stores that would work great for this...

then again I decided when I do get around to making my own bumper i'll just get some rock lights or something and point them off to the sides....no adjustments needed <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

Not too hard to put the turning light down on the front axle, pivot on the axle housing, light on a bar attached to the tie rod and it turns with the steering. Or a light can be attached right to the steering arm.

There you go Aaron, a simpler way already. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I think a hydrolic/pnuemnatic ram would be the best way to raise them, since you have a small place to work with, a hydro/air system should also be stiffer system than a gear driven motor, so they wouldn't flop around when driving. You could use a platform with a guide on each side that kept the platform from moving around, and a ram under it. I don't think the wieght of the lights would force the fluid/air back out of the lifting ram, you might be able to use some springs to return them to their down position. I also don't think you could get 2 KC's per side to fit in a bumper for a Toyota, you probably should consider only 1 per side. Now if you are thinking of using those 3" driving lights/fog lights those would probably fit. If you are wanting a flood type light, you might consider putting on an over head rack with some lights on it. You can usually swivel them around and they will stay in place even while on the trail.




I addressed this issue on this bumper I wanted to be able to adjust the driving lights and be able to replace the bulb w/o taking off the bumper. I mounted the light to a 1"x1/2" sqare tube, made two keeper mounts that the tube slides through. To release the lights, I have to back off one bolt pers side from underneath the bumper and push the light mount forward(or fish it out from the front). To adjust or change a bulb takes all of 5 minutes. I will posty a pic of the set-up tommarrow.

The simplest way to have the lights protected when not in se would be to buiold them into the bumper and have a slliding door, or a door that pivots up. You could use an electric solenoid and a spring to open the door. The door would have a spring attatched to a one side with the solenoid on the other. When you released the solenoid the spring would move the door to the side or up depending on the set-up. You would have to close the doors manually, resetting each solenoid. You might also look into the motors used on cars with flip up lights, you might be able to use the with a flip up designed door.

You could probably use some RC motors to turn the outside light on each side.

i like the idea of using the tie rod to move these lights. Its simple and clever

I'm looking foreward to seeing how you built your lights into the bumper
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Here is a very simple idea, but depends on one question - do you really need to be able to raise them from the inside comfort of the cabin - or do you mind spending 90-120 seconds doing it manually?
If manual is okay, then it's cake. On the back side of the bumper, have 2 studs sticking outwards (towards the grill). Then have the lights mounted independently on a steel brackets w/ slots/holes in it, 2 at the bottom, 2 at top, same spacing as the studs. So just slip the bracket down over the studs and thread down a wingnut at whichever height yo uwant for the moment. Done... and will cost about $10 for all the parts...

eh, i might do it manually, although i would probably keep that as a backup plan if the alternative is too expensive. I would really like them to go up at the flick of a switch. Putting them back down could be a manual task, but them going up i'm planning on making automatic.

thursday night or friday i will probably have time to really draw up the bumper in its cradle form and make a good decision on how i want the lights to move and its linkage.

your idea was pretty much the same as my initial idea, but the automatic feature just sounds like way too much fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
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