My Front Winch Bumper Build Thread - Page 4

redhatman · 03-25-2008, 08:02 PM

I picked up some 3/4" washers in thinking I will weld them around the holes.

I thought about the example of notebook paper, and then notebook paper with those metal protectors on them, will not tear as easily and will spread out the surface area more.

That should work shouldnt it? That would add probably another 1/4 or so, assuming I do 2 washers on each side of each shackle.

**USMCredneck** · 03-25-2008, 08:13 PM

It should help, but you still only have about 1/2". Definitely better than 1/4 but if I were you I would just get some 3/8" or 1/2" plate and add some thickness that way. This will reinforce not only the hole itself but also the steel behind it. Otherwise you will still bend them easily if you do any side pulls.

redhatman · 03-25-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCredneck

It should help, but you still only have about 1/2". Definitely better than 1/4 but if I were you I would just get some 3/8" or 1/2" plate and add some thickness that way. This will reinforce not only the hole itself but also the steel behind it. Otherwise you will still bend them easily if you do any side pulls.

Yeah, good point. I wish someone would have brought that up before I brought it to the welding shop so they could have done it for no extra cost. They would probably charge me again now...

Sporer65 · 03-25-2008, 09:11 PM

If you have Kevin's tow points, why do you need more shackles on the bumper? But the bumper looks real good so far.

redhatman · 03-25-2008, 11:00 PM

Thanks Ben.

I am doing it partially for looks, and for the fact that then I will have something to hook my winch hook to. And maybe sometime, somehow I cannot access Kevins tow points, maybe if I am in too deep and the winch wont work? lol

blovingier · 03-26-2008, 09:47 PM

What I would do is weld a 1/4" plate on the side. That should be enough to keep it from ripping through. I think you'd be ok like that. Here is my idea of what I'd do.

The black part is the added piece. If it was me I'd probably just stitch weld it on there, but you could probably get away with a full weld all the way around. Hope this helps some.

chim · 03-26-2008, 11:13 PM

With the mount fabbed like that, I'd drill a pair of holes through the plate your winch is mounted on - outboard of the winch and lose those ears on the sides. That would allow some left and right swing of the shackles. Placing the shackles on the long ears of the sides might work for straight-ahead pulling, but I can see them bending to the side easily if you put much lateral force on them..............chim

redhatman · 03-27-2008, 12:00 AM

Don't know whats going on, but chim I like your idea. To my luck I just got in from welding 1/8" plates on both sides of the fairlead.

The other night I welded 1/8" worth of grade 8 3/4" washers on both sides of both shackle mounts. They are ever so slightly off centered, and its such a PITA to drill these out its very frustrating. Its taken me over an hour for one, now I still got one more to go.

chim · 03-27-2008, 05:43 AM

For that kind of drilling, here's something that may work. Get a good holesaw.

I modified some tractor implements a while back and needed to drill new holes for the 3-point hitch pins. The steel was 1/2" thick. First I drilled 1/4" holes straight through so the pilot bit was only guiding the saw. Then I had Wifey keep a small stream of water pointed at the saw to flush the tailings using a garden hose. The drill of choice was my Dewalt battery drill (just in case the water ended up where it shouldn't). Running the saw at a low speed it cut easily, and after two holes the saw was still like new.

Although you already have a large "pilot hole", you should be able to use the hole of the first washer to control the holesaw..............chim

redhatman · 03-27-2008, 10:21 AM

I only have like 1/16 to drill, but its a combination of this washer being grade 8 and the bit getting more dull by the rotation. This is the last 3/4" I should have to drill, so I dont want to go blow $10 on another bit.

A holesaw would actually cut steel like that? I used one when I made my vacuum former last year, but that was only a 2x4

chim · 03-27-2008, 08:25 PM

We use holesaws at work to drill steel. Some are better than others...............chim

redhatman · 03-28-2008, 03:30 AM

Today I finished the "Bumper" which is more of a winch mount. I ended up just severely hacking up my stock bumper for the sides of the new one. I think it looks, decent.

I made the light mounts, license plate mount, worked on the PITA Clevis holes, and grinded some welds, and made them look pretty. It is in my garage right now drying the last coat of primer. Will do 3 layers of brown paint tomorrow, or should I do black? I will sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Here are pics of the welds.

redhatman · 03-29-2008, 04:48 PM

Well here it is and all of its entirety. I have yet to test it on anything other than pulling my body (holding the hook and reeling in). I will probably winch myself to a pole later tonight to wind it up nice. Let me know what you think...I really wanna get rid of the license plate there and just stick it in my window or something...that kills my approach angle. Anyone know if in the window is fine? I know there has to be one front and rear in MN but not sure if it matters where.

and the neighbors summer fun:

**aircruiser** · 03-30-2008, 12:21 AM

haha i like how you have a spy shot of your neighbors truck.

it looks awesome, looks kind of like it was meant to be there. as for the plate, why not just mount it off to the side on the bumper?

redhatman · 03-30-2008, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aircruiser

haha i like how you have a spy shot of your neighbors truck.

it looks awesome, looks kind of like it was meant to be there. as for the plate, why not just mount it off to the side on the bumper?

I figured I might as well take a pic while it was in the background.

I like the look for the most part. For the license plate, I am still researching. I think I would be fine if I mounted it on the side, the law states it must be visible from the front so I assume thats fine, but you may not be able to see it from the other side as well as if it were in the middle.