So I got bored the other day and asked myself, "Gee, what could I do to The New Guy to make him more practical off-road?" Then it hit me- I had just bought a great lil Lincoln stick welder and had plenty of spare parts just lying around the place, so why not fab up a bumper?
So about a week of working on it on the side has led me to this- my first true fab for this truck. I started by disassembling the two trash bumpers and the one dented front bumper that were just collecting dust, taking all their components, and laying them out to get an idea of what kind of bumper I could make with just these parts. I finally decided to go with this setup, tacked it all together, bolted it on snug, and here's the result!
This was just for fun. I wanted to see how strong it is, so I hooked up to the heaviest boat we've got- and it's frackin heavy- and it didn't even break a sweat.
My question to you, my fellow off-road enthusiasts and fabricators, is this- What would you do to make it pop a little more? It almost seems like I don't have a bumper on it at all, between it being black and it not sticking out even flush with the truck. I'd like it to get noticed since I built it and all. I have entertained the thought of welding small spacers on the face and adding some diamond plate to make it stand out a little. I also like the idea of using some 2" pipe to fab up a prerunner kinda look to it, but I don't have a pipe bender. Also, I'm wanting to add 6" LED bars in the long ovals on either side of the bumper and wire them to my fog light switch.......But I digress. I'd like someone else's input on it, and would love to hear your ideas.