So I need front bumper build ideas

I have to build a front bumper for my M715 and am looking for inspiration.

Mine is significantly taller than stock, spring over and 11r22.5s, so I want to make it a drop bumper. It has to hold a 10k electric winch and I want it hidden in the frame rails so it doesn't block the radiator.

So many pics from bumper threads are gone cause they were hosted on PhotoPHucket ... have we found another pic hosting site to use?

Just looking to see what others have done or I might just have to drop a 8" C channel on it.

Thanks

Paul

C channel works great. 7" with a couple of wedge washers fit's the frame rails near perfect.

C channel looks good.

I've got a Hmmwv bumper going on mine some day. Not stock, but I think it fits the military "slab o steel" look.

http://www.globeworks.eu/bilder/prod...mmer-H1_b2.jpg

I've seen a few 715 builds that made custom bumpers with a bunch of angles and flat plates. Do not like. While they're slick, they look anachronistic, like they belong on a SEMA brodozer.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e0/5d...e520da3175.jpg

7" C channel hear too. I was going to use the wedge washers like Kwai suggested and bolt it on but ended up welding everything together. Even with my booger welds I don't think it's going anywhere.

Another section of the C channel between the frame rails for the winch to perch on. 12k Harbor freight winch.

It looks bigger from the angle, width is the same as the fenders.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/...d39c1cf8_c.jpgIMG_20160930_125658936 by kerry walker, on Flickr

Pilfered some old roller mounts from work and cut them down to make bumper mounts for the bottom and some 1/4 angle from the winch plate to the back of the bumper. Shackle mounts are bolted on in front of where the angle is welded up. Then bolted the stock "bumper wings" back on. I don't know what those are really called... they make a good place to put my tools or coffee cup when I'm working on the truck though.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4512/...85af5336_c.jpgIMG_20160922_165324877 by kerry walker, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4490/...511e4b93_c.jpgIMG_20160923_103149638 by kerry walker, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4475/...bcb21965_c.jpgIMG_20160924_084726429_HDR by kerry walker, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4457/...e4caea60_c.jpgIMG_20160924_121519688 by kerry walker, on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4452/...8c68b5b2_c.jpgIMG_20160924_163835729 by kerry walker, on Flickr

It's pretty tight in there, shoulda moved it out a hair farther. I gotta keep the cable neat or it'll rub on stuff while it's rolling up.

Thanks for the responses!

What Von showed is pretty much my plan unless something else pops up that works/looks better. That is why I asked, was hoping someone had gone another route that fits with the M715 look.

I have zero plans to build a modern style formed bumper, they look ok on newer rigs but way too often they just appear over the top. We have a vehicle that looks better with simple stuff. So essentially I agree with Subybaja's opinion. The hummer bumper would be great in the rear but not really a option for the front.

Von, the only real change that I would do to the design on mine compared to yours would be to lower it. I need a bit of a drop because of how high my rig is. That is part of the reason I'm thinking of using something slightly taller than the 7" channel and maybe tip the edges back a little towards the fenders.


Paul

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 12998

Von, the only real change that I would do to the design on mine compared to yours would be to lower it. I need a bit of a drop because of how high my rig is. That is part of the reason I'm thinking of using something slightly taller than the 7" channel and maybe tip the edges back a little towards the fenders.


Paul

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On a taller truck lowering it would look great. You might also leave more room for your winch than I did. I trimmed my front valance a little so the cable would have a little more room, but on awkward pulls the cable bunches up and drags on stuff. I'll live with it till I get around to synthetic rope all the cool kids are using now.

I thought about angling the ends back. Some of them I've seen looked great and others didn't. may have been the angle itself that made the difference. Couldn't decide and didn't want to cut it back off if I didn't like it, stuck to the stockish look.

And yeah, those modern looking bumpers just look funny on our rolling bricks.

I agree about the angled bumpers, and the ones that are shorter than the normal width. Some look great and some look out of place, and I could never put my finger on what worked and what didn't.
I wish I had copies of the winch Spicer put into his truck, tucked under/beneath/hidden by the valance.

I'll continue jumping on the channel iron band wagon. I have had it on my truck more than 10 years now.

Spicer used a Garwood PTO winch and some industrial chain to power his winch tucked down like it was. Electric will probably be simpler.

the c-channel looks like the stock bumper only tougher. Find a 24V 18K surplus winch and you will be able to pull about anything. And it will tuck up between the frame rails.

2x8 lumber painted black might be an easy way to try out angled ends.

I plan on lasering my bumper out of 11 GA sheet (yes only 1/8" but thick as our bending brake will take)... I'll have the slots for the shakles lasered in along with cutouts for LED cube fogs, end cap marker lights, and 1/4-20 root holes for mounting license plate.

I'll be redoing the outboard bumper braces to something a bit more meaty to accomodate my thinness up front.

Bought a chunk of 8" channel.

The channel looks good on these rigs and I don't want to mess with that or its simplicity.


Thanks for the input

BTW what are we using for a host site for pics ... will need to post pics when I am done



Paul

Testing Flickr

This is why I need a front bumper ...

[IMG]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4470/...7ba96150_z.jpg20170421_130218 by paul lynch, on Flickr[/IMG]

Good lookin truck, with or without a bumper.

That is nice! What are the tires/wheels?

Thanks guys

I think its a little rough but thats what I like about it

I drive it all the time. I put about 3000 miles on it this year so far,
which is actually a lot considering I have no wipers or heater and only drive it when its nice.

The rims are 22.5's with a 8x6.5 bolt pattern, running 11r22.5s
They measure a bit over 41"

Where did you find the wheels? It's nice to be different!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brushawg

Where did you find the wheels? It's nice to be different!

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Thanks! I really like them too.

So I have a buddy who found them ... supposedly they were from an older manure spreader.

They are definitely a factory made unit, very heavy and well built.

Sorry but that is all I have.

Paul

I agree with you on not putting over the top angled bumpers on our rigs cause it just doesn’t look right, but I’m a sucker for adding a little originality. Maybe I’ve just been staring at it for so long I don’t see anything wrong with it but I think it’s just enough to add a touch of awesome while still keeping with the original boxy theme. Front has one angle back and one up. Rear is completely flat with one angle up on the bottom. Opinions? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3a49704c94.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6bace5e491.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scassidy

Opinions?

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That looks great. Not overbearing and pretentious like a lot of them I've seen, not just on our trucks but on new ones too. Definitely not stock but doesn't totally clash. Diggin the integrated receiver too. Mine is just a chunk of square tubing welded to the bottom of the channel iron.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Von

That looks great. Not overbearing and pretentious like a lot of them I've seen, not just on our trucks but on new ones too. Definitely not stock but doesn't totally clash. Diggin the integrated receiver too. Mine is just a chunk of square tubing welded to the bottom of the channel iron.

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Thanks! The idea behind the front and rear receivers is I’m just going to put the winch on a receiver plate so I can use it front or back, and I could tuck the front bumper in more...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I put the 8" channel on the truck and it just didn't look right.

Mostly cause the rig is pretty high and really didn't fill the gap between the body and the ground well enough, aesthetics are important ...

Also was not a fan of the straight look and the edge on the corner.

So I got a chunk of 10" channel (heavy sh!t btw) and performed surgery.
Made a low profile winch mount.
Did a pie cut to match the body line and capped the ends.
Mounted some shackle mounts from a lost project.


[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/2...4ddf7466_z.jpgDSC01843 by paul lynch, on Flickr[/IMG]


[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/813/2...c8988a0a_z.jpgDSC01844 by paul lynch, on Flickr[/IMG]


Any thoughts?


Paul

Nice! I really like the capped ends, may have to do that with mine some day. It'd still bruise a leg pretty good but maybe not rip up a pants leg or draw blood like mine does.

I had to cap this one
The 8" wasn't and I kept catching it with my pants
Looks better too

looks great. The capped ends are a nice finishing touch.

Thanks guys

I went for something a bit lower profile. Built mine this weekend. 2x6 1/4 wall, winch plate is 1/2in. I miter cut the ends and swept them back 12 degrees. Put another miter on the outside edges, threw on some shackle mounts and sprayed it green.

I wanted ground clearance and approach angle so that came into play for me.

(hoping the pictures work)

http://i67.tinypic.com/2cpb4lv.jpg

http://i67.tinypic.com/2mws4xx.jpg

Burrito, nice bumper! What kind of tires are those?

I was thinking of doing something similar but I wanted to sink the winch a little and not have it stick out so far.

As far as the clearance goes I really wasn't worried. Mine is a tar baby for the most part, I have other toys to destroy ofroad ...

[IMG]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4495/...e83c7750_z.jpgSnapchat-1585853086 by , on Flickr[/IMG]

The first attempt was with a 8" chunk of channel but it just didn't look right.
The 10" looks more proportional with the setup and it matches the look on the rear.

Thank ya, I wanted the winch further back but would have had to pull the solenoids off the top and remote mount them so I just called it good for now.

The tires are 11.00R16 Michelin XZLs mounted on f250 single wheel steelies. None of my drivetrain is stock hence the 8 lug wheels on a 60 front and 70 rear. The tires measure out to around 39 inches and are very narrow for their height which I like. Eventually I'll re-gear and go to 46in michelins of similar tread design because these 11.00r16s are getting very hard to find.... at the time I paid something like 225 a piece new delivered and kick myself for not buying more....

I'm a big fan of the skinny pizza cutter style military tires, that's why I like yours too.

I'm mounting my solenoid on the inner fender next to my battery.
That let me put most of the winch under the front edge of the body. Which in turn let me put the bumper only a couple inches past the frame horns.

I also wanted to make it look primitive, mostly to just maintain the general theme of my rig. Had thought about the angle cuts on the ends too, they look good but I was lazy.

I understand about the tall, relatively skinny tire thing. I think it looks better too. Most guys who don't know differently think they are stock like that.

Now all I need is a super aggressive 11r22.5 mud tire.

I mounted my winch kind of in between where you guys mounted yours. Frankly, wish I'd moved the bumper a little further out and given the winch more room. About where Burritoboi's is.
It's a Harbor Freight 12k with 100' of cable. If I"m spooling it up nice and neat and guiding the cable in then it fits all tidy and there is JUST enough room for the cable. But you can't do that under a real load. Then it bunches up here and there, rubs on the bumper and front fascia and makes a terrible racket.
I trimmed the fascia down when I installed it but not enough I guess. While I have the front clip off I'm going to trim it up some more.

Von I get what you are saying.
Everything is a compromise.
That and every time I fabricate something I come up with a better more elegant solution but no desire to rip out what I just did :(

Hindsight is 20/20 you know.

Paul

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 12998

Von I get what you are saying.
Everything is a compromise.
That and every time I fabricate something I come up with a better more elegant solution but no desire to rip out what I just did :(

Hindsight is 20/20 you know.

Paul

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LOL!! Sure do. Don't know how many times I've said "Meh. I'll get it next time around."
Putting it back together and now doing a lot of "Okay, let's do it this way this time." I think this will be my last engine/trans swap for a while so wanna catch as many of those issues as I can this time around.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Von

LOL!! Sure do. Don't know how many times I've said "Meh. I'll get it next time around."
Putting it back together and now doing a lot of "Okay, let's do it this way this time." I think this will be my last engine/trans swap for a while so wanna catch as many of those issues as I can this time around.

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Haha I put my truck together initially in 2009ish over the course of 2 months. Drove it for 2-3 years, then it sat for a bit and I decided to tear it apart again upon which is sat for a LONG time ~4 years. Now I am doing exactly what you guys are talking about going back and changing things and making them the way I think they should have been. Even still theres always going to be changes I want to make in the future, just the nature of the beast I guess.

projects never end ...