rail road ties
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rail road ties
I've got a 1993 bronco and I was thinking about getting creative with a chainsaw and turning railroad ties into off-road bumpers with big nasty hooks and rings in the front and back. Is there a downside to this other than worsening my gas mileage? Or any foreseeable installation problems? Any feedback would be appreciated or if this has been done before..... The dimensions for the ties are 9" X 7"
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Longview, TX
Welcome to FTE. There are tons of great ideas here and we look forward to yours. You are definitely creative. The ties that are available around here were removed because they would not hold a spike. Wood treatment does not penetrate the core, they rot there so the ones available here are not solid. Maybe you have a better source.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Southern California
and you could end up with a citation issues even by FS staff if not your state/local law enforcement- the federal regs (adotped state laws/motor vehicle codes) are actually strict on what constitutes a bumper.....railroad track (a friend of mine tried), wood, etc, ain't gonna get by....
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Now; L.A., Soon; CR
For decorative purposes, why not? Then again, I expect that rig to be adorned with wood-grain siding (any scrap cedar laying around?), as well... maybe, a shake shingle roof - for summer months - to replace the removable hardtop.
For real-world activities, I suspect termites will be the least of your problems. I've yet to see any vehicle involved in an accident, which had any wood on said vehicle, that came out of such without it being turned into kindling.
If you anticipate tangling with any other objects, heavy metal is your best offense/defense... today's plastic bumpers (on most every car sold anywhere) reveals this to be factual. Truth be told, such bumpers are nothing more than window dressing on a steel carcass.
If you do follow through with your plan, please share the photos...
For real-world activities, I suspect termites will be the least of your problems. I've yet to see any vehicle involved in an accident, which had any wood on said vehicle, that came out of such without it being turned into kindling.
If you anticipate tangling with any other objects, heavy metal is your best offense/defense... today's plastic bumpers (on most every car sold anywhere) reveals this to be factual. Truth be told, such bumpers are nothing more than window dressing on a steel carcass.
If you do follow through with your plan, please share the photos...
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Well I was thinking half inch bolts to mount it to the frame and four large lag bolts to mount huge hooks or rings....so tickets huh? Even up here in Alaska? I've seen subaru station wagons with rail road tie bumpers up here... I think I could work around that my other idea was an I beam and mount lights in the channel and weld expanded metal cages around them and rings and hooks but that kinda steel is a pain to work with drilling....welding not to mention expensive a tie is ten bucks and I'm cheap
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I figure a tie would be little lighter and cheaper easier to cut and drill and if I did manage to maim it bad enough somehow easily replaced with little heartache I'm just tired of ppl bumping me all the time lol ice and whatnot
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The Southernmost Mod
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Caracas, Venezuela
It's a weird idea, we can't say much since we don't even have an idea of what's the source wood used in those ties. But yes, the law issue will surely be there, maybe a good sanding and painting it black would make it less visible, but you better make some great product for safety's sake.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
By law, a bumper must be able to withstand a 3-5 MPH impact without sufficient damage so as to incur repair costs. A RR tie should certainly be up to the task. The concern would be "...for how long?" Yes they last for a long time sitting in a railroad bed... where the worst that happens to them is periodic compressive force of a train. Brine, grime, repeated minor impacts, exposure to the elements on all four faces of the timber will play a major role in shortening the usable lifespan of a piece of timber where a piece of steel had been.
Personally, if I were going to pursue this, I would be attempting to mimic the shape of the stock bumper, use a solid chunk of raw (not treated) lumber and once sanded "baby's ****" smooth, I'd be sealing it in multiple layers of poly or some serious varnish/shellac. Find something with some cool looking graining to it and not only admit I had used wood to make the bumpers but make it a show piece.
Personally, if I were going to pursue this, I would be attempting to mimic the shape of the stock bumper, use a solid chunk of raw (not treated) lumber and once sanded "baby's ****" smooth, I'd be sealing it in multiple layers of poly or some serious varnish/shellac. Find something with some cool looking graining to it and not only admit I had used wood to make the bumpers but make it a show piece.
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