PHASE 1 COMPLETE

So far I have the front brackets complete. They are bolt on and I still need to drill some further holes both for the shackles and for a 3rd mounting bolt. Next step will be to get the winch mounts completed and winch mounted where i want it and finish the pattern for the outer shell of the bumper

 

Oh and on another mildly related note if you ever need to "adjust" the nose tip of a frame rail due to an incident involving a steel and concrete gas station post a 3 foot long pipe wrench and 6ft long section of thick walled square tube works pretty well

 

I have the cross beams mounted for the winch plate...I i have the upper panel cut out for step 1 will need to cut a section out of it after i start boxing it in, I also have the risers mounted to the bottom of the upper panel and tomorrow I will be adding mounting tabs for a really cool idea I had of having a removable outer shell to facilitate winch upgrade/ replacement......pics to follow tomorrow


On another note I have ended up throwing out the template idea and have had to begin engineering on the fly.....I am getting the suspicion that my truck has been involved in a collision of some sort Even prior to my gas station mishap.....

 

Completed inner bracket (may be modding this yet on another design change)



1st and 2nd of several steps to building the outer shell. I have the risers welded to the top plate but still need to make mounting plates to attatch it to the inner frame.....somewhere around step 5 i will be taking about 2ft out of the center to make room for the winch..... on a sub note....the brackets only protrude about 8 inches past the frame rail ends...10 would be more ideal due to winch clearance and i didn't realize the screw up until the winch was being mounted (test fit) DO'H



Pic of risers.



Still gotta trim corners but this is the shape i decided to go with

 

I've gone away from having winches permanently mounted to the bumper. I've switched to going with a cradle mount for a 2" receiver and welding a receiver in my bumpers.

Run power and ground cable to front and rear with a plug, put a lead and a plug on the winch, and you can switch the winch to front or rear on the fly. A lot more useful when you've gone nose first into something and need to get out in reverse.

 

I had thought about that but a 12k winch is friggin heavy

 

Oh for sure. But this is why I always take a friend when I go wheeling. I always need a spotter, and somebody to help carry stuff.

 

I would be nearly done but the weather had not been cooperating.

 

It's looking good! Actually starting to kinda look like my bumper, you should bolt a brush guard to the top of yours too! Haha

 

I am actually going to be building a brush guard for it as well.

 

Just did some welding this morning





Still gotta get the backsides of them but I'm making progress

 

More pictures

 

How did you get the one edge in the picture squared...grinder? Grinder then a file?

 

Your driver doesn't look very qualified to drive your truck

 

Which edge there are alot if them lol