I hope this is the right place to ask this question. I have a 93' F 150 that I would like to build a custom front bumper. Has anyone done this or have any ideas. Anything would be helpful

 

Wanna know a secret? Going to Google and going to the images tab, you can find ALOT of cool things. Search "Truck Bumpers" and you'll get alot of cool bumpers to get ideas from. If its a custom bumper, then it doesn't have to be a bumper on a Ford that you get the idea from. Take a fabricator a picture, and talk it over with him and things can be adapted for the mostpart.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...rs&btnG=Search

There's the one I did real quick. You could do "Ford Bumper" or "Offroad bumper". Do "Recovery Points" and you'll probably get some interesting ideas on that as well.

 

I woul dmake the mounts and bolt them up like you are going to mount it and get them all squared off as best you can. Then weld on the bumper.
What type of bumper do you want? I would add privisions for two clevi and possibly a hitch receiver. I cant really describe what I would do for the tubing part, but it would be crunk... haha sorry im at a loss for words. Just make it stout as hell but not too heavy either.
This is pretty cool and functional:
http://www.offroadtechinc.com/images...Duty-Front.JPG

 

one word, imagination. oh, and search.

 

I think that I want to keep about the same size and shape as now but angle the front because I dont have all the tools to bend and make it just right. I have a rough idea but was just curious what you fellas thought. I have always got good tips form y' all. I will post pics apon completion.

 

When i do mine im going to have a metal shop bend the pipes up for me to my specs, then ill weld it all together. I dont have a bender either...

 

I want something similar to the Warn Enforcer but maybe a little bigger.

 

I built one for my superduty.. check out my gallery for pics

 

 

For bumpers:

What I like to do is get a piece of 1/4" tubing that fits exactly over the frame rails and attach it to the frame rails by bolting it from the front of the frame rail and from the top and bottom of the frame flanges so it is held on by (3) 1/2" grade 8 bolts on each side. Then if I think the frame needs to be strengthen, I weld 3" x 3/16" channel to the bottom of the bumper and run it 12-18" along the bottom of the frame and then do a cross member left to right at the front and back of the channel. Then I put the tow hooks inside the upside down channel (which means the bolts go through the channel and frame) and it gives a very strong attachment point, especially for a off center pull.

6 x 3 x 1/4 on my last PO Shaving .... cream truck I did like this (BII)



I had to cut out a piece above the frame on the bumper, then weld plate over that section, so the bumper would snug against the frame rail top (6 inches ID) and bottom. I basically had to hammer the bumper over the frame rails to get it on. Very close fit.

The dent at the bottom of the driver's door is where I should have had a slider which I did not think I needed on a small truck The local kids called this the "where's waldo truck"

The other thing I like to do is get 8" x 2" x 3/16 channel and make push bumpers out of them like a tow truck, then cover the front with pressure treated wood. That way I just buy a piece of wood to replace any that I have crushed and wrecked.

Plus, it is much easier to just cut a 45 degree angle at the ends and then run 12-18 inches of it down the side of the truck to protect the corner of the lower fender then it is with round or square tubing.

Which I did not think I needed on such a small truck, notice the gap between the front fender and facia, guess I needed it.

I think the plate under the driver's mirror bottom is where I did not think I had to fold in my mirrors to make it between some trees, backwards, on an ATV trail. Mirrors fold in much easier backwards then forwards

So, in short, build a bumper to protect the sheetmetal, grill, hood, and lens if you can.

 

those are some tough lookin bumpers guys,thsnks for the imput