DutchTB's front bumper

[DutchTB]

First post from newbie DutchTB.

It's great to look around at this forum and see all the ideas to customize our TB. Today I started with the build of a custom front bumper. I wanted a bumper with a winch receiver. The idea of Karo was interesting, the design of JD and many others are real wanna haves. I was also inspired of a BMW X5 with a nice custom bumper. The idea of buying one in the USA was stranded for cost reasons.

I found a metal shop just around the corner of were I live. So here we are at day 1.



Tomorrow more pictures of the progress.

Rene



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[bartonmd]

Cool!

By the way, they won't want to tie into those radiator mounts at the bottom, unless they're supporting them on the frame behind, or as part of a radiator skid similar to mine.

Mike

[HARDTRAILZ]

Great start!

[DutchTB]

Day 2.
We are getting the job done. The bumper is not proper mounted, it's just for the pictures.

Tomorrow the last few things, prepare for painting. I think next week done.

I am very pleased with the result. What do you think?

Mike, there comes an extra 2 bolt mounting bracket by the receiver. Welding a small pipe with tread insite the "chassis pipe" (sorry for that). May it is a little overkill, but I want the receiver at all times in position, haha.



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[HARDTRAILZ]

So it does not mount to the frame but the crossbar tube with the airbag sensors in/on it?

[galacticfuzz]

I had to go back and look, but it looks like from the day 1 pics that it mounts to the frame where the crossbar tube is at while leaving the tube in place. Looks like caps over the end of the frame rail as well. Kind of like where Teebe's had the horns welded on for his Jeep bumper.

Looking good, liking the style of it.

[HARDTRAILZ]

$th pic down in his last post has a hole drilled through the tube...

[DutchTB]

The bumper is mounted with the original bolts. See pic 1 at day2.
As an extra we would fix the bar with the receiver to crossbar tube with 2 extra bolts. In pic 4 day2 is already a drilled hole in the crossbar tube.

I'am now concerned about Hardtrailz note. Maybe this is not a good idea.

René


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[HARDTRAILZ]

4 bolts better than 2.

But aren't the airbag sensors on that tube?

[ErikSS]

I like the use of bolts, welds, and gussets to support the 2" reciever. Have you considered a gusset from the lower bar to the upper bar at each corner of the 2" reciever to tie them together?

I'd like to see a pic of the bumper in place with your grill back in. I really like the concept.

[v7guy]

I think HARDTRAILZ might be bringing up a valid concern. If you mash the bumper good and it's just attatched to the frame rail then maybe the frame rail mashes in a bit. If it's bolted to the airbag tube there and the bumper hits hard you may move that tube sharply and that could be ugly.

It looks like a nice setup, keep us updated!

[Trail X]

You thinking of a particular incident with a tree there Jason?

I would first confirm that the airbag sensors are actually mounted there. We may be making a fuss over nothing.

[DutchTB]

Thanks guys for helping me out with this. The bumper is at the paintshop. Next thursday, hopefully we can mount the bumper.

There are two sensors mounted on the tube, and I asume that these are the front impact sensors for the airbags.





Here is a pic from the bolts for the 2" receiver. It's a small pipe (with screw- thread) through the tube and welded properly. Just easy to install with only a wrench.

These sensors are still a concern.
The question is WHEN do these sensors going off!

Please feel free to respond.





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[DutchTB]

ErikSS, I do like your suggestion and serously consider this option.

Rene


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[v7guy]

Rene, yes, those are the airbag sensors. Generally speaking they're always yellow with a safety wire on them just like you show in the picture

[Trail X]

These sensors are still a concern.
The question is WHEN do these sensors going off!

At least one of those sensors reads impact deceleration. I don't know all the details, but at a certain deceleration reading combined with other inputs from the car, it activates the airbags. The concern is that you are effectively removing a crumple zone between the normal bumper mounts and the sensor, which could send a higher deceleration reating than it is tuned for, therefore potentially giving the system a greater likelihood of activating an airbag incorrectly in a slow speed collision.

[TBYODA]

James how is this different than MDB steel bumpers and other that are similar? Stronger or the fact that there is some distance between the tube/sensor in a impacted? Would not the 3/16" steel bumpers which are not inherently designed to crumple just transfer the impact forces to the sensor through the mount points?

[ErikSS]

The only way for that bar to crumple (bend) in an accident would be if the frame is also bending. While I understand the points of Hardtrailz and TrailX, I personally would not change your design for those reasons.

[DirtyBacon04]

take the airbags out... useless garbage.

[HARDTRAILZ]

What point of mine?

I simply asked questions.

-- I hate airbags and would have no issue w removing them myself.