ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Digger on April 20, 2006, 06:05:53 PM
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I spent my last 2 days off building it and it's finally on there! It's not totally finished yet, I still need to add some bracing under the winch plate to reinforce it more, but at least it's on there! Much better than the plastic skin only I've been running most of the winter with... LOL! I'm also going to be adding a brush guard of sorts to it to help protect the grille and headlights, but until I get it added, I'm running the old, cracked up grille.
Anyways, here's a few pics of it:
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/140917242.jpg)
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/140917237.jpg)
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/140917234.jpg)
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/140917229.jpg)
I might be adding a skidplate to it as well, just depends on how much frame repair I end up doing and whether it's worth adding this late after bashing on it.
Today I finished drilling the remaining holes for a total of 8 big mounting screws through 1/4" plate brackets welded to the back of the bumper and I mounted the winch. I put on a 6000lb Milemarker. I just have to make a parts store run for some more 4g cable to finish hooking up the solenoid box and it will be functional. It got dark on me in my driveway, so the finished pics will have to wait until tomorrow at least.
BTW, the bumper is made from a big chunk of 5", thick-walled square tube and the ends not only taper up and back on the outside, but the ends actually sweep back in the rear, too. Plus I added a 2" receiver hitch to it as well. I'm not too sure what I'm going to use it for yet, but I figured I'd add it while I was building it and also since I had the hitch laying around not doing anything... LOL!
So, what do you guys think? 8)
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Nice job!
Did you modify a box-beam or start out with flat steel and do a little cutting, bending and welding?
My spacers have yet to be installed -- I am hoping to do that in June after I spend 6 weeks getting over a bit 'o surgery. I have your spacers, a set of camber bolts and a set of BDS strut extensions. Now all I need are the rear shocks...
BTW, have you ever had problems with the Differential suspension arm or did you add a spacer there?
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Nice job!
Did you modify a box-beam or start out with flat steel and do a little cutting, bending and welding?
My spacers have yet to be installed -- I am hoping to do that in June after I spend 6 weeks getting over a bit 'o surgery. I have your spacers, a set of camber bolts and a set of BDS strut extensions. Now all I need are the rear shocks...
BTW, have you ever had problems with the Differential suspension arm or did you add a spacer there?
I modified a box beam with a lot of cutting and welding, not to mention a lot of weld grinding to smooth it out afterwards... The corners are the original box-beam corners, though, I kept them for strength and appearance.
By differential suspension arm, I assume you mean the upper rear Y link? This Tracker was an LSI model with antilock rear brakes, so I didn't have any problems with the lspv that some people run into. I didn't add a spacer. The rear suspension on this rig is totally stock except for 2" Calmini lift coils and 91 Crown Vic shocks... I've never had any trouble with the rear upper Y link...
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Looking real nice man. ;)
Mike
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Maybe I could just slap in this hitch plug... LOL!
(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/trailertoys_1895_8218698)
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Looks great! I like it, and you won't regret the reciever hitch. Get ya a big ol' D ring for pullin' stuck jeeps outta your way!
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Well, here are the freshest pics I could possibly post. I just came back in from taking them in the driveway! LOL!
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/141338204.jpg)
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/141338198.jpg)
(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/6980761/141338195.jpg)
For now just to get some extra lighting, I slapped a pair of Bosch Compass lights into the existing holes on the fairlead. Eventually I want to move them further apart, further back and protect them with a guard of some kind. Anyways, I just finished wiring up the winch's solenoid box, so it's fully functional now, as well as wiring in the Bosch lights. It's not visible in the pics, but the winch tray of the bumper is lined with 1/4" thick plate, so the winch mount is very strong.
Well, what do you guys think? 8)
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Looks good to me, nice work! 8)
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Wow, I like it!! I would love one of those.. not going to make any for sale are you???
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Wow, I like it!! I would love one of those.. not going to make any for sale are you???
Probably not. The raw material actually started life as a parking lot light pole I think. Anyway, I only have enough left for my rear bumper and with the amount of time I have into it, it would end up costing as much as any of the aftermarket bumpers out there. Building a bumper for yourself is the cheapest option and you can end up with the perfect bumper for you, but if you don't have the tools, skills and scrap material on hand to do it yourself, buying aftermarket actually saves in the long run...
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Do you loose much strength cutting out the cross-piece in front of the radiator, or do you figure that the bumper replaces any support you get from it?
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It didn't seem to affect it any. There is some extra bracing behind the bumper that ties both front body mounts together, so it can't go far...
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(http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL72/842221/5264453/141672728.jpg)
Here's how it looks right now after today's trail rides... It did good. It looks a little better with some mud on it, anyways... LOL!!
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It looks really good but just a side note.
Your Fairlead looks to be a little on the small side.
Shouldn't it be the same size as your winch?
Just a thought tho. ;) ;D
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It's a 6000lb Milemarker, the fairlead came with it. It matches the drum width...
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It's a 6000lb Milemarker, the fairlead came with it. It matches the drum width...
"O"
It's hard too see the width of the drum behind the lights.
Well then,
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtains ;) ;D
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8) Sweet bumper 8) I was going to rag you about it not being dirty ;D, but you covered it with the dirty pic at the end 8)
Zig
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It did very well for it's first day out. I didn't get to use the winch, but I'm sure I will eventually... LOL! That's what I get for wheeling with these guys... they get stuck and make everything look so difficult and the zuks tiptoe right though without a problem... LOL!