Need some help deciding...

02RangerXLT · Nov 28, 2010

Need some help deciding... *Update Page 2 (12/13/10)*

Hey all, this winter, I'm going to get my local welder to make me a light bar for the front of my truck. Currently, I have two KC's attached with light tabs on the existing top bolt of my tow hooks (See Pics).

I wish to have a different bar built, that will still attach to those points, but go up above the bumper a ways, to probably mid-height of the grille since I am getting more lights when Christmas comes around(See Next Pic).

(Not my pickup, but this was a great straight shot from the front)

So my question is... excluding the tabs for the lights and stuff, should I have him make the frame out of DOM tubing or something else? It does not have to be as strong as a Ranch Hand, but if I hit a small animal I would like it to stand up.

clifford97 · Nov 28, 2010

make a winch mount! :icon_thumby:

farmer · Nov 28, 2010

looks like youre trying to reinvent this: Click

02RangerXLT · Nov 28, 2010

clifford97 said:
make a winch mount!

Nah, Don't need it, lol. If anything is stuck around here bad enough for a winch, we go for a tractor :icon_thumby:

farmer said:
looks like youre trying to reinvent this: Click

Essentially, yes, fairly similar. So should I just have him do two flat bars up each side (1/4" thick? and 2" wide the whole way up) with a 2" diameter tube on the top? Sound reasonable?

Also, should I have the outer bars made so they're a consistent curve? Like a "J" or at an angle where it goes vertical?

clifford97 · Nov 28, 2010

what if the tractor gets stuck :icon_rofl:

lol jk!

02RangerXLT · Nov 28, 2010

clifford97 said:
what if the tractor gets stuck lol jk!

It has happened... then we go get the bigger tractor :icon_twisted:

Iron Ranger · Nov 28, 2010

Round tubing of some type is definitly the way to go. Much cleaner look than square tubing or angle iron.

02RangerXLT · Nov 28, 2010

Iron Ranger said:
Round tubing of some type is definitly the way to go. Much cleaner look than square tubing or angle iron.

Yep, I figured as much. I will probably have to use flat bar like the current mounts, and just have a tube bent to go from one to the other. But I will definitely get new mounts for the tow hooks, these should probably be welded on the bend for strength.

99_3.0 · Nov 28, 2010

I wouldn't expect much strength out of it but it would hold the lights well. It would look pretty unique too! Have you thought about bed mounted light bars at all?

02RangerXLT · Nov 28, 2010

99_3.0 said:
I wouldn't expect much strength out of it but it would hold the lights well. It would look pretty unique too! Have you thought about bed mounted light bars at all?

I'm not really expecting that much strength, just enough to hold the lights well... hopefully my local welder has a tube bender.

I don't like those in-bed light bars, my truck, IMO, would need to be lifted for it to look decent. Also, I have a toolbox, so I can't put one in there

I've looked at headache racks but I like having the lights in the front of the truck.

Thanks! :icon_welder:

crawlin91 · Nov 29, 2010

HREW is cheaper than DOM. plenty strong enough to hold some lights and take a little abuse.

#1greenranger · Dec 1, 2010

just take another plate and connect it to what you have now and run it long on both sides and then drill four holes and there you go cheap easy simple light bar!!!

02RangerXLT · Dec 1, 2010

#1greenranger said:
just take another plate and connect it to what you have now and run it long on both sides and then drill four holes and there you go cheap easy simple light bar!!!

I can't run a bar between the two current ones, because, as you know, Nebraska is stupid and requires a front plate to be visible...

I'm tempted to remove the tow hooks and mount something using those holes... thoughts?

02RangerXLT · Dec 4, 2010

Well.. here's what I've thought of. I talked to my welder, and he gave it a go... I'm thinking of using two pieces of 2" wide and 1/2" thick steel bar for the sides of the thing and the parts going to the frame... then I plan on using 2" diameter tubes for the cross-bars... Thoughts? Should I bump it up to 2.5 or 3" stuff? Whole thing is just going to be straight, no angles to follow contours or anything.

#1greenranger · Dec 4, 2010

well just take a bar and bend it up after the mounts to clear the plate....
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...........................--T--l......lllllllNElllll........l--T--
.........................................llPLATEll

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