3rd Gen steering crossmember

[Bray D]

I've been using this crossmember for a long time as a front tow point. Last weekend I got yanked a bit hard and it damn near ripped the crossmember off.

I haven't even taken it completely off to see what I've got to work with yet, but I thought I'd post up to see what other guys have done when they replaced this crossmember; mounting styles, bolt vs weld, etc.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Steering cross member?

 

[Bray D]

Yeah. The one right in front of the pitman arm that protects your steering. Didn't know what else to call it.

Edit: A picture says a thousand words. This one (not my truck):

 

[Viper Command]

A bolt is harder to break than a weld. do bolth and use grade 8 bolts or metric 10.8 and you will be good.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Ah that deal...pitman arm/steering box guard thingy. Most rangers don't even have them, but if you want it I'd just use from 1/2" grade 8 bolts and lock nuts.

 

[86 slo-vo]

i cut mine off and made the bumper for protection...

always hated those things, i should have made my bar a little lower. as i built the bumper with stock steering on and now was a drop arm on it

 

[Explorin94]

Get rid of it and put a front receiver hitch up there. Then you have something to pull from.

 

[JohnnyU]

Perhaps it's time to use that fancy bender you have Bray....

Kill two birds with one stone, build a bumper and remedy that crossmember problem...

 

[Bray D]

I know man.

I'll probably just remove it for now. I need to get the truck freshened up for winter since I won't be able to ride my bike much longer. I have evidence of a ball joint loosening up, I lost a TRE boot last weekend, and my ballistic trac bar joint needs rebuild (the poly split on it). My front tires are wearing incorrectly so I'll probably look into getting it re-aligned as well.

I was a bit ambitous with paying for tuition this year, I always try to pay as much as I can up front before taking out a loan, and I've gotta start watching my spending.

Time is becoming an issue as well. Senior project along with 500 level ME courses is kicking my ass. That doesn't mean that if I can come up with a decent design that I couldn't knock it out in a couple weekends though.

 

[86 slo-vo]

i deffinantly know the feeling about bills.......interested to see what you come up with

 

[4x4junkie]

My BII didn't have that crossmember, my Ranger does however.

I built one for my BII out of rect. tubing, it's bolted to the frame and doubles as a place to attach a towbar bracket as well.

 

[JohnnyU]

I know man.

I'll probably just remove it for now. I need to get the truck freshened up for winter since I won't be able to ride my bike much longer. I have evidence of a ball joint loosening up, I lost a TRE boot last weekend, and my ballistic trac bar joint needs rebuild (the poly split on it). My front tires are wearing incorrectly so I'll probably look into getting it re-aligned as well.

I was a bit ambitous with paying for tuition this year, I always try to pay as much as I can up front before taking out a loan, and I've gotta start watching my spending.

Time is becoming an issue as well. Senior project along with 500 level ME courses is kicking my ass. That doesn't mean that if I can come up with a decent design that I couldn't knock it out in a couple weekends though.

Funny how life creeps up on you, eh?

How much time have you spent practicing with your bender? Think we could whip out a halfway decent cage in my truck this winter?

 

[Bray D]

Funny how life creeps up on you, eh?

Yes. It sucks.

How much time have you spent practicing with your bender? Think we could whip out a halfway decent cage in my truck this winter?

I've made one bend. It was a good one though haha.

I think if I got an angle finder that mounts to the tube (for bend plane reference) I'll be set. It's already got a degree ring. I'm sure we can throw together a decent quality cage.

I've been thinking about this bumper deal, and I think I'm just gonna build what I want. I was going to try to appeal to the authorities by having a removable lower piece, but I don't think that's going to happen. Maybe after I get it built I'll think of a clever way to make something work, but I need to stop thinking and start building.

 

[86 slo-vo]

Get a small tierod puller and weld a plate on one side and throw a regular 360 degree angle finder on it for keeping your plane.... Learned that trick from 97trailrigDD

 

[JohnnyU]

Yes. It sucks.

I told you.

I've made one bend. It was a good one though haha.

I think if I got an angle finder that mounts to the tube (for bend plane reference) I'll be set. It's already got a degree ring. I'm sure we can throw together a decent quality cage.

Well, let me know. Depending on your available time, we could whip something together his winter maybe. If not, there's always next year. You know how big of a hurry I'm in to do that kind of thing.... I will start designing something though.

I've been thinking about this bumper deal, and I think I'm just gonna build what I want. I was going to try to appeal to the authorities by having a removable lower piece, but I don't think that's going to happen. Maybe after I get it built I'll think of a clever way to make something work, but I need to stop thinking and start building.

Oh, and QFT.