Question about welding bumper to frame

[RobinHood]

l am in the process of building my rear bumper. As the foundation, l used a 4x4 piece of angle iron notched with 2" receiver stock for my hitch. l plan to build on that piece, but that info is irrelevant.

My plan is to weld this to the end of the frame, using the angle iron to sit flush on the face and wrap around to the bottom of the frame. Like this: (As if you were viewing it from the side)

L --> [

The "L" will butt right up to the frame (Hopefully this makes sense)

My question is, does anyone see a problem with welding the angle iron to the frame? It wall have three weld contacts where the iron meets the frame and it will act as a extra cross member. But, being that it will be used for some light towing and have two clevis mounts, is welding this to the frame a bad idea?

 

[hitech_hick]

I wouldn't, you are kinda painting yourself into a corner. The truck frame isn't all that thick, and it will be your limiting factor no matter how good your welds are or how thick your bumper is. If at all possible, I would bolt it on.



hick

 

[gotmudd]

I wouldn't, you are kinda painting yourself into a corner. The truck frame isn't all that thick, and it will be your limiting factor no matter how good your welds are or how thick your bumper is. If at all possible, I would bolt it on.



hick

X2, if ya toast your bumper for some insane reason then you would have to cut it off to replace it instead of just unbolting it

 

[raiper]

if you weld it gap it it.... i mean that by between the bumper and frame you leave around a 1/2 gap so acutually the bumper never touchs the frame. use a 1/4 inch plate and to connect the 2 together but put the 1/4 plate all the way to the front of your bumper just far enough so the welds dont stick out the front and then weld it attached to the 1/4 plate to the frame with the gap. I only say keep a gap there due to if you hit something HARD enough ie another car hard enough it will bend and distord the metal between the gap leaving your frame hopefully untouched and still straight. Gives it more play in the event of an accident. I did mine that way and got in that accident, and it gives you a place to cut it off.

 

[JohnnyU]

if you weld it gap it it.... i mean that by between the bumper and frame you leave around a 1/2 gap so acutually the bumper never touchs the frame. use a 1/4 inch plate and to connect the 2 together but put the 1/4 plate all the way to the front of your bumper just far enough so the welds dont stick out the front and then weld it attached to the 1/4 plate to the frame with the gap. I only say keep a gap there due to if you hit something HARD enough ie another car hard enough it will bend and distord the metal between the gap leaving your frame hopefully untouched and still straight. Gives it more play in the event of an accident. I did mine that way and got in that accident, and it gives you a place to cut it off.

For all that work you could have just drilled 6 3/8"-1/2" holes and been done with it. sheesh.

 

[RobinHood]

Thanks for all the input... l just used some existing holes on the frame and drilled a couple more and used some brade 8 hardware. It should be fine.

 

[raiper]

well i didnt have a drill or dill bit, but i had a welder!