Will 1/4" plate work??

[Scarrow87]

Hey Guys.

I'm new here. Have had a Ranger for a couple years and just started a metal fabricator apprenticeship, so I figured it was time to start making some cool shit for my truck

I have a bunch of 1/4" plate, will this work for a front bumper or is it too heavy? I am thinking something like this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/kupik/e2cca7eb.jpg

Also, I am planning on doing a 2-3" body lift in the next month or so... Should I do the lift first, or will it not make a difference on how my new bumper fits?

Thanks!

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Do the body lift first, then you can have the bumper mounted without the 3" lift relocation brackets.

Me personally, I wouldn't even consider 1/4" plate. Anytime I fab something it's light weight and designed strongly. I'd use 1/8" and 3/16", and use more breaks and angles for strength. But, that's a lot of work, and the reason I haven't had a front bumper in years.

If you do build a heavy bumper, just plan on ride height and alignment corrections. You can also expect more wear on your balljoints and wheel bearings.

It all really depends on what you plan to use it for. Receiver, winch, tow points, deer, demo derby, rocks, or mostly cosmetic...?

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[Road Angels]

Ditto that, 1/4 is way heavy, dont forget its hanging out over the front wheels, not the best for handling

 

[SeanWilson]

i made my center section (basically the width of the grill) is 1/4’’ steel with a 3’’ return at the top and 2’’ return at the bottom.
And all the rest is made of 3/16’’ steel, with 4’’ returns on top and a 2’’ return at the bottom.
Then the entire bumper is welded front and back side, then the front is ground down to smooth seems and a mirror finish, then it got sand blasted, premiered and painted at a shop that builds under/over ground fuel and storage tanks.
Basically the entire bumper weights like id guess around 75-80 lbs

For the rear bumper, i just took a 3/16’’ plate, bent the top with a 6’’ return while the and the angles have a 2’’ return. it weighs about 50-60lbs including the two 1/2’’ thick 4’’x8’’ D-ring mounts that welded to the bumper and mounts to the frame.

build it once and beat the f*ck out of it man! adding a little extra weight aint nuthin to worry about

 

[Scarrow87]

Okay thanks for the info guys! I'll have to concentrate on the lift for now I guess, as much as I want to start building this thing.

Just have to figure out the best type of body lift to buy. I will probably go with torsion keys/ rear billet lift blocks and install them myself, cause I cant see much else on eBay and need to do it on the cheap. Any words of wisdom there? As you can tell I am super new at modding trucks so I am into learning as much as I can...

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

You are a very confused person.

Google what a body lift is. Then Google what suspension lift is.

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