skippythedog
Observer
Commissioned a fabricator in the Seattle area to build me a new bumper for my '07 FG140.
We're using 1/8" steel and opted for a tilting brushguard to mount lights and protect the headlights.
I ruled out the fixed/angled brushguard because some of the Aussies said that the angled ones tend to drive the critters right below the rig, wiping out some plumbing (A/C in particular).
I like things simple so no cutouts for foglights or a winch mount. Instead, just 2 big tow eyes w/ shackles centered over the frame rails, and a 2" receiver (bike rack and/or portable winch).
The nose of the bumper between the frame rails will protrude about 4 inches, the hinges for the center section uprights will be mounted there w/ some generic tabs for some of the midsize Lightforce lights (maybe the 240's if there's room).
Instead of tubes attempting to protect all the stock lights by wrapping around the perimeter of the light assemblies, (examples I've seen still obscure the signals) the outboard tubes will pass across the area just above the headlight but below the signal bulb (1.75 inch tubing passing through an area of about 3 inches) so the interference with the signals should be minimal (unless you're laying on the ground in front of the truck......) Rear stanchions will be pinned w/ pins w/ detent balls and short keeper cables, passing through bushings.
The hinges up front will have bushings as well.
I'm worried about harmonics/vibration affecting the lights and am considering adapting some Delrin bushings for the hinges and the rear pins.
I thought about importing from Down Under but got mixed opinions from builders re: frame dimensions etc.
Has anyone else had one custom built in the States? Any other considerations/options I haven't thought of?
We're using 1/8" steel and opted for a tilting brushguard to mount lights and protect the headlights.
I ruled out the fixed/angled brushguard because some of the Aussies said that the angled ones tend to drive the critters right below the rig, wiping out some plumbing (A/C in particular).
I like things simple so no cutouts for foglights or a winch mount. Instead, just 2 big tow eyes w/ shackles centered over the frame rails, and a 2" receiver (bike rack and/or portable winch).
The nose of the bumper between the frame rails will protrude about 4 inches, the hinges for the center section uprights will be mounted there w/ some generic tabs for some of the midsize Lightforce lights (maybe the 240's if there's room).
Instead of tubes attempting to protect all the stock lights by wrapping around the perimeter of the light assemblies, (examples I've seen still obscure the signals) the outboard tubes will pass across the area just above the headlight but below the signal bulb (1.75 inch tubing passing through an area of about 3 inches) so the interference with the signals should be minimal (unless you're laying on the ground in front of the truck......) Rear stanchions will be pinned w/ pins w/ detent balls and short keeper cables, passing through bushings.
The hinges up front will have bushings as well.
I'm worried about harmonics/vibration affecting the lights and am considering adapting some Delrin bushings for the hinges and the rear pins.
I thought about importing from Down Under but got mixed opinions from builders re: frame dimensions etc.
Has anyone else had one custom built in the States? Any other considerations/options I haven't thought of?