Custom Bumper Project

[nfpgasmask]

The front cladding will be gone. The new bumper will replace all that useless plastic. That way I can sell the front cladding, and hopefully pay for a chunk of my project. And yes, I am driving around like that, that is my incentive to get it done. (And I am too lazy to put it back on and back off and back on and back off......)

Useless? The aesthetically pleasing parts of the VX are never useless!! Isn't that why we all have VXes??

So, are you going to "replicate" the shape of the front cladding using tubing and sheet metal? I always wondered about a VX with "metal" cladding. I think it would be nearly impossible (read way to expensive) to have metal cladding in the same nice round shapes, but maybe a little more angular with accessories hidden beneath (winch, lights, hooks, etc) but the same basic shape would be an interesting goal.

Bart

[kodiak]

I don't know. There's just something about this bumper that screams Marin.

[Marlin]

That is on the right track Kodiak, or something like this...
http://www.roadarmor.com/site/, but minus the brushguard that comes over the lights. The side panels would no longer be curved, but rather angled.
I still consider the front plastic useless. Especially as pathetically made the bumper was...

[Marlin]

but maybe a little more angular with accessories hidden beneath (winch, lights, hooks, etc) but the same basic shape would be an interesting goal.

Bart

That my friend is a genius idea. Instead of bolting the cladding on, why not make it out of steel, same overall shape but a little more angular and further out and have it be hinged on the bottom...It would double as storage for whatever you want, trail tools, jack, who knows...and for those with huge offset, it would seemingly bring them back in a bit. Like a widebody kit on a Nissan or something like that...*sigh* another project to think about.
Do you think the door could handle the weight? LMFAO, I had to say that, in case you didn't get it, that would be a reference to the rear tire mount project...................

[pbkid]

chris...bad news....dont think you are going to be the only one with a custom bumper in moab next year

[Marlin]

Are you gonna do it yourself...and what is all this "see you at Moab next year", "you aren't gonna be the only one at moab". I don't know if I am going, it was awesome, but so expensive and almost a whole year's vacation time. If I do go, we are staying at the hotel, camping requires way too much gear compared to a suitcase for the hotel. As much as I loved the campground...its just not practical for me.

[pbkid]

well...maybe billy and i will be the only ones then

[Marlin]

Nothing huge, I did some mod to the fender ends, wheel liner, and removed unneeded brackets, cleaned up rust!!!! Looks nice with fresh paint. There was a ton of rust. It looks sweet, the fenders almost look like continuous cladding now. I didn't do any serious metal work yet. It was 95 with 85% humidity, heat index said 121. I was adjusting the steering nut to remove feedback when I realized it wasn't that hot anymore. That is bad, I knew it was balls hot. I figured I should probably come in before I died.
Here are a few pics:

[Marlin]

Here is what I am thinking:
It will be plated in 1/16" aluminum diamond tread painted flat black. It will be very angular and I will use the ISUZU grill insert, so when I
sell my front bumper, it will not include that, more to come.
The skidplate will attach to the bumper and go all the way back to second cross member.
The bumper will mount to frame in two spots, at the factory spot for the original bumper tube, and at the frame protusions inboard of there.
The tubes will be welded to the frame, the bumper portion will quick disconnect to protrusions via hitch pins.