New Front Bumper Replacement Going On Soon

[tyhuck]

Well, I had about $180 to $200 in material, but I got labor for free (from me), the consumables (MIG wire and gas, electricity, etc.) didnt cost me anything, and I just painted it instead of powder coating, and I didnt have to pay anything for shipping costs. Plus, I didnt have a middle-man (retailer or dealer) to add their cut, so I saved quite a bit over buying one. But, Ranch Hand and other companies make their money by manufacturing in bulk. They dont make much profit per unit. The majority of the cost of the products are labor anyway, so if you do that yourself, you can save at least 50% on average.

[kstruckcountry]

Figured most was in labor. My front end replacement was $950. Diamond tread costs more I think. It's powder coated. My guard is square tubing, gives it a pretty sharp look, wouldn't wanna work with bending it though. ThunderStruck just has a jig for each model. I'm currently building a 30ft combine header trailer, about $1000 just in metal.

 

I need to get a pipe bumper worked up for the 1990, it's bumper is on its last leg

[tyhuck]

Ive used Channel Iron before. I already had it so I dont know what the price is compared to pipe, but its much nicer to work with. So is square tubing for that matter. Dont mess with bending it, just cut it at the proper angle and weld it up.

[kstruckcountry]

I've got a decent stock of metal, I shouldn't have to order anything to do it. Just gotta figure out how I'm gonna do the guard, should be fun.

[tyhuck]

I borrowed the design of Buckstop Bumpers because my bender would not bend tight enough to do the wrap-around guard that Ranch Hand does.

 

But, I did add a seperator bar to cover the plastic trim between the headlight and the turn signal. I have a picture of is somewhere on this site.

[tyhuck]

Here they are. These are pre body lift.

 

 

 

[kstruckcountry]

Looks doable, don't really need anything too elaborate for the 1990 though. Wanted kind of a simple channel or pipe rock crawler style for it.

Why didn't you make a guard like that one for the post-lift bumper?

[tyhuck]

I planned on one,and still do I guess, but I just ran out of time. It took me all of a Sunday to get it built and smoothed. Took it back off and painted it later that week trying to beat a rain front that was supposed to move in. I just never got back to it. Then this winter, I hit a deer and kind of twisted it a little.

 

Next in line is a rear bumper with a swing-out tire carrier. Then I may get back to the front bumper. Im just not gonna worry with it until I can fix the one side that is tweaked.