| Author | Message | ||
     Kevin Fedyk (Kovert) Member Username: Kovert Post Number: 93 Registered: 05-2003 |
I've been thinking about it for a while now, especially after seeing some of these bumpers for sale, (BIG $$$), and also seeing some success in the roof rack department. I'm just wondering if the cost of fabricating your own bumper would even be worth it (assuming of course you own the tools or have access to them). I guess what I'm asking is, how much would materials cost to create a front bumper that would be sturdy enough for a winch. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 905 Registered: 08-2002 |
That is how most of the businesses have sprung up I would guess. Plenty of people have done it look at the galleries, search and look at: http://www.discoweb.org/gregdavis/index.htm | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 106 Registered: 08-2003 |
That's what I'm planning to do at the moment Kevin. Patterened after this one http://www.eurotruck-importers.com/images/406willi5.jpg The chicken Ranch bumper  Jeff | ||
| peter nova (Peter) Member Username: Peter Post Number: 56 Registered: 07-2003 |
I would have to agree, spending close to a grand is a lot of money for a steel bumper. Supplies shouldn´t be more than a couple hundred bucks. If you know I to weld all the power to you. | ||
| Matt (Doc175) Member Username: Doc175 Post Number: 228 Registered: 11-2002 |
Contact Greg Davis | ||
| Phil (Discoanywhere) Member Username: Discoanywhere Post Number: 96 Registered: 06-2003 |
I'll be cutting and weldin some bumpers up soon! I built one for my disco wasn't more then a couple hundred. (Coulda got it powder coated for about $100) I'll send ya some photos if you like, I've got basic welding skills and lay down some thick beads but the results were A+++ and super strong. I'm using a mig welder as well. You might be able to find my old post titled My Orange Bumper... | ||
| Jess Brandt (Disco285) Member Username: Disco285 Post Number: 192 Registered: 09-2002 |
send me some pics... i'm interested... i like the design of the rovertym simply cuz i like the max. approach angle... anyway, hit me with what u got! lata, jess | ||
| Nadim Samara (Discodino) Member Username: Discodino Post Number: 177 Registered: 02-2003 |
I do. Look in the gallery under my name. (shipping is gonna be a bitch from Lebanon though ) | ||
| Micky_dee (Micky_dee) New Member Username: Micky_dee Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2003 |
contact phill discoanywhere. i bought one of his front mounted winch bumpers for my older rangie. it is supurb. he fabricated it as how i wanted it. i am very pleased. he is working on a rear mounted winch bumper of us as well. this i cant wait to get. | ||
| Kai Dussling (Kai) Member Username: Kai Post Number: 100 Registered: 06-2002 |
Kevin, To answer your question about cost, steel is cheap. You could build a slimline bumper for a total of $100 in raw materials. I am currently building 4 sets of D2 sliders for $188.00 in raw steel. The problem lies in: 1. Arc welder - cheap, strong but ugly welds, need experience welding to make things look good. 2. Mig welder - more $, pretty welds, starting out, your welds can look good, but they may lack penetration which is important. (something you can learn from ARC welding) 3. Cutting tools - nothing too dramtic here, a grinder with an assortment of blades will work but, to get things nice and straight a chop saw or metal cutting band saw would help. 4. Bending tools - the really good looking bumpers have bent pieces of steel somewhere. I am assuming not many people have this equipment so you may need to take some parts in to a machine shop. 5. Time - This is a valuble commodity that most don't realize until the project has been completed. Something to think about is: Could I just put in a couple extra hours in at the office so I could bring in the extra $ it takes to buy these or is it just cheaper to build. 6. Skill - Not much explanation, but if this is your first welding project, you will have a lot of time invested. (see 5. above about spending more time at the office ). I say it is worth it to build, with skill being the most important factor. Something to think about is: It is easy to build 2 of the same thing at the same time. I always build in sets of 2. One for me and one to sell! Good luck! Kai | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 1116 Registered: 08-2002 |
Also keep in mind that the first version usually doesn't turn out the way you wanted, so to get something nice enough to sell to others, it usually requires a few versions to get it refined. If it were truely that easy, everyone would be doing it. Just depends on the caliber of product you want out there. | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1253 Registered: 02-2002 |
Kevin, if you're starting out you're probably gonna end up spending $1000 on tools and $100 on materials to make a bumper. I have made sliders and they are much simpler, and ended up spending about that much. But that's not a bad thing. Coz you get to keep all the tools and start making other things, like skid plates and sliders and whatever. Alternatively, I'd recommend buying a rovertym slimline bumper, you can get one for just over half a grand, and its easily the strongest and best looking bumper out there IMHO, and one of the lightest. And its easy to modify for tapping in bolt threads or welding on brush bars, etc. HTH Dean |
