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I need to reinforce my front bumper. Make it more sturdy. I have 20-25 pounds of light rack and lights hanging off of it and it 'jiggles' like crazy.
I had to tighten up 1 of the bolts today as it was almost out.

Anyone done this?

My future solution:

http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-systems/hd_bumper_chevy.shtml

Mike, make up some support rods that go from the nfab mounting points to the frame...that should help...its hard to reinforce tin-foil.

8.1

Spoolin-I really don't want a huge bumper like that.
8.1GASSER- You mean make the current mounts longer to extend through the bumper into the frame somewhere? That's the only way to make this thing solid.

Here's a pic:
http://www.sandbros.com/mikesride/chevy/dmax/lift/front_bar.jpg

Mike, What I mean is to make supports wether it be out of angle, flat stock, or pipe...to mount the nfab you drilled holes and installed bolts from the back..correct? now fab up a support with a hole for the bolt and then mount the other end to the frame...also I made up some rubber isolators that go between the bar and the bumper...I have talked to nfab about making a support for the center hoop similar to the ProComp bar to aid in stabilizing the bar at its furtherest most leverage point.

8.1

now it is a strong beer can...........

Guess you don't have deer or moose where you live :)

SpoolinTurbo,
I have my Reunel Front end replacement on order. I was going to do the Pre Runner look as Mike is doing as I really like that look. However after almost smacking me a couple of deer buzzing through Central California, I decided to change to a stronger option. The Front bumper that GM offers is really a cover for something else.....Bumper is not the right name for it any longer. You BUMP something and you are going to be out a few bucks.

http://www.reunel.com/images/10%20C%203.jpg

Spoolin,


You talkin to me ? If so, I replaced the beer can ! :D In my sig, road armor.......

No moose, but I have locked horns with deer and a couple Elk

Only thing we have to watch for in So Cal are BMW's :)

8.1 Gasser--Do you not have a 'jiggling' pattern with your N-fab bar and lights?

I had to weld longer tabs on this one to fit the deep lights. This may be part of it. Even though the tabs from N-Fab were only tacked *grrr*

And to top it off the tabs I added were to thin and they all cracked within a few months.

Mike, mine moves some, but my problem is compounded by the bumper relocation brackets from the body lift...they will be gussetted soon, and my "jiggling" problem should be solved.

Spoolin,


You talkin to me ? If so, I replaced the beer can ! :D In my sig, road armor.......

No moose, but I have locked horns with deer and a couple Elk
Naw, not talking to you. I really think that pre-runner bars should be left to the compact pickups. They just look bad, at least to me, on anything "big"

Spoolin I can understand not liking the look. I do like the look but didn't add it just for that. I added it to run 3 Hella 4000 HID's. off-road at night the stock lights don't do jack. I needed them and they make a huge difference :)

Just need to figure out a way to make it more sturdy :)

I could run tubes off of the inner mounting points outward through the bumper holes to the frame. This would only be pulling it backwards and I don't really think it would help to much.

Another option is to make a tube that connects to the bottom of the rack and bends downward then inward to the frame. This would be very sturdy but look weird.

I'm still unclear what 8.1 Gasser is trying to say :confused:

Hey, it's your truck, do what works for you! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

I'm putting 2 PIAA HID spots, 2 PIAA HID fogs, and 2 of those hella "aim where you are turning" spotlights on the front bumper, then 4 more HID's up top along with a go-light on each side... it gets dark, and I like seeing. I'm also getting a switch panel from the company that makes these:

http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=SE072&cat=59

They can custom make panels and I plan on having them make a 10 switch panel for the upper compartment on the ceiling console that lets me control my lighting. With the amount of recovery jobs that I do with my buddies and random people around post and anchorage, extra lighting will definately help expedite getting them out of the trouble they're in, as well as just be handy all around. I like the 2 go-lights idea simply because the way I drive the wife could read the road signs further out and as we pass, as well as being able to have directed light nearly 360 degrees as needed.

This truck is fun but the toys both me and the wife want are going to be a bit spendy.. lol

6 lights mounted directly on the bumper?

Hmmm...lets try again...the mounts I am talking about are the 4 that hold the entire bar to the bumper...the support rods go from these mounts to the frame...not visible from the exterior of the truck, you should form an x with the rods with the inner 2 supports behind the bumper, so your driver side inner mount(where your plate was mounted) should attach to the pass. side frame rail...it helps triangulate the mount....they should pull back and down...if your bar is like mine its weight is "tipping" the bumper down...not noticeable, just where the forces are going, therefore pulling it back should stiffen it a bit.

AHH I got it, good idea :)
I will look into that !

Mike,
When I was looking at the PreRunner bar like you have(which BTW looks great) I had the same :confused: you have. How can this be sturdy with any weight on it. Like you, I see them flopping all over the place so you know some bumpin and rockin back and forth on a side road is going to being a bit unnerving. My friend took the ProComp PreRunner bar like yours and he actually drilled holes in the front bumper and ran 1" bars from the Pre Runner bar into frame rails. Whats nice about his mod was you cannot see where he welded the bars and drilled through the bumper as it is all behind it. The hardest part of the job was making the bars. Drilling the bumper is like cutting a beer can. A hole saw did a perfect job. He welded ends that attached to the bumper mounts behind the bumper. So essentially the bumper is a really more of the aligner of the Pre Runner Bar and the support is off the frame. His idea added a bit of additional bumper support since the PreRunner bar attaches to bumper in a few places and made the PreRunner bar a lot more stout. One note he did mention. he said that unfortunately the pre fabbed Pre Runner bars are not made of the strongest tubing, so add those to a weak bumper and it is hard to make it strong. He said he should have just fabricated a custom deal right from the outset.
Does this help ? Hard to put an image down in words that the other can paint a picture.

I am not sure when I will see Brian to get a picture if you are interested. Guy is a heavy equipment operator and is always off somewhere moving mountains.

Good Luck

Jeff

6 lights mounted directly on the bumper?
Yep. 4 5" lights on top of the bumper, and the fogs will be installed "in" the bumper where they give you 2 5" spots from the factory.