Well guys Its about time i did this lol.

so september long weekend we went wheeling, and well i got stuck. buried to the body line infact.

i had 2 tow points cut into my bumper brackets with d-rings on them, and i had to be pulled out, by my buddys cummins.



well it ripped my bumper bracket clean off the frame, and a chunk of my frame with it, as you can see it took it down past the body mount... so bolting a new bumper to it wouldnt be that easy.




after months of debate, design, and material accumulation, my dad and i got into it today.



we used 3/16th plate, made up cardboard templates and cut and fitted them in flush, and welded them in place with 0.30 wire and lots of heat.





We got the design for the brackets down and the pipes bent.
going for something along these lines, but with less aggressive bends and no prerunner bar



anyway, today we got the frame done, this week the rest of the bumper!!

heres the finished frame rails

 

Good job on the fix! That was definatley a mess! Keep us updated on the bumper build.

 

only if you keep me updated on the SAS!!

 

Lol, will do. I'll update that thread tomorrow when I can get pictures, but basically I've spent the last couple days cussing at stubborn bolts. I went through about a quarter tank on my propane torch, half a can of pb blaster, and my impact broke 2 socket extensions trying to get the radius arm bolts out. 7 came out clean, the 8th one's head got rounded off before it broke loose (that was the bolt that broke the extensions). I finally cut the head off and pulled the radius arm off. Now I just have to extract the bolt. So now I just have to get the hubs/knuckles off.

 

yah i know alllll about old bolts

-- side note, im a heavy equipment mechanic apprentice, and in trade school they had us rebuild a motor, i was rebuilding a 6.9L international v8, outta school bus, it was completley seized, each head bolt was rusted round and a 7/16 12 point bolt, you can imagine the choice words that were said that day lol!

 

Nice! That will come out sweet! Keep all the pics coming.
By the way Great sig pic.

 

thx man! i doubt anything will be done until friday next week, gotta get some more 3/8ths plate, and my dad and i are both working till then lol....

but its comin along!

 

It's coming along great! I remember good times with my '88 Dakota 4x4, the year before the EFI. I loved that truck.

 

Damn man! Slow pulls! No tugging! Be that was a shocker! Can believe the bolts held and it actually tore the frame!

Interested to see what you build!

 

Slow pulls are generally ineffective in mud. Especially if more than 35% of your tires is below the ground mark. Most ****** straps are designed to be popped. They stretch, and rely on the weight of the foreward rig to build the momentum to "pop" start the other rig then continue towing.

Throw a 55 gallon drum in your truck when you wheel. If you get stuck that badly, angle the barrel toward your truck with the rope continuing over the top. When you pull it will stand the barrel up and pick up your front end. By the time the barrel falls the other way your front end will be on solid(hopefully) ground. Easier done with a winch, but it works well with a good tow buddy as well.