Entirely unfair that you have the skills and equipment to complete this! Nice work.

 

I'm curious what wall thickness you used for the tubing in the front bumper, I like the way you did that quite a lot, it might be something I consider doing myself!

 

1 1/2" sched 80 pipe.
Thick enough to grind the corners a bit round and still have meat left.
The rear uses "welding elbows" which I have used for years in bumpers.
Easy to work with and allows tight corners.
The filler sheeting is just 14 or 16 gauge.
Not heavy but still stronger than the plastic stock bumper.
When you incorporate a bit of pipe I don't think you really need the whole thing built out of 3/16 or 1/4 plate like most aftermarket bumpers are made from.
If your rock bouncing or serious off-roading then sure the added weight of the thick bumper is worth it but for a mostly DD the lighter bumper is plenty strong for parking lot bouncing. I wish I had aluminum welding equiplment. A strong welded aluminum bumper would weigh a lot less.

 

Thanks Northgator.
What is your hood scoop off?
I really like it and have been try to talk myself out of one for the last year but yours keeps me wanting one.
Do you have an install thread?

 

Truck is pretty close to where I want it so I have a new project.
Not a Dakota but still a Chrysler product.
http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/200...8/#post3024045
Just cant be without a new project. Years ago my wife asked how long she would last as my "wife project". That one is still under construction.

 

That's my old truck ('06), left for dead in Madrid in upstate New York. Totaled it when on a Scout trip to the Adirondak Mountain (plenty freaked out, nobody hurt).

I loved that truck (for a truck) so haven't changed my sig to my "new" '08. The scoop came with the truck when I bought it used, so I can't help you. The scoop might still be in a bone-yard around Madrid . . .

 

Don't we all?

Thanks for the help, it is something I may actually get ambitious enough to do!

 

Wholly cr.. was that chevy on its side to start with?
That would be scary.
Looks like that scoop would be toast.

 

No, it went on its side during the "incident". I was 3rd in a convoy of 7 cars full of scout leaders, venturers and scouts. I pulled up to the stop sign, checked both ways, pulled out slowly as I had the trailer hooked up. Next thing I knew, I was looking at a glas-pack and shocks!

Two high-school students on their way home on a Friday afternoon, doing at least 50 MPH in a 30 zone, never even saw them past some trees on the corner lot. Guys in the car behind me said they saw me lean on the dash to see around the corner.

4 screaming kids and a Blood Pressure reading off the charts was the only human damage, thank Haysuss. Someone else took the trailer, bums were put in different seats, and we carried on to complete the trip - hiked two mountains and headed home.

 

I got to say, those bumpers are Sexy! You might want to start up a home business selling bumbpers for the 3rd gens. Just saying, pretty clean!