Please delete

[Centurion07]

So the OEM bumper, it was plastic. It probably weighed like 2 lb.

The rough Country one I was running for a minute, that was like, anywhere between 85 lb and 120 lb maybe. It wasn't lightweight at all. This one weighs about 35 lb. The bolts maybe, I don't know, 3 lb all together.

The crazy part is, the bag of bolts I got, it's an incomplete bag because I still need more. The store didn't have enough for me. It was a $50 bag of bolts. By the time I finish getting the rest of the grade 8 bolts washers and lock nuts I need, I'll probably have spent close to $75 just on bolts..

Still cheaper than the rough Country bumper I had up front, that thing was like, I think $650 total. This aluminum edge one, with all the bolts including the new ones for the winch, and the eventual steel plate I'm going to get, probably a total of about 325 maybe. I think the steel should be pretty cheap. Shouldn't be that expensive at all.

Once I get it all put together, I think I might get it powder coated bronze, the aluminum that is at least. If I do anything with the steel flat plate, it'll probably just be truck bed liner like I do with everything else.. it's not an integral part, and it's not going to show so.

Powder coating is probably going to be a lot more expensive. I believe the base for that in just matte black at my local powder coat guy is like $150. The second I want a special color it might be a little more, $275 or something. I'll have to see when I contact the guy. Probably won't be till next year though.

I keep saying I'm at the end of the line for purchases this year, but the small ones keep adding up somehow.

Man, I have an awesome powdercoater down here. I had a spare delete, crash bar skid, and two bumpers done for about $200.

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[Centurion07]

So the guy I go to is about an hour away from me, over in Collinsville Texas, if I choose a color that he's already doing for another job, he can usually fit me in for about $50. But the second he has to run the kiln with just my one piece, he's got to charge me the going rate to run the kiln which is I think 150 bucks.

At this point, he's just a good guy and he seems to treat me pretty well so I got no issues with giving him business. I know he does good work so why not.

Where you at in Texas again? You're like college station or Austin or something right?

Just outside San Antonio. And you're right, for a special color that probably isn't bad.

 

[Centurion07]

Just a thought:

I think one of the things that annoys me most about DIY mods, is MEASUREMENTS!

You're doing a project, you are taking something that's not intended for that purpose and you're making it function for that purpose, measurements are everything! Sometimes you're not in a place or an area where you can get a measurement. Sometimes I have an idea and I'm at work and I have measurements already saved in my phone, but with this new idea I have I need new measurements, and I'm at work, 40 mi away from my jeep, another 20 mi away from the measuring tool I need to properly measure that idea.

Because of the R&D process that goes into many of my modifications, I'll go through three or four or sometimes as many as eight different ideas before I settle on one of them. That typically means anywhere between 8 to 12 different measurements, with a lot of guesstimations in between. I just bought four bolts at $3.49 each, $14 worth of bolts, and I just changed up one of my ideas, now I need new bolts if I go with that one, and you know what I also need?

NEW MEASUREMENTS!!!

In this instance, I might scrap the steel plate underneath the aluminum which the winch mounts to, and might go with a fairlead winch plate, which would cut down the amount of steel used by about 0.25". That would make my current bolts which are 2" long, obsolete. And even more than that, if I do go with the winch fairlead plate, I won't truly know the measurement of the plate for sure enough to purchase the bolts until I have it in hand. So I can make some guesstimation measurements based on what's listed on the products specifications, but even then I won't make a purchase until I know what I have in hand. Especially after I just potentially wasted $14 on bolts which I'll end up putting in my bolt box and possibly use at some point in the future.

Yeah, measurements are super freaking handy, but they are definitely my least favorite part of the DIY modification process!

I feel like if I ever get a job, where the wife and I are working together, and there's a lot of free time in between doings of the job, and I'm working from home most every day, I might have that time to dedicate many portions of each day to my DIY mods. I might even be able to up the ante and finish my mods 10 times quicker, but in my current position, with my current company, with my current job, and the current time that I have that keeps me away from my vehicle and away from those measurements, makes it the plight of these DIY mods that I do.


/Just a thought.

1. Take a look at the CavFab universal winch plate. They're quick to respond to email and should be able to get you specs in advance of delivery.
https://cavfab.com/products/hawse-fairlead-mount-standard-all-model

2. Consider making yourself an account at www.tinkercad.com
I do a lot of my designing there, using a 1 mm : 1 in scale. It's a great way to think things through and get measurements (and reality checks when scale parts don't fit), whether you're by your Jeep, etc or not.

Here are some screenshots of a square drop design I worked up:

 

[Dusty Dude]

Currently in the process of painting.

I'll do the high gloss white tomorrow and then deliver the final project to my family member on Monday!


Strangely enough, not all my projects start and end with "FUCK IT".

What, what, WHAT??? White? Really? Where is the Sarge Green paint?

 

[driventoadventure]

Nice job on the rabbit cage, looking forward to seeing your square drop.

Also, paint the wire mesh black if it's going outside, it will have less reflectivity and be less visible / easier to see through.

 

[Flip]

Non-Jeep Post:

Final outcome is pretty nice, if I do say so myself.

That's a very nice chicken coop, well done. Nothing like farm fresh eggs.

 

[Centurion07]

Now that'll be handy. Something to catch all the mesquite branches before they can slide over the fender flares. Plus, you can raise the hood, get back in your seat, and check to see if the rear passenger tire is low.

 

[Flip]

Spoiler

 

[Flip]

You could start a whole new thread with that. Something like mirrors and legalities.

 

[rivercrossing]

The mirror idea is very interesting. The mirror stays on when the doors are off. The mirror does not stick out as far, it looks like it is not past the fender. (I have lost two mirrors from trail damage). The mirror may let you see more of the side of the jeep for tight trails.

In the 1950 some cars came with mirrors out in front like this.

I am sure there must be some down sides to this but it has some advantages too.

 

[Ratbert]

I thought I remembered you saying something about getting a new hood, but maybe not?

Any concerns about branches getting pushed back by that mirror, then thwacking the shit out of your windshield when they get released?

 

[Heimkehr]

Why a blanking plate in the power window switch cubby? Wouldn't you want to use that space to carry small odds & ends? Just curious.

 

[Ratbert]

As for the mirrors getting knocked off, we'll see what happens. I don't have any concerns myself, but if it does, it is what it is. I'll play it by ear.

I wasn't really thinking that the mirrors would get knocked off. I was more thinking that they'd hold onto branches, then eventually release them. That branch then smacks into your windshield.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you getting a lot of vibration off the fender that is transferred to the mirror?

 

[Ratbert]

I'm guessing that's pretty common for the mountain trails out by you?

For the most part the OHV Parks here in Texas, they maintain them pretty well, and if they don't, the people who run the trails will often trim back overgrown branches poking into the trail.

Texas isn't really known for big trees. I mean we do have some, but nothing quite like what y'all got out there in Colorado. Most of what I've seen on the trails is small whips and thin branches that wouldn't break any windows. That probably changes depending where you are in the state, but I haven't had any issues with that, or seen any branches big enough to break a window.

Ahhhh, groomed trails would explain it. You need to visit Colorado for some pinstriping!

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