Trailblazer Rear Bumper Design/Build

[glfredrick]

A hit to the air tank would mostly just split a seam and let the air out. No real explosion. Happens all the time on big rigs when they get in accidents. They have air tanks haning all over the place.

[Gordinho80]

The bumper is looking amazing! Can't wait to see more progress!

[Hpimichael02]

Make sure Eric saves the templates cause I want one too

[aaronrules]

Have you had any more progress? I'm anxious to have something else to drool over with your ride dude!

[Trail X]

Have you had any more progress? I'm anxious to have something else to drool over with your ride dude!

Things have been going a million miles an hour... but not the bumper. Minor progress, but no pictures. I'll get some pictures when Eric and I do a test-fit.

[teebes]

We need progress pics

[Trail X]

Haha, I know I know!

Trying to get together with Eric sometime soon for a test fitment. Probably next week. Then it's on hold for another 2 weeks due to a business trip.

[Trail X]

FINALLY some free time and movement... forgot the camera, so it's only cell phone pictures.

Cut the frame ends so as to fit the bumper in tighter:

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Welded in the receiver (back side shown):

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More various pictures from the day... spent a lot of time making some patterns, measurements, and sketches:

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Hopefully will have more updates in about 3 weeks.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Got to love cutting the frame for stuff. My rear and front are cut.

I like it, looks alot like my old front bumper. Plenty strong and very functional.

[SteveTB03]

I love the design and the progress is going good, BUT how is this affecting your towing capabilities with the hitch no longer on your TB? Is the hitch that's built into the bumper has it now been downgraded to like a class 1 hitch instead of a class 3 hitch?

[Zero]

I believe the weight JD's bumper would be limited by how its mounted to the frame, and not that material holding him back. if you think about it, there is about 3x as much steel. And it has to be strong enough for extractions.

But I too would wonder what the answer actually is? And better yet, How will he test it?

[Trail X]

I love the design and the progress is going good, BUT how is this affecting your towing capabilities with the hitch no longer on your TB? Is the hitch that's built into the bumper has it now been downgraded to like a class 1 hitch instead of a class 3 hitch?

This hitch is easily stronger than the stock one. I'd feel secure in trailering anything I would with the stock hitch.

We designed it to handle my 8,500 lb winch....

[Trail X]

Got to love cutting the frame for stuff. My rear and front are cut.

I like it, looks alot like my old front bumper. Plenty strong and very functional.

Those rear frame ends were surprisingly hard ... not enough clearance so we had to use our bandsaw from the bottom... against gravity. Then cleaned it up with a grinder.

Yeah, it does look somewhat similar to your front bumper doesn't it. Sorta a universal shape. This thing is definitely strong as hell (and pretty heavy... already about 60 lbs I'd guess)...

[SteveTB03]

Now what exactly did you guys do to make it capable of using a 8500LB winch? Is it mounted far back to the frame or is it just mounted on the tips of the frame kind of like how the stock bumpers are mounted?

Is what your saying just theory that it'll work no problem or did you guys test some things out?

[Trail X]

The frame mounts are deeper and at least 3x thicker than stock. Added an extra bolt deep in the frame. The center section has internal reinforcements - also all thicker and wider than the stock bumper (when you look at the stock bumper, it's not really that beefy).

No actual tests, all mechanical theory and finite element analysis - what I do everyday at work.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Now what exactly did you guys do to make it capable of using a 8500LB winch? Is it mounted far back to the frame or is it just mounted on the tips of the frame kind of like how the stock bumpers are mounted?

Is what your saying just theory that it'll work no problem or did you guys test some things out?

They are planning for clear duct tape to take up any slack leftover. It will be fine.

[Trail X]

Wings finally tacked in place.

Next comes the tire carrier.

[janesy86]

Nice progress! And that is definitely a sweet looking bumper!

[HARDTRAILZ]

Me likey.

Will it be done for Tecore?

[Trail X]

Me likey.

Will it be done for Tecore?

Trying. Worked last night with Eric until 1am. I'm pushing him to get it done by then, but honestly it's going to be hard. A lot of work still to go.