custom bumpers and tailgate

[FordTruck]

I was also wondering what do you guys think about something like this one the highboy?



and maby this for a rear



I really want some kind of custom front and rear bumpers just the brush gard on the front just ain't doing it for me. Any input/advice or pictures??

[71highboy]

i like the tailgate idea

[1971ford]

The tiregate idea is cool, i see it often on the prerunner forums, mostly on chase trucks where you don't want a spare 35" tire just floating in the bed, they use a tiregate. Not a bad idea to put one on a 4x4. However I would not attempt to fab one if you don't have the appropriate tools. For example, just to bend the tubes you need a tube bender (NOT pipe bender) and those run $600 plus dies are about $200. We just bought one for off-road fab at my house and it was a total of $1,200.
If you bend the pipe in a pipe bender they will be kinked, and miter cuts, well, are miter cuts. They are hack.
You'll need a tube notcher as well, you can get that for $50ish from harbor freight. Or you can use a grinder, just won't be as clean and will take a lot more time.
It's not a very easy piece to fab yourself but if have the tools and time go for it.

As for the tube prerunner style bumper I'm not a fan of them on 4x4's. To me a 4x4 needs a stock steel bumper or a fabricated plate bumper. Especially if you don't have a tube bender it would not look good.

All of course, my opinion. I wouldn't let a miter cut or kinked tube anywhere near my highboy or race truck.

[FordTruck]

makes good sence ryan. i wish they didnt cost so much i'd just buy one but i've got a buddie thats building a full tube rock buggy so he has the tube bender its a manual one but its a bender but i probably will go with steel plate bumers but the tube one was just an idea.