Do you have a rear bumper on your build?

[woodywrkng]

Cedar, garden hose, and valve springs for a 289 Ford.

[desertmoose]

I put one on our trailer. After looking at the hatch, I decided it was too exposed to damage from a bump in traffic (or more likely, from me backing it into a tree). The 1/8 hardboard skin on the hatch would be munched pretty quick in that case.

I didn't put a bumper on originally because I wanted easy access to the galley. A bumper would be a shin knocker.

I finally settled on the following. I welded hitch receivers on each side of the frame.



Then I made a removable bumper held in place with hitch pins. Protected while traveling, and take it off for access while camping.





I did lose a bit of ground clearance doing this, but I think it's worth it.

One other thing I was thinking when I put the removeable rear bumper on my tear is the welded on receivers would be useful.

I did put one of them to use.





Sam

[Irving]

I put one on our trailer. After looking at the hatch, I decided it was too exposed to damage from a bump in traffic (or more likely, from me backing it into a tree). The 1/8 hardboard skin on the hatch would be munched pretty quick in that case.

I didn't put a bumper on originally because I wanted easy access to the galley. A bumper would be a shin knocker.

I finally settled on the following. I welded hitch receivers on each side of the frame.



Then I made a removable bumper held in place with hitch pins. Protected while traveling, and take it off for access while camping.





I did lose a bit of ground clearance doing this, but I think it's worth it.

One other thing I was thinking when I put the removeable rear bumper on my tear is the welded on receivers would be useful.

I did put one of them to use.





Sam

The table is an awesome idea! Well done.

[JeremiahO]

This is an awesome idea Desertmoose. I saw your posts a few months ago about it and am copying it near verbatim. Hopefully you take that as flattery...

[OuttaHand]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366410141.542084.jpg (42.31 KiB) Viewed 1278 times

Mine is largely decorative, but does provide a bit of protection, as well.

Ot's simply a nice 2x4 that I sanded, stained, etc. it is mounted with custom stainless steel brackets (not visible in photo).

I finished it off by insetting reflectors into it.

--- sorry the photo's not great. Little Tow is tucked deep into the garage and that's the best pic I could get where it is now. ---

[Irving]

I have gotten ahold of a 6 foot section of schedule 80 pipe that I may use for a bumper. It is very thick and rugged. The steel is 1/4" thick. The pipe is about 2 1/2" in diameter.

My concern is whether or not it is too heavy.. It weighs 39 lbs.

Have any of you been concerned about the weight of your bumper? I have seen a few of you have used c channel looking steel that looks to be fairly hefty.

My trailer is a 6 x 10 that you can stand up in. It is rather light weight though - framed with 2 x 2s. I can lift one side of it off the ground by myself without all too much effort.

In a way I almost feel like the heavy bumper might help stabilize the trailer but making sure that it isn't top heavy.. I'm just not sure what to think. I remember trying to make sure not to add unnecessary framing as to save on weight. Then adding this large piece of steel kinda negates all that.. haha

[Bogo]

The pounds saved in one spot allow weight to be added in another spot where it is more needed.

If you wanted to spend the $$$ to save weight. A high strength steel tube or channel could be as thin as half the thickness, but it'll need to be bolted in place rather than welded.

[jeff0520]

I attempted a steel bumper, but so far lack of welding skill has caused it to not go well.
I am toying with the idea of making a wood core, fiberglass skinned bumper with a little. Storage box in it. In the flatbed industry I have access to a nearly inexhaustible supply of industrial oak dunnage. This stuff is so strong that if you intend to drive a nail into it you'd better drill a pilot hole unless you have a serious nail gun. Its hell on saw blades to cut the stuff, but you can lay 50,000 pounds of steel on it and it will barely dent. Sounds like good bumper stock to me

[MeelisV]

my new fresh bumper

[KCStudly]

my new fresh bumper

Very nice!

Care for a challenge? I think your bumper would look even better with hemispherical (half round) caps on the ends of the tubes. We did this once on a large architectural tube bracket by pie cutting a bunch of half round sections of pipe, welding them into a cap, then grinding them into hemispheres. Time consuming, yes, but the results were awesome. Just a suggestion.

[jeff0520]

Here's an update on my reply. After getting some help on my welding skills from a friend of a friend, who had been properly bribed , (He's a young guy, and a NASA weld inspector. He's a long way from momma's cooking, and tired of TV dinners. He was pretty easy to bribe. all it cost was a case of beer, and one of Laurie's home cooked meals,) I was sucessfully able to make 5 seperate hunks of metal stick together into a useable bumper assembly. Just to stiffen it up, and to ensure I actually have this welding thing figured out, I'm going to add 2 angle braces, then paint it and call it done.

[Redneck Teepee]

I used a 1930 Model A front bumper that I shortened 8" total and it looks pretty darn good in my book.

[michaelrsydney]

My rear bumper is to protect the otherwise vulnerable tail lights. It would also act as a skid rail over rough terrain. The steel was recycled from a found white board stand complete with plastic end plugs.

[jeff0520]

Hey! It's this thread again! I have bumper pics now.
The first three are after the tail light brackets were installed, final paint, and final install









These are during the fit-up pricess before paint and taillight brackets

[len19070]

I've put them on a few Trailers, but mostly for looks.

Made from an RV awning tube.


WV Bumper (video)



A real chunk of Steel



Happy Trails

Len