S I need to refab my swing out, when I originally made it I used 1 1/2 X 3 channel, and I don't like it that much but that is what I had. So, I see a lot of what looks to be 2 x 2? Anybody know what is best to use and what thickness to use? I don't need to be haulin around an anchor but I don't need it bounding back and forth.
Mine is 2x2 square tubing, I don't know what wall thickness it is. It is rock solid and my rear end end does not sag at all, and thats with a 33/12.5 mounted on it.
I cut up an old twisted YJ frame and turned it into custom front and rear bumpers (after I scavenged shackles, shackle mounts, shock mounts, etc off of it). Its 1/8" thick rectangular box. I have been seriously thinking about making a swing out tire carrier so I can mount a Jerry can and Hi-Lift on it too. I wouldn't put a bigger tire on my tailgate carrier (30x9.5r15 now).
Let me know how your project works out. I've heard and seen that you can use a trailer type tire axle with wheel bearing, welded vertically. Let us know how yours turns out.
I have a Viair air system installed and I seriously thought about capping the ends of my bumpers for the air tank but I opted for the 2.5 gallon tank. Everything is mounted under the hood and fits like it was built for it.
Thanks for the info. I might just mount the tank under the hood. I wonder if there would be a problem if I were to have compressed air in the bumper and then get into a wreck.
I considered the same thing (about having pressurized air in the bumper and getting into a wreck. If it ruptures the air would bleed down pretty fast...so no worries there. I was worried about contaminants inside the bumper but to be honest, my biggest concern was welding up all the holes and making the thing airtight at 145#. Then welding in threaded bungs for all the fittings (the 1/8" wall thickness is not enough to securely hold in fittings at 145#). It was a lot less painfull to buy the system as a kit and install it.
If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for your system? Did you buy a compressor also? I was talking to some guys and they mentioned getting an old A/C Compressor from an Old Wagoneer (the york) and mouting that where the compressor is on my XJ. What are your thoughts on that?
I got the Viair 450C air compressor, 2.5 Gallon air tank, fittings kit, and train style air horns for ~$500 shipped to my door (eBay). I had a buddy of mine offer me an unknown York style air conditioning compressor from a diesel Mercedes he had (for free) and thought about building that up. But it seemed like such a pain that I bit the bullet and paid the big bucks for the system. I was worried that I'd sink $200-$300 into that A/C compressor and have no guarantees that it'd work reliably. And I wanted that A/C bracket free for my future weldernator.
The main bumper I would do out of 4"x6"x3/16", the swing out with 2"x21/2"x1/8" for the main swing beam, the rest with 2"x2" sq. or 13/4" round tube your choice.
I used 3.25 x 3.25, 1/4 thick angle for the bumper and 2x2 1/8 thick square for the swing out. Even with a 33 12.5 15 spare, hi-lift jack, axe and air tank its still solid. I usually figure use whatever's in your pile first, if it doesn't work then buy something else.
Thanks for the info. I might just mount the tank under the hood. I wonder if there would be a problem if I were to have compressed air in the bumper and then get into a wreck.
Yes, you'll have a simple gush of air come out but not enough to hurt anybody. This was a debate a while back on pirate till an engineer crunched numbers. Turns out that you would have to get the pressure pretty high to get that pipe to break. 100-150 psi will just leak out of the impending cracks.
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