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focusedcycling Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2010 Posts: 56 Location: Annapolis, MD
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:37 am Post subject: Steel C channel homemade bumpers (Pics) |
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Made some bumpers for the front and rear of Sherman, my 87 Westy.
The van had the original aluminum bumpers but had some dents in them that someone had tried to bang out. The end caps were also kind of beaten and needed some persuading to stay on.
I wanted a more industrial look.
I just took off the old bumpers and mounted right to the original mounts.
Also added a sturdy 2" trailer hitch in the rear.(no pics of that in here)
Rear:
Front:
Final product, used grinder wire bursh on bumpers as they had been sitting outside at my g-pa's farm, then painted with black rustoleum from a can using a brush and several coats. The rear bumper had some sweet pitting to it and was real happy to have that textured added.
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rubbachicken Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2004 Posts: 3058 Location: socal
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:51 am Post subject: |
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very nice, they'll take some bending
_________________ lucy our westy
lucy's BIG adventure
meet 'burni'
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 or 617 935 4182 |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9810 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Ramming speed! |
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BillM Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004 Posts: 1381 Location: Stonington,CT
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:55 am Post subject: |
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How many people while just seeing the first picture though holy crap that's dangerous until you scrolled down? I know I did. There is always something to be said for using what you have around and having them turn out good. Those would perfect for parking in NYC. They park by "feel" in that city and a gouge in a bumper cover is considered normal wear and tear by the NYPD. _________________ Bill M
87 Westy |
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whafalia Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 685 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:42 am Post subject: |
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I'd sport those, tough, don't add length and look good! Can we have some daytime shots of the rear with a look at your hitch and what you did for the ends? I have a metalworker that owes me money. |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2672 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:52 am Post subject: |
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if your looking for your boots, you left them on the bike rack. |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12115 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:53 am Post subject: |
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Very cool! I really like the industrial look and practical enhancement of this approach. In that vein, it sorta reminds me of the rear bumper I made for my '80 van. I used a recycled treated 4"x4" fence post, and even added the original plastic VW end-caps and center bumper strip. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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presslab Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2008 Posts: 1730 Location: Sonoma County
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:55 am Post subject: |
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Nice job! I made my own bumpers too. Let's see a pic of your rear with the trailer hitch. _________________ 1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti |
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 10:06 am Post subject: |
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BillM wrote: |
How many people while just seeing the first picture thought holy crap that's dangerous until you scrolled down? |
I have to admit my first thought was "DOH!". Then I scrolled down.
Nice work, really looks good. Always appreciate build-it-yourself projects. Keeps me inspired. Thanks for sharing. _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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Volksaholic Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2005 Posts: 1771 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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I like them... but like the others I was pretty aghast when I saw the first pic! I like that they're sturdy but look relatively stock to the untrained eye. I did bumpers like that for my '58 after someone stole my rear bumper, only I used steel tube about that same size. It took A LOT more kerf-cuts & welds to follow the round rear quarter and curved front end on my splitty!
pd _________________ 1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251 |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 6360 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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focusedcycling Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2010 Posts: 56 Location: Annapolis, MD
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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As I typed aluminium I thought that wasn't right, are they steel? Real soft if so.
I did not weigh each bumper but had no problem lifting them and halfway holding them up my self while checking drill holes and levelness(is that a word?) |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9810 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, steel and yes, pretty easy to dent.
The word you want is 'levelitude'.
Please, I'm kidding. |
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Vango Conversions Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2010 Posts: 1054 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with some of the above posts, at first i thought you'd be catching all sorts of things with the extra foot or so of width sticking out on each side of the van. You'd be snagging all the cars that you pass by and the occasional unlucky pedestrian/ bicyclist!
After the final bend and weld, they look very nice and very sturdy. Well done. |
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goffoz Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2007 Posts: 1486
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:56 pm Post subject: Re: Steel C channel homemade bumpers (Pics) |
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[quote="focusedcycling"] The rear bumper had some sweet pitting to it and was real happy to have that textured added.
I love the texture
My van came with this style bumpers...its great, I dress mine up with some 88 Isuzu trooper step treads and plastic end caps
nice |
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3431 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:34 am Post subject: |
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That front bumper looks great! I really like that style of bumper - at least on a 2WD like mine. Please post up a clean picture of the rear bumper - would love to see it.
John
LiMBO
86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender" |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7757 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Nice - I'll take one of each! _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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timbo Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2006 Posts: 194 Location: Port Moody BC Canada
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Nice! I like their simple design....low-cost...and clean look! _________________ 1988 Vanagon GL/ 1991 2.2 Subie power
"Never tell a lie and you'll never have to play dumb" Anthony Kiedis |
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Farfrumwork Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2008 Posts: 692 Location: Mile High
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Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: |
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Really close to what I was thinking for a bumper set of my own. I think that a C (or L)-channel is a great start point.
Maybe aluminum for mine. Less dent resistance, but it would be very light.
Love it! Nice work
...I second the requeast for a clean rear bumper pic... _________________ sold -> '85 Wolfsburg Syncro / 'Built' DOHC EJ25 (a great machine!)
'07 Legacy spec.B, road tuned stgII
'17 4x4 Sprinter, stone grey, SMB pop-top, on 33"s
"Blood stains, speed kills - Fast cars, cheap thrills - Rich girls, fine wine - I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I've lost my mind" |
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3431 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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