Since bumpers are always interesting, I'll add my build

[hans j]

Been working on it slowly this week but should get mostly done this weekend. I'll add it to my build thread when I get some more extra time.

My requirements for a bumper:
Have a beefy hitch (not installed yet but I can say the engine and suspension will be the only limiting factors in my tow capacity!)
Have a tire swing away that fits under the tail lights (this was the hard one)
Use the far bolt inside the frame for added strength
Have D-shackle mounts, directly bolted to the frame of vehicle
Look good

Basically what I came up with was using 1/2" plate for the main brackets, these each have a place for 3/4" pin diameter shackles on the end. 3/16" 2"x3" square tube for the main bumper, 3/16" 2"x2" square tube for the swing away, 1/4" 2"ID square tube for the hitch receiver. There will also be a reinforcement welded on the back side of the bumper from the brackets to the hitch, just more strength. Thinking the piece of 1/8" 1"x1" Square tube I have left over from another project.

I gave a lot of thought to the swing hinge. It needed to be either low to clear the tail lights or high to go over them. I decided on the bronze bushing type, using a large bolt through them and the swing away. They have grease fittings on them and will be serviceable and be replaceable. I went with a Destaco latch (as most do) but a different type than usually used for the vanagon stuff, and in a different location (haven't built it yet so no pics).

I need to do some revamping of the hinge, I was only thinking single shear when I built it in my head and now it's proving too much flex in the bumper. This will be corrected today with an additional support welded to the main bumper for the top of the hinge pin.

End caps are still to be determined but I do know I will be incorporating the look of the sliders running up to the rear of the wheel well. The ends will be supported from underneath and "should" protect the rear corners of the body.

On to the pics!!

$30 of remnant steel plus maybe $20 worth of steel left over from my rock slider build:

I didn't like just a straight bar going across so I had to make four cuts and get them all lined up. This puts it closer to the body at the corners.

Mocking it up!

I like it

I decided this is too uneven for each side, so it got welded back together. The new split will be just to the right of the license plate.

As of right meow:

There are some things I would do differently if I do it again, it fits very close which I like, but it's actually too close. The license plate does flip down enough to access it with the upper bar in place, but you can't read the words at the bottom of the plate (Green with Agriculture). I won't be using that access in the future with the TDI, but I don't know when that will happen so I wanted it to work easily until then. I still might weld on another piece of 1/4" plate to the shackle mount, but realistically the 1/2" should be strong enough.

I wouldn't have any issue dangling a vanagon from a forklift with this bumper...
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[rubbachicken]

looks nice, are you going to put a receiver in there for a tow bar or bike rack
you could also fit spare wheel carrier while you are about it, i would if i made my on bumpers
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lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'

[an86carrera]

I like it. Looks pretty strong.
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Len
Current Vehicles
'84 Westy '95 2.2 Subaru
'08 Dodge 2500 diesel
'75 914

[hans j]

[vwlovr]

nice, at first it thought it looked dumb until i realized how it worked, then i thought it was awesome

definitely do something to hold them open, if you're on a hill trying to open the hatch it's a necessity. i did the pathfinder rack and it has like an L shaped pin you can put in a hole to lock it open, you could do that with your design, maybe do a spring loaded pin or something.

[carterzest]

Great job Hans. I was confused at first too, but, that's not that unusual.
Your van looks good on my lift
Great posts.
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Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!

[zippyslug31]

I like your thinking and where this is going...!
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previous:
'80 westy
current:
'90 syncro westy 2.5L subi, triple knob, 16" wheels.
'84 sunroof van, 2.1L motor.

[Jteerlink]

I like it...you taking orders?

[hans j]

Thanks guys, I got some more work done last night.

Tacked in place. I used a tall chair and 2x4's to position the tire in the place I wanted. I also gave me a little extra room just in case I ever go to a larger tire.

Attachment detail. I used a bad rear hub off a B5A4 Audi. It's hubcentric for my wheels so it's easy to load the tire and not have to put any effort into lining the holes up. I may still go with studs in the future. It got reinforced and capped on top to seal it up.

Tacked and open. It's wobbly, but mostly due to my weak hinge design. I'll reinforce that tonight and I might even have to put a longer bolt all the way through the bumper

Yup it's close! I might pull the entire bumper out a little. I was also thinking about putting a small latch on the hatch to hold it from bouncing...

Without tire and reinforced

I decided to run the tire backwards to keep weight forward and so I could stuff recovery gear inside the wheel (under a spare tire cover).

Once it's sturdy, I'll really like it. I really like the design and execution, but it needs to be stronger. I may have to change the hinge design completely to get what I want
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[hans j]

[Jteerlink]

its a deal

[SSWesty]

Nice build, I like how you angled the bumper so it's not flat. Mine is flat and I am not very fond of the gaps on the corners. I am still fiddling with my hinges too. I am learning it takes a bit of noodling to get a sturdy hinge. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[hans j]

Here is the detail of my hinge.

I had to tack a washer (that was exactly the same size as the diameter of my bolt) to the top shear point. That was a lot of my problem. The hole I drilled wasn't exact and there was some slop.

I also added that extra 1/4" plate to the back, that helped a lot too.

But I still get some play/sag in the swing out. I believe the box just isn't strong enough with the end open like that. So what I am thinking is to weld a captive pinch type lock nut to the inside of the bottom of the bumper. That will essentially give me three more inches of leverage. Right now, all that weight is being placed on a very small leverage point, even though it's double shear.

That is the only thing I can come up with, and keep it the look I want. You can see the hinge is servicable too, I'll just put a 2" square plastic cap on the end to access it. I really didn't want to weld anything inside the bumper that wouldn't be easy to get to (don't know why I would ever need to get to it anyway), but I didn't really want a nut sticking out the bottom of the corner which could possibly take some damage. Maybe I am being too picky?

So far though it looks pretty stable in the rear view mirror. I will hopefully get out in the woods this weekend and see if it falls off...
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[boof1306]

Nice job. What about welding in the pipe and grease nipple idea to the lower piece of rhs and running the bolt right through it? You could even then ream the entire hole to suit a larger o/d bolt and reduce your play to a minimum.