Custom Bumper Questions

[CLINT_FX4_TxBoy]

I was thinkin of startin to design my own bumper that could be a summer project for me and the pops. I wanted to weld something and get it powdercoated to resemble the Road Armor Stealth series type bumpers. Any tips on materials or design process or anything yall could think of would be greatly appreciated! Here is kinda what I'm going for both front and rear.

Clint

 

[Billysgoat]

Use heavy pasteboard or plywood to make the first bumper and get your fit right, just tape it together. Once you have it looking the way you want label every piece as you take it apart and use them as templates to cut your steel. Don't get carried away on material thickness, yeah 1/4 is gonna be stronger, but using 3/16 or even 10 gauge for the "wings" and some 3/8 or so for the winch mount will be stout as hell with pretty good weight savings over all 1/4. Also the 10 gauge will be a lot easier to work into a curve etc and with a wire welder a snap to stick together.