Cut and weld-it-yourself bumper blueprints

Ive been looking into new bumpers. Mainly the rear bumper for now but eventually both.
I was hoping to find some blueprints for a diy bumper.

I’ve come up fairly unsuccessful in my searches for finding blueprints that I can purchase, which I would cut and weld everything myself. I am looking for a good project that I can have a good amount of welding/metalwork practice to increase my skill level. I also haven’t had a rear bumper now for too long and i’m over it.

If I have to, I’ll just try and design my own, which would be difficult but a fun challenge.

If anyone knows of/has blueprints for WIY bumpers, any leads would be much appreciated. Thanks TW

 

This is the only company that I'm aware of....maybe someone else knows some others.
https://www.coastaloffroad.com/product-category/toyota-tacoma/1995-5-2004-tacoma

 

Have some cardboard laying around or can you get some? Best way to come up with a custom idea. Measure and cut cardboard (sturdy stuff) and make your own. I used some poster board for a 76 Bronco I had. Lots of cutting and fine tuning of what I was after. Did it back when I was quite young and worked out great actually. After I did it though - and all the time. I could of paid a little extra and got a pre-made one. lol It was fun though and I learned a lot about welding.

 

That’s partly why I’m going this route, I’d like to get more practice on the welder and feel more comfortable doing bigger potential frame repairs or whatever in the future.

that’s a great idea.

 

Dont know how it would work on a tacoma, but BanditRunner over on the t4r.org forums sells plans for a sweet DIY bumper for 3rd gen 4runners.
I don't think the front is too different, but you might have to modify the rear. You can always ask him, hes a good dude.
I've got the Coastal Offroad Bumpers on my 4runner, there are a few things that I am not too impressed about, especially for the cost.
Next time, I'll just buy a nice tube bender and make my own.

 

This will save you a lot of time and is basically what the materials and tools would cost you to make a mount:

https://www.jegs.com/i/Trail-Gear/542/120248-1-KIT/10002/-1

You could use it and make your bumper bolt on and not make rookie mistakes on your thin rails of your frame and figure out how to attach your skids.

and 3rd gen t4r bumpers don't work with Taco frames

 

Design and build your own that way you have just what you want .

Great learning experience Not all that hard If you screw up you don`t have to confess.

 

Yeah, if you're going to go the route of cutting it all out yourself, might as well start with some cardboard and duct tape.

For my front bumper, I went with a CBI kit, and that saved a TON of time cutting and bending. I ended up spending all that saved time on 15 passes with my little welder, lol.

For a rear bumper, most of them are so simple you could really just get a chunk of 4x6 square stock (or similar) and section the ends at an angle to make it look good.

I kinda wish I had started on a rear bumper instead of the front. Much less complicated of a project. But, I needed/wanted a winch...

 

Like @jbrandt said, there'll be a learning curve. Depends on how you structure your projects if you want better work being visible as you gain more experience and finess.

 

@96BlueTacos PM sent. LMK what you think.

 

I welded my own rear bumper a few years ago, and I would highly recommend giving it a shot. I also had little welding experience, so it was a really good learning experience if you are trying to develop welding skills.

I would recommend like others have to make pieces out of cardboard to get fitments down. Also, use the mounting supports of the original rear bumper to help layout the one you're making. I came up with a general idea for the design, and then got some scrap metal off somebody on craigslist for cheap and molded the design to work with the pieces I had, rather than designing with specific metal dimensions in mind. I find working within constraints is sometimes easier.

It is a very simple design and not the most attractive bumper, but it works and was a fun project! Don't judge my welds.. never said I was a good welder lol

 

You might want to Check out Off Road Fab Net might be a better source

I recall years ago some place having prints for sale of most anything you wanted to build.

I never really looked just easier to design and build myself.

 

@Gnarlyshredder what size tube steel did you use, looks good.

 

@Kwe1982 Thanks man! Its 6x2x0.25" if I remember correctly, so its pretty damn beefy lol.

 

That looks pretty cool, I would say it’s a pretty good looking bumper.

 

@96BlueTacos Appreciate it, you should tackle making your own, the hardest part is just getting started!

 

There was one I downloaded years ago but never did anything with

The highschool's cnc plasma was broken for the 3 years I had access to it

 

Depends what year 4r and what year tacoma

My 98 4r is identical to how my 95 taco was but my 01 4r was entirely different than both

Arb doesn't make a 3gt4r bumper but plenty of guys bolt the tacoma bumper on no problem

 

You can fabricate brackets to install most any bumper on anything if the finished job looks pleasing to your eye is another thing.

Myself I always go with function over looks any day.