Things I don't see as often as I was expecting....I get so much wheel hop with my truck, that I actually broke the trans crossmember! And yet I still don't see a ton of traction bars and ladder bars on lifted and modified F-150's. Why is that??

And I see a lot trucks with factory bumpers. Am I the only one that thinks they are fat/ugly? You guys spend thousands of dollars on wheel/tire combinations....and leave that big ugly hunk of steel hanging on the front/rear of your truck. Gross!


Next are radius arms....pretty important in a lifted truck, but apparently not required. I see a lot of lifted trucks with stock, un-modified radius arms.


I'm planning on building a mild, street-able "prerunner" style F-150....and I just thought I'd share some thoughts with you all. Feel free to post up some info/pics about your prerunner or lifted F-150.


-Lindenmooch.

 

Give me a "Bullet Proof" Bumper over a fashion statement any day! If you want to drive around w/ a couple sticks of metal wrapped in Styrofoam & plastic (they're referred to as "5 mph bumpers" for a reason), go ahead! My experience is, that when an accident gets past the bumpers, ambulances & tow trucks have they're hands full. But maybe that's just me?

 

im with you on this one i have a custom drop bumper i built for my rear but still looking for the right combo for the front and as for traction bars... im thinkin i wanna check my trans crossmember now it hops terrible....

 

I have the original stock H.D. step bumper on the rear of my 87' XLT. 23 yrs., still no dings, but I scrap paint off it from people parking by "Braille" on a regular basis.

 

if it aint broke don't fix it, I got better/more important things to spend my money on then a pretty bumper.

Besides my square chrome back bumper stops people from tail gating me, if they try they end up getting blinded lol.

 

So which is it? Better? More? More better? You must have the same rear bumper my 87' has. I think it's a frickin work of Art! In fact, Art that works!
Which would make it even more better!

 

holy hell...you guys are something. =P

You know...the prerunner style front and rear bumpers I am planning on building...will be built with the SAME materials used in roll cages in Nascar and Dakar and everything in between. I'm not trying to build a fancy, pretty bumper. I just said I think the factory bumpers on these trucks are hideous...and I'm getting rid of them. =)

 

Yes you can half *** a lift and run the stock raidus arms, but you're really shooting yourself in the foot. A good set of extended arms will do way more than you ever think. It'll ride better on the road, but it'll increase your suspension travel since it won't bind near as easy (due to the added length). If you really want some nice arms make a set and use a set of Summit Machine forged joints on the end (35* misalignment and rebuildable).


You also say that you're going to build your bumper from "the SAME materials used in roll cages in Nascar and Dakar and everything in between". Why go to the expense of using DOM in that kind of application? You want to use DOM in your cage or suspension links where it counts, but for a bumper you're just adding alot of extra cost for no added strength. You'd be much better off using HREW, but even sch40 or sch80 pipe is more than sufficient (and about half the price) for a bumper if its been designed (braced) correctly. Remember its all about force transfer.

 

See! If we stall long enough, somebody eventually shows up that actually knows what he's talking about. I thought Dakar was an inhospitable town in Germany. I had to stall! However, I still like my 87' stock bumpers.

 

Ahah! Intelligence! I was starting to doubt this forum.....thanks for posting Powerstroke.....I hope you subscribed. It looks like you have plenty of helpful advice to give me....

So you say I don't need to use DOM for a bumper? Sch 40 pipe will work? What should the outside diameter be? Wall thickness? wait...does pipe even measure wall thickness?



And yes, I know about radius arms....I got a good deal on a pair of Superlift arms....but one of them is bent nearly in half. So if I can't source a new one....I'm going to build a new one using the bent one's mounting brackets.

 

The size of pipe you'll want is dependant on the weight you allow yourself. Depending what size engine and suspension type you go with you may need to try and conserve as much weight as possible up front.

Keep in mind that pipe is not measured by OD, its measured by ID and the wall thickness can vary across the length of the pipe. Also remember that depending if you use pipe or tube you need a bender for pipe or one for tube, they are 2 different things. Sch80 is a thicker wall than 40, so it'll withstand hits better. If it was me I would use 80 for the main cross beam and its main supports, but use 40 everywhere else on it to conserve weight.


On your suspension links I would take a good hard look at the Duff arms. Make sure that you use a heavy enough piece of DOM for them. I'd be looking at something in the 2" 0.25" wall family. You could even do 2" 0.25" wall square tube with some Ballistic Fab inserts.

 

"Ahah! Intelligence! I was starting to doubt this forum....."
Is someone skipping their @sshole's Anonymous Meetings again? You're never going to get better that way! Lidermooch, when you do that, your not just hurting yourself (You end up wandering onto Forums and insulting people)...................I'm sure you've heard that many,many times before, but we're still here for you!

 

Anyone have any pics of custom fabbed or bought extended arms or bumper, traction bars just curious and needing ideas

 

Don't give me that bull....you're the one who needlessly posted crap that I didn't ask for....now because I hurt your feelings you're trying to be the hero.

I've seen some of your other posts....and I know you are very knowledgeable and can indeed come up with useful information when you feel like it. I apologize if I judged you incorrectly....but you didn't exactly prove helpful right off the bat.

Anyway.....Beastly...I'll try and find some pics for you...

 

Thanks