ford front bumper bracket

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I am working on a new front bumper for my 2001 F250.  I am looking to see if anyone has made a bracket for the front bumper.  The stock bumper mounts to the front of the frame rail and it does not look like you can mount it on the side of the rail because of where the spirng hanger is. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.Thanks Todd
Reply:Don't know if it's like an old Chevy I'm working on.  Has holes on front of the frame at weird angles.  I don't see it as a problem though.  It's all in the way you make the bracket.I like to get the pattern for the holes, drill the plate, mount the plate in its intended position on the truck, then fabricate the rest of the bumper out from there.  Tack everything while it's on the truck, and then finish weld it after it's all assembled.  That way you'll know it's gonna fit perfect when it's done.It doesnt matter if the first plate is perfectly aligned, the rest of the bracket is made to fit.  You can always smoogie it a bit to true the final fit out at the bumper.These are pics of a bumper I built for my ol' Dodge many years ago.  You'll notice the plate mounted to the frame isn't perfectly square with the frame.  It doesn't matter.  The rest of the bracket was made to match the plate and bumper.The lil' tiny angle gusset going from bracket to bumper tube is the heart and soul of the ability of the bumper to take force from the side without springing or swaying.  Just that one little piece makes it into a veeeery strong bumper.  All built up main connecting welds, and built up weld on the tow eyes.I hook the truck to my tractor, and hook a 32' bale trailer to the truck, and go up and down the highway every year with this arrangement.  It's pretty damn strong.  I got the towbar layin' around somewhere in the weeds.But, like I say.  Work from the truck out, and the smallest gussets will add huge strength Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thanks for the advice.  I went and looked at a ranchhand type bumper this morning.  It looks like they take two pieces of 3/8 plate and weld them together in an L shape but with no gussets.  I am definetly add some gussets to keep any side to side flex to a minimum like you said.  I am going to have a buddy with an CAD plasma cut them out contoured to the two mian pipes and have him go head and cut the bolt holes with a little bit of side to side adjustment.  Attached is what I have come up with. Attached ImagesBracket.pdf (17.5 KB, 90 views)
Reply:It looks as if we're looking at a different sittuation than my Dodge.If the bolt holes on your drawing are where it attaches to the frame I'm sorta in synch with what we're talking about.If the distance from the frame to the cutouts for the pipe is as long as it looks, a small gusset won't work.  It's not a big change, but something important.You would do better with a full length square stiffener running from the frame to the cutouts.  It isn't going to add much to cost, and will be a real easy deal.  As the drawing is now, there's too much unreinforced plate between the gusset and the cutouts.  It can bend.I built a rear bumper for a friends old Toyota 4Runner that had a long bracket run from the frame to the rear of the body.  The square strongback stiffener took all side sway out of the assembly.  He towed a boat trailer with it.It's a lousy drawing, but I hope it makes it clear.  You need to resist side movement along the entire length of the bracket out to the bumper.  And again, it's just a small piece of steel that can be put on the inside or outside of the bracket.  Hope it helps. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Don't be afraid to go larger on the stiffener.  If you have room, 3/8 x 3 would be optimal.You may need to pull the truck out of the mud or something one day.  Side stress on the front bumper can be really high if you have to pull at an angle.Last edited by farmersamm; 01-29-2009 at 07:49 PM.Reason: towing/recovery"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Samm, thanks for the ideas.  So if I am understanding you right just use the square tube and no gussets?
Reply:I wish I had your CAD program.Your drawing is fine.  Instead of the small gusset near the bolt holes, use a long thin piece going all the way out to where the pipe is going to fit.  Just a long 3/8 by 2-3inch strip.  Inside the L shape is better, but if you don't have room, it can be outside the L.Draw it on your program, as you understand it, and repost it.I wish there was a better way to do this.  Sorry"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:It's gonna look like a T if you look at it from directly in frontLast edited by farmersamm; 01-29-2009 at 10:51 PM."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Ok, I got some pics.This is the part of a crane that the block and tackle is attached to.  It's the part that holds the load.  Everybody here's seen this damn crane before.  It's what the hook on the block and tackle hooks to.The piece of cold roll is what the block and tackle is hooked to.  The plate hanging down is what gives it strength vertically.  It resists the downward forces of the load.The spine/strongback/stiffener sticking out at right a angle to the plate is what resists lateral movement.  I regularly lift, and move over rough ground, loads up to around maybe close to a ton.  That stuff gets to swingin', and that little strongback resists any tendancy for the plate to bend or rip off the crane.  It's only about an inch in depth.  But it runs the length of the plate to the load point.  See what I mean.  Cool stuff  This stuff works. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:SammThe program is a free one called Google Sketchup.  I found out about in another post on here.  I redrew the bracket.  Here it is. Attached ImagesBracket.pdf (22.5 KB, 63 views)
Reply:I think that ought to work really well.  It takes the flex out of the flat plate.I'll try to download that program.  It's pretty neat, and it makes it easier to discuss things without using hand signals"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/