Time to beef of the tractor

[BMan2005]

Decided to build a bumper to attach to the frame with a hitch after having to be pulled out not long ago and the only place I trusted hooking to was the front frame where you hang weights. I was hooked to a trailer, so could only hook to the front. Why I'm at it I plan to beef up the brush guard also before I bust my front end and wish I had done it already.

Here's some pictures of the build. Bought a 10" piece of 4"x8" square tubing with 3/8" walls. I had it cut from a piece of steel in a recycling yard. It will bolt up directly to the frame to a 1" steel plate that a weight hanger goes on. I clamped it up exactly how I wanted it and traced out the bolt holes from the back side then drilled them.

 

[BMan2005]

I decided to beef it up where it'll be bolted. I took a piece of 3/8" 2" wide flat stock, cut to size, drew a center line, and welded it in. I'll drill this as well, this should keep the bumper straight if I put stress on it pulling in the future by distributing the weight over a wide area.

 

[BMan2005]

I added the receiver hitch here and centered it up on the tubing where I wanted it. I tested how far out I needed it to fit the flat stock I was going to use to reinforce it to the bumper. After checking it and being centered I tack welded it down so I could start cutting the 3/8" flat stock and piece it all together before tacking it all down. After it was tacked up I cleaned the factory paint off the hitch, reassembled, and ran a pass over everything with 7018. I didn't get a picture of it welded in yet. Going to clean it real good tomorrow and run a few more passes in areas. Then some paint, and to find what bolts even fit this thing, lol.

I'll keep sharing pictures of the build as it goes.

 

[blackrams]

Bman,
That's one heck of a bumper/receiver hitch. :thumbsup:

Rams :drink:

 

[Redlands Okie]

Nice work. Bound to be handy

 

[BMan2005]

Took these before finishing tonight. This was everything with a single pass. I did run some 6011 where the hitch laid on the bumper. The rounded edge of the square tubing didn't fit tight enough for the 7018 to run smooth. At least not for my experience level.

 

[BMan2005]

Ran three stringer beads over everything with 7018, fit it up to the tractor (not the hitch I'm using waiting on it), and put some paint on it. Hope to get the bolts tomorrow and get it bolted in place and some final pictures of the project.

 

[bcp]

Cut a chain hole or two in the top of the large rectangular tube.



Bruce

 

[BMan2005]

I don't have a torch or plasma cutter yet to do that or I would, great idea!

I left the top un painted deciding to weld hooks on the top or D Rings. The hitch will have a shackle hitch in it.

 

[aczlan]

I don't have a torch or plasma cutter yet to do that or I would, great idea!
I left the top un painted deciding to weld hooks on the top or D Rings. The hitch will have a shackle hitch in it.

If you wanted to put one in, you could drill the big hole with a hole saw, a small one at the end of the slot with a drill bit and connect the two with an angle grinder and/or a sawzall.

Aaron Z