I used to have an apartment by the nice walmart (as opposed to stabmart back when Rapid only had 2 walmarts, although I cant magine they have a reason for a third now). Anyway some ***** broke in and took my EFI live device, surefire flashlight, a Kbar, 2 pistol mags, and all my charging cords. Lucky for me they couldn't get to the glove box because I had a SigP226 in there. I'm assuming they are fat with short arms. At the time I was only driving the truck on weekends and I didn't notice for a couple days because he/she was curious enough to close it when they were done.

But yeah that and the rattle from when the speakers is my reasoning.

 

Pulled the bed the make the axle swap, and shock relocation easier. I forgot this truck lived 10years in PA. While its apart what would you do to it if it was yours? Already planning to clean the loose stuff up and POR15 it.

 

Pressure wash, wire wheel, paint. And punch holes in the frame because #racecar.

 

What about the 2 rear cross members where the spare tire used to mount? For some reason I want to cut them out and redo them differently. Also need to pull the hitch and bumper for rust repair and was considering fabbing up a high clearance hitch/bumper like this. Haven't worked with tube much but my neighbor has a bender and notcher.

 

I’m no structural engineer but I’d think removing the front one and the plate between the two wouldn’t affect anything. Could also fill them with concrete to add some weight over the rear axle and help with traction.

 

I hate sliders too. **** canned that ASAP on my Ranger as well

everyone out here stealing my Tahoe bumper ideas 😂

I support all things high clearance, and think you should can the spare tire tubes and put a fuel cell under there. Weld the bumper to the frame and it will be a crossmember of it's own

 

First things First, A couple of Clutch Dumps should get most of the loose stuff off...

Then maybe a pressure washer and start the sanding with your choice of process...

 

I was gonna cut the front one out but I think it will end up being more work than it's worth since that's typically where the shock mounts go and what I had planned when I had the mounts welded to the axle. The plate between them is going bye bye for sure.

I didn't know you were the first person to put a bumper on a GMT800 . You do have me strongly thinking of a fuel cell but that would put me waayyyyy over budget. Unless you have a source for cheap fuel cells and a way to retain factory fuel gauge.

Also don't want to make the bumper a permanent piece because who knows what will happen down the road. But I do need it to be strong enough to be a hitch as well, even with my Ray Charles welds.

Stop pressuring a recovering addict!

 

I might not have been "the first" but 4yrs ago I cut 9" out of my Tahoe body and built a DOM bumper (modeled off an RC bumper I built in college actually)

and now I see that **** eVeRyWhErE

thats ok. I'm game to be a trend setter 😂

weld that **** on. Cut the welds off later if you need to. Don't be a pu33y

 

Ehhh anytime I can avoid the future use of a grinder I will put in the extra work up front. I keep looking at tube bumpers and it makes me want to turn it into a truggy.