A good easy way to strengthen our Bronco frame ends

[rjrobin2002]

Well most of us just bolt our heavy duty bumpers on and do not think about how easy it could get torn off when getting pulled out of the mud or in a wreck due to the minimal frame material after the 4 bolts.

Here is what happen to a friend of mine when someone hit him at a wierd angle and the Toms tire carrier bumper hooked her car ripping it off. I thought of a way to replace the torn section with some 1/8" angle to add a lot more strength to it getting torn off instead of just fixing with flat plate. He did the actual fab work, I just consulted as he is my fabrication student I am shade tree teaching, LOL.

 

[Skiddy]

looks like that will work

 

[rjrobin2002]

No need to over engineer, but angle is twice as strong as flat plate in my red neck engineer field trials, so that's how we finished it off. Looks better than stock also in my opinion.

 

[thegreatjustino]

How do you slide the bumper back in with the angled portion blocking the entry point?

 

[rjrobin2002]

This aftermarket bumper slides over the frame.

 

[Skiddy]

ok I will be a dick, it however doesn't reinforce the bolt holes
just messin with ya buddy

 

[Broncobowsher]

2x4 tubing slides into the frame rails. Jam some in, mark, cut. Drill holes through both. Slide out. Tap the insert for bolt threads. Don't have to be big, 5/16 is fine. Drill the frame a touch larger then the bolts. Slide insert in and bolt in place.

Think aircraft, not car. Spread the load out over several small fasteners and it holds better and is lighter then one large fastener. Given the loads, and the frame, spreading the loads out all over the last 6" of the frame keeps it from being pulled out.

Devil's advocate, the bumper tearing off the frame probably did a great job keeping the frame from further damage.

Which side of the fence do you want to be on? (I go overkill strength)

 

[SteveL]

^^^^^^^^ like he said

 

[Glass Pony]

I welded these on before I installed my Protofab bumpers.
https://shop.broncograveyard.com/Bumper-Reiforcement-Tabs-Set-of-4/productinfo/15099/

 

[FordBronc]

I welded some tubing to my bumpers, after a test fit inside the frame rails, of course. Then still bolted them and then welded the bumpers to the frame rails.

Welding some reinforcement tabs (like the above thread) on the underside (inside) of the frame should work for stock bumper bolt on area reinforcement.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Some of the aftermarket bumpers like Duff's utilize a farther reach into the horns picking up additional bolting points.

 

[centex77]

Had the same problem. Welded on some 1/4" plate on the top and bottom of the frame going over the bolt hole so it strengthened the holes and frame.

 

[JWMcCrary]

Bailie Bilt - You may tear the frame in half but if the bumper comes off the frame is coming with it.

 

[NYLES]

Bailie Bilt - You may tear the frame in half but if the bumper comes off the frame is coming with it.

And you have to cut em off!

 

[Bronco Junkie]

I boxed mine.