My next project is a rear bumper for the Vitara.
I have a vague idea what I want, probley include a tow bar into it with out making it to heavy.

But I though I would ask for ideas, pics and rough drawings from other people what they would think is a good design.

If you do any off-roading it would be worthwhile to make it stout enough to use a hi-lift jack on.  I built front and rear bumpers for my '85 Toytota many years ago using 3" square tubing so I could jack it on all four corners.  Fairly heavy, but stout.

My next project is a rear bumper for the Vitara.
I have a vague idea what I want, probley include a tow bar into it with out making it to heavy.

Towbar on a rear bumper?  Maybe on a front bumper. Hitch on the rear.

The biggest problem with building a bumper is figuring out the attachment points.  Once that is done, it's a matter of fabbing some brackets and then welding bumper onto them.  Even better, take mesaurements from the brackets, remove them, then weld the bumper onto the brackets.

As reb says, the simplest design is a big, 'ol nasty boxbeam.  You could get fancy and fab a bumper that fits the space of the OEM bumper, but you may end up with something that is heavier than it is pretty.

As for the towbar, I originally bought a towbar from Walmart. It had U-shaped pieces that attached to the bumper or frame.  The towbar attached and pivoted on the u-shaped pieces.  I built a box-beam bumper for my Samurai and welded these u-shaped pieces directly to the front of the boxbeam bumper.  Since then, I have flat towed my Samurai over 2200 miles without a problem.  And I simply removed the towbar from the bumper when I went wheeling.

Hope this helps!

I used a 5" piece of channel steel. Notched it in the middle and welded it to the frame.  Welded little plates on the end and 2 bolt on shackle mouts welded and bolted. It has been pulled out of mud many times and jacked with a hi-lift.

Quote from: suzukiboyoz on December 04, 2005, 05:19:33 AM

My next project is a rear bumper for the Vitara.
I have a vague idea what I want, probley include a tow bar into it with out making it to heavy.

Towbar on a rear bumper?  Maybe on a front bumper. Hitch on the rear.

Towbar for towing a trailer on the back.
Will have to do a few drawings and post up a few ideas.

Quote from: ack on December 04, 2005, 11:22:08 AM

Quote from: suzukiboyoz on December 04, 2005, 05:19:33 AM

My next project is a rear bumper for the Vitara.
I have a vague idea what I want, probley include a tow bar into it with out making it to heavy.

Towbar on a rear bumper?  Maybe on a front bumper. Hitch on the rear.

Towbar for towing a trailer on the back.
Will have to do a few drawings and post up a few ideas.

AHHH... those pesky words again! 

When one says "towbar" to a North American (we must not ignore our friends to the North and South) , the word conjurs up the vision of a device that is used to tow a vehicle behind another vehicle.  A trailer is usually attached to a vehicle via a ball-type hitch mounted to the end of the frame.

We MexAmeriCanuks also tend to have difficulties with the concept of Exhaust Manifold/Extractor and OZ = New Zealand/OZ = Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Don't be changin', now!  We'll try to catch up to ya on this.

Now where the heck did I put my Fosters???

AHHH... those pesky words again! 

When one says "towbar" to a North American (we must not ignore our friends to the North and South) , the word conjurs up the vision of a device that is used to tow a vehicle behind another vehicle.  A trailer is usually attached to a vehicle via a ball-type hitch mounted to the end of the frame.

We MexAmeriCanuks also tend to have difficulties with the concept of Exhaust Manifold/Extractor and OZ = New Zealand/OZ = Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Don't be changin', now!  We'll try to catch up to ya on this.

Now where the heck did I put my Fosters???

Now you're going to offend our Kiwi friends from New zealand as OZ is actually Australia which is a different country entirely. And as for a Fosters, no thanks. Haven't even seen one in years, I reckon itall goes overseas where it belongs. 

I have a interesting suggestion.  Some guys in the local 4x4 club have adapted their bumbers(tube) to hold air.  Than way their air pump does not have to be on to engage/disengage the ARB locker, and it holds some air to pump tires.  I have not personally seen the setup, but I seems like an interesting concept.   I think it was said that the front and back bumpers were hooked together via a hose to hold more air.  Anyone heard of this?
Jeff

I have heard of and seen this done...however, I'm not sure of the legalities. It may be outlawed in some places due to the danger of having a 'bomb' on the front and rear of your vehicle most likely to receive impact.

I have thought about it though, no doubt!

SQ

I have seen it plenty of times, mosty front bumpers though, I dont think I have ever seen a rear setup with an air tank/bumper, in person that is.  Works great in conjunction with on board air, tools, tires, arbs, etc.....

Does anyone have a pic of the rear of there Vitara/Sidekick with no bumper so I have something to draw up a design from?

Depends on the year, mine is different
from newer models. The only pics I have
is of the stock under the bumper (without cover)

Mine is a 1995 model 3 door.

If you plan to use the bumper for towing and snatching purposes, then I strongly suggest that you use frame mounts in as many planes as possible. Most to all Suzuki vehicles have a box frame. These box frame may already have nuts welded on the inside for a hitch frame from the factory. That's just the bottom of the frame and a single plane. Use the frame and rear crossmember to help strength and gusset the mounting of the rear bumper.

here is a couple of pics of my rear bumper



this pic was before the winch went on