front & rear bumper

[Bear Chow]

I'm going to take a stab at making simple square tube front and rear bumpers with 3" hitch. How thick should the tube be without being overkill?


Thanks

Paul

[maddhatter]

What size tubing?

1/4" wall is heavy but strong.

[Bear Chow]

I was planning a trip to the scrap yard to see what I can find. 2x3 3x3 2x4 I thought 1/4" might be on the excessive side. So I figured, I would see what a typical thickness would be.

[KargoMaster]

<---- big fan of 1/4" wall or greater...

but I know I'm strange...

[maddhatter]

A pretty good rule is, Pick it up if it's not heavy ass hell? Find one that is!

[GPER]

3/16 works well and there is a special receiver hitch stock that doesn't have a seam inside of it. It is pricey but a foot will make two hitches.

[KennyTJ]

Find an old crappy trailer hitch and cut the reciver and tow chain loops off and use them in your build. Might be able to get a crappy old hitch for free.

3/16" is thicker that what most manufacturers use.

[tony]

ive always used 3/16th. and you can pic up receiver weld in fittings at tractor supply and harbor fraight. what thickness can your welder handle? most 120 migs are 3/16th.

[JeffK5]

I've got 5-10' lengths of 3"x3"x3/16 wall tube ...$30 each

They originally had base plates welded on them that I cut off with a torch.