Date:         Thu, 30 Sep 2004 11:35:31 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Home Made Bull Bars--Pipe Benders
Comments: To: "P. Stanhope" <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20040930144728.84596.qmail@web12207.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Phil

pipe is to heavy in my opinion, you want the bumper to be mostly
sacrificial in impacts.  my brother got into an accident with a full sized
van that had a 6" channel bumper bolted to the frame.  he ended up rear
ending one of the crazy drivers that we have in detroit.  anyhow the
channel bumper was fine in the end but it was so strong that it ripped the
frame rather than give way.

my suggestion would be to visit a local hydraulic shop if you have one in
your part of the country.  they will be the best ones to make the bends
for you and have all the bending equipment.  i've spent most of my time
bending EMT and rigid (pipe) electrical conduit.  you would be surprised
how strong EMT is, since its always been at hand i have constructed quite
a bit out of it.

jonathan


 On Thu, 30 Sep 2004, P. Stanhope wrote:

> I want to construct a front bull bar bumper that looks
> much like the "Projectzwo"-spelling? bumper that was
> discontinued....Does anyone know if this pipe bender
> would
> work?http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38024
> This pipe bender does up to 3" OD. The Projectzwo bull
> bar was made with .3" Diameter Dual Tubular Steel
> Bumpers ERW (Rolled and Welded) .090 wall +/- 10%. My
> welder says .090 is too thin to have any sort of
> serious impact protection. I know that the stock
> vanagon steel frame bumper does most of the stopping
> power, but a bull bar should help out a little...no?
> So im undecided on how thick of pipe i want, too thick
> and the bull bar will be too heavy....too thin and it
> will bend apon impact with a seagull bird.
>
> Anyways, my welder thinks we wont need a pipe bender,
> i think he's nuts....but hes been welding these things
> for 20 years.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> =====
> Phil
> 84' Westy...Tiico'ed
> 00' Cannondale MTB
> 95' S9 Skateboard
> 04' New Balance 705 All Terrain's
>
>
>
>
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