Bumper

[lawnwarrior]

I have a '97 Chevy 1/2 ton and I am wanting to build a winch style bumper for the truck. I am some what of an ametuar welder but I have a design and build background so the design is not the problem. I am wanting to know if any one has attempted this and if so what kind of things to look out for. Also wondering where in the Indianapolis area I can get big sheet steel like I will need? Thanks in advance Justin.

[Ferntj]

I don't live in indy. Try calling some of these places:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=steel+indianapolis&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=1

[metalmeltr]

what size winch are you putting on it? one time i saw a design where a guy made an air storage tank for his onboard air compressor and i think
he mounted a winch on it. If you have one of thhes sysems you may wat to look in to it.

[metalmeltr]

this is the air ank bumper

https://www.millerwelds.com/intrests/projects/ideagallery/project/966732880

And this is a winch bumper I found

https://www.millerwelds.com/intrests/projects/ideagallery/project/966842686

[Zrexxer]

Also wondering where in the Indianapolis area I can get big sheet steel like I will need? Thanks in advance Justin.

Welcome to the forum. However, before asking a forum of people scattered all over the world where to buy steel in the city you live in, you'd probably have better results looking in your local yellow pages under "Metal Suppliers" or "Steel Suppliers" and dialing a few steelyards.

As far as design, you can avoid the things "to watch out for" by studying the commercially available products from the big truck accessory manufacturers. You can be pretty sure they've weeded out the things that don't work in their designs.