Custom Steel Bumper Guard Attached to Tow Hitch

[nunucello]

NY/NYC can be hard on vehicles when parked on the street. Been reared three times by drivers not paying attention and tailgating in previous vehicles. I wanted to make something which will protect me from being hit by tailgating drivers.

So here it is.... Steel guard which is attached to the tail hitch. I'm hoping you enjoy viewing. I welcome all feedback on this mod - both good and bad.

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[kcamp317]

Must be a rough neighborhood......with your truck booted even in the garage! lol! That bumper is a good idea for your situation. Maybe get the ends capped and welded closed and get it powder coated.

 

[nunucello]

Must be a rough neighborhood......with your truck booted even in the garage! lol! That bumper is a good idea for your situation. Maybe get the ends capped and welded closed and get it powder coated.

I'm going to 3D print the end caps. Would love to get it powder coated.

 

[Johnkn]

So now if there's an impact, rather than the bumper absorbing and properly distributing the load it will be transferred directly through the hitch to the unibody attachment points causing more damage? You go from a damaged bumper to rear unibody damage? IDK


.

 

[nunucello]

So now if there's an impact, rather than the bumper absorbing and properly distributing the load it will be transferred directly through the hitch to the unibody attachment points causing more damage? You go from a damaged bumper to rear unibody damage?


.

I hope not

My friend got rear ended and had the 1UP bicycle rack attached. No damage to his SUV. The 1UP protected it. The driver who was drunk rear ended him had damage to his entire front hood.

My thinking/hope is that this guard would prevent more damage. I'm open to suggestions to improve this design.

 

[Dallas Maverick]

Maybe add some hard rubber bumpers to the backside of the bar and make them thick enough so they forcefully push against the actual bumper. This would maybe do two things:

1. Would keep the steel bar in place and keeping it from swaying/wiggling while you drive.
2. Distribute 'some' of the forces into the actual bumper incase anyone actually bumps into you.

powder coating might be nice, but maybe a rattle can of underbody coating, or bed liner, would work as well and be cheaper.

 

[brnpttmn]

Seems like a good way to increase your chances of getting a compressed or fractured vertebrae in your neck if you do get rear ended.

 

[brdl04]

So now if there's an impact, rather than the bumper absorbing and properly distributing the load it will be transferred directly through the hitch to the unibody attachment points causing more damage? You go from a damaged bumper to rear unibody damage? IDK


.

its not for rear end collisions, its for parallel parking and slight bumps. Chill.....lol

 

[nunucello]

Maybe add some hard rubber bumpers to the backside of the bar and make them thick enough so they forcefully push against the actual bumper. This would maybe do two things:

1. Would keep the steel bar in place and keeping it from swaying/wiggling while you drive.
2. Distribute 'some' of the forces into the actual bumper incase anyone actually bumps into you.

powder coating might be nice, but maybe a rattle can of underbody coating, or bed liner, would work as well and be cheaper.

Those are all great ideas Dallas ! Maybe something like this :

https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...a9fkoIwCMoUvSatVLiFobiNDCHIwfJvQaAnosEALw_wcB

 

[nunucello]

Seems like a good way to increase your chances of getting a compressed or fractured vertebrae in your neck if you do get rear ended.

That's actually a good point - Had not thought about that.

Don't laugh - but what if I were to weld a series of large wire springs to the steel bumper ?

Maybe something like this :
https://www.msspring.com/large-wire-diameter-springs/

 

[Trucklet]

Only thing I'd do differently is add a dozen spike lug nuts along the entire length of the thing, facing rearward.

 

[Maverickman74]

I like your style, my bumper is made from the exact same metal.

However I would consider a re design out of something a bit more pliable. Like two pieces of the heaviest of that electrical conduit racking channel peices like the ones they recommended for the diy bed rails. They are coated so that helps, plus they can be bent a little like your buddies bike rack when impacted. They will slow the impact instead of just transfering it directly. I would stack em 2 high for coverage and strength and maybe space em out an inch more to allow for occasianal bending and bending back into place until bad enough to replace it. Also maybe bolt on and just tack weld the bolts to prevent theft if an issue.

Also think about it as more multi purpose. How else can it being there benefit you if you add something to it. Another thought instead of redesigning it just add lightening holes along it to allow it just a little more give. But only if you have access to a drill press because that metal is thick.

Otherwise if you arent concerned about big crashes and that stuff, I think it is fine as is. However I would weld on something to tie stuff to it becasue I like options.

 

[Maverickman74]

Only thing I'd do differently is add a dozen spike lug nuts along the entire length of the thing, facing rearward.

just grind the tips a bit for your knees sake. Trust me I been there.

 

[nunucello]

I like your style, my bumper is made from the exact same metal.

However I would consider a re design out of something a bit more pliable. Like two pieces of the heaviest of that electrical conduit racking channel peices like the ones they recommended for the diy bed rails. They are coated so that helps, plus they can be bent a little like your buddies bike rack when impacted. They will slow the impact instead of just transfering it directly. I would stack em 2 high for coverage and strength and maybe space em out an inch more to allow for occasianal bending and bending back into place until bad enough to replace it. Also maybe bolt on and just tack weld the bolts to prevent theft if an issue.

Also think about it as more multi purpose. How else can it being there benefit you if you add something to it. Another thought instead of redesigning it just add lightening holes along it to allow it just a little more give. But only if you have access to a drill press because that metal is thick.

Otherwise if you arent concerned about big crashes and that stuff, I think it is fine as is. However I would weld on something to tie stuff to it becasue I like options.

You sold me Maverick Man - starting my redesign now. I like the idea of bolting it together rather than welding.

Also like the idea of using a more pliable metal. You mean something like this :
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superst...BgDn9a4xChygB2GW_mUaAgTsEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Johnkn]

its not for rear end collisions, its for parallel parking and slight bumps. Chill.....lol

I don't know what you ...believe.... it's for, it will help defeat the operation of the rear bumper. I mentioned it above because the vehicle I was driving years ago was struck from behind while stopped. Much of the impact was taken by my car's receiver hitch as opposed to the rear bumper. The car had significant damage to the rear unibody/frame area where the receiver was attached, and my back and neck likely took much more damage than if the impact had been more fully absorbed and distributed by the bumper.


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