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Front light bar input, 7/8 or 1"

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Old 03-05-2008
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Fab, Front light bar, What size tubing

Ok so I am working on a light bar that bolts to the front X-member. I am not sure if I should do 7/8 or 1" X .125 wall


I do know I will more than likely do DOM and have it powder coated, Everything will be tig welded. Once its done if anyone else wants one i will sell them. I want to make it as bolt on as possible. I have a mandrel bender all set up ready to go, I will be making the mock up tonight.

The set up will be for a maximum of 4 lights for 6" styles
 

Last edited by Midnightrider; 03-05-2008 at 06:27 PM.
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Old 03-06-2008
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i don't know but i wanna see it when you are done
 
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Old 03-06-2008
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Originally Posted by Midnightrider
Ok so I am working on a light bar that bolts to the front X-member. I am not sure if I should do 7/8 or 1" X .125 wall


I do know I will more than likely do DOM and have it powder coated, Everything will be tig welded. Once its done if anyone else wants one i will sell them. I want to make it as bolt on as possible. I have a mandrel bender all set up ready to go, I will be making the mock up tonight.

The set up will be for a maximum of 4 lights for 6" styles
7/8 and 1" will look too small, I'd go 1.75 for main bars and 1.5 for any others. There is no point to run a DOM light bar, you are just waisting your money. Mild steel is more than enough.
 
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Old 03-06-2008
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I get steal cheep through work as we use 10s of thousands of feet from 1/4 to 14 1/4 wall so price i pay is fairly cheep but yes DOM would bea bit over kill but would make it stiffer at 7/8 and 1"

My fear with 1.75 is it will look big and bulky, I was thinking along the lines 1" with tabs and maybe even pre running some feed lines for each light of 14gauge automotive grade wire.

Powder coating in colors would be easy for me as well red white black and yellow as of now.

Also if this turns out good, I would not mind selling them cheep. Material is cheep for me, I am the purchasing manager for a manufacturing company we use a lot of steel from tubing to bar and plate.
 
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Old 03-06-2008
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I'd be interested in one depending on how they turn out.
 
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Old 03-06-2008
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I will be doing a mock up in the next day or so. I want to keep it simple but make it look good. I want it to follow the line of the bumper. I just dont want it to look busy,
 
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Old 03-07-2008
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Ok So i think the new size will be 1.25 1/8 wall. It wont look over sized and wont look wimpy.
 
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Old 03-07-2008
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Just don't make it too strong. If you were to get into an accident you want that light bar to fold up. If it doesn't it may bend your frame instead.
 
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Old 03-07-2008
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if i like the way it looks i may be interested in buyin one
 
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Old 03-07-2008
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I don't get it. a light bar mounted to your front crossmember???? what????? confused...
 
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Old 03-08-2008
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Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01
I don't get it. a light bar mounted to your front crossmember???? what????? confused...
maybe it mounts to the crossmember then goes up over the valence like a bull bar but i never really saw that b4 but i guess i should read the whole post
 
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Old 03-08-2008
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it will mount and come out the front valence right where tow hooks are, if I can id like to make it compatable with tow hooks.

as far as to beinng to strong its one reason i was thinking 1" or at max 1.25

Another thing i was working on was conforming it to thr radius of the bumer so it kinda tucks in
 
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yeah i think 1.25 will look best
 
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