I'm building all my off road equipment and I just need a little advice

And help on building it, what kind of metal to use for this?

What kind of brush guard would be best and can i attach a skid plate?

Also, and finally where can I find sheets of diamond plate metal?

Please post pictures so i can get an idea of where to start.

Thanks in advance

-493

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This is my old car i build the rack out of a old hospital bed frame worked great and was super strong!

First of all - do you have these tools?

 

Welder

Torch/Bandsaw/plasma cutter

Drill/Drill press

Tubing bender

etc....

 

If not - the biggest question you need to ask is "How can I gain access to or aquire at least the basics for metal-working."

 

Once you have done that - the rest should fall into place pretty readily. The act of aquireing, borrowing, and learning to use these things will neccesarily put you into contact with the people and places that can answer those trivial questions about material types and sources. Besides - how can we tell you where to get metal if we don't know where you are?

 

GD

88subie that looks great, I like the lift.

Are those stock rims?? I've been looking for rims for my Loyale without switching it to 5 lug.

 

And GD I do have all that stuff I just need metal, And I'm located in Albuquerque, New Mexico There's not much out here besides dirt.

-439

Those rims are not stock, they are 15" Alloy Peugeot Flat-spoke wheels and the tires look to be Superswampers.

 

I agree, a Old bed frame is what a lot of folks do cause its mostly ready to go.

 

Good luck on the project.

 

-Tom

Google shows lots of steel yards in and around your area.....

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA&wrapid=tlif12664409935222&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Albuquerque,+New+Mexico+metal+tubing&fb=1&gl=us&hq=metal+tubing&hnear=Albuquerque,+NM&view=text&ei=nAKATMKXC4S8sAPP6OT0Cg&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CDYQtQMwAA

 

I am quite sure that more than one of those places carries tubing, channel, and sheet goods in a mind boggliing array of sizes and shapes. Just call around.

 

Cutting up old bed frames..... that's ghetto and frankly more trouble than it's worth most days. Steel is CHEAP and you might as well start with straight, flat sections and do what you like with it.

 

As for rims - if you can pickup some cheap Pugs then they aren't a bad way to go - but go for the steel's if you are wheeling. Otherwise the 6 lug conversion makes more sense for a wheeler and is easy.

 

GD

Ok thanks I'm gonna give them a call hopefully they'll have diamond plate steel along with the tubing.

 

And what about skid plates?

I was told I had to make a custom bumper, which i don't mind doing but is it worth it?

Thanks

-439

Personally I would use aluminium diamond plate - it's lighter.

 

Yes - anything you want for a bumper, etc is going to have to be custom. There is no aftermarket for these cars.

 

Worth it? Well - depends on what you are doing with it. Personally to me a brush gaurd and winch mount are worth it off-road. Skid plate too - definitely want to protect the exhaust, oil pan, etc.

 

GD

Its all worth it, even if your not gonna do any hard core trail riding - it still makes the vehicle more capable and just looks bad rump roast

 

Aluminum Diamond plate for the win.

This is my roof set-up:

 

 

 

 

 

It's made from angle iron and steel channeling, with some eyelets welded on. It bolts to round roof bars using pipe clamps. It's very effective, and incredibly strong. Also very simple to make

I know i have sent you the links about my set up already, but here they are again.

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=99076

 

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=98826

So I'm going with Aluminum diamond plate steel and the bumper is something new, I'll post pictures when it's done.

Brysawn your roof rack looks like it's coming along great.

Thanks Markus for the links really appreciate it.

Final touch on interior is rally netting all around