Bumper dreams,

Not practical but I  always loved the way the early Bay window bumpers curved around and became a step to get into the van.  I wonder why that was only for a couple years.

On the practical side.  My second van has GW steel bumpers, but the front one had no holes for a from License plate. 

I’d recommend two holes in the correct place for a bracket so that they get pained and are ready. I hate drilling into a newly painted piece.

Of course Alistair probably has a bunch of cool license brackets ready to go.  

Eric 

> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:57 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> 
> If you want, yes :-)
> 
>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 5:11 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Will they come with bottle cap removers?
>> 
>> BT
>> 
>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>> Hey Bruce. I hope to make more bumpers, well I have to make at least 2 sets. We will see how it goes.
>>> 
>>> I’m kinda slightly regretting my orange choice before seeing it. But hey, live a little .
>>> 
>>> Ab
>>> 
>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:28 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Or one side orange and the other side brown to compliment Alistair’s best
>>>> in class colour scheme!
>>>> 
>>>> Thebumper looks very nice.  I could also be a beta tester - and you know
>>>> where my van currently lives.   I decided to to go with my stock bumpers
>>>> and not upgrade to keep project costs somewhat in line.  Anyway if you
>>>> begin to roll these off the Bell Industry’s assembly line - you have
>>>> another client…I can even pick up factory seconds directly from the factory.
>>>> 
>>>> Bruce
>>>> 
>>>>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I think you should paint one side white and the other orange, and promote
>>>>> it as an example of the spirit of compromise in marriage,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Dave B
>>>>> Boise
>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of Eric
>>>>> Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:40 PM
>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>> Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
>>>>> 
>>>>> I would love to have my van be orange!  But, white is so darn practical
>>>>> for heat when camping.  Also, my wife is anti orange color for us.  Still a
>>>>> orange 76 westy still fills my dreams!
>>>>> 
>>>>> The bumpers in Orange sound great to me!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Still aluminum can’t just be pretty polished?  I don’t know these things
>>>>> but simple care is appealing.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Eric
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:34 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hey Eric,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Got a line of beta testers waiting here…. But I’ll put you on the list
>>>>> :-)
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> It’s 1/4” 5052 aluminum. Yes it’s strong enough to stand on, that’s
>>>>> important to me too. And the top plate, the standing surface, is flat, not
>>>>> slightly angled as in the stock steel. So less chance of slipping off in
>>>>> the wet.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Took bumper to powdercoat today. Was going to be all black, a very
>>>>> slight texture . But he showed me a gloss orange that so very closely
>>>>> matches the orange doors I’ve got on van… so why not, encaps still black.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I can repaint if the orange looks silly
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:17 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hey,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Looking for a Beta tester?  I’ll pay shipping and more!
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Light, strong, rust proof, and stock like look?  What is not to love?
>>>>> And, Bell Industries reputation behind it!
>>>>>>> I’m happy with a not perfect version!
>>>>>>> I only want to know is it strong enough for one  to stand on to get up
>>>>> on the luggage rack or rear of bus?
>>>>>>> My stock one on the front wants to bend if I try to step up on it.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I’m blind, but why paint?  Would brushed or polished aluminum stand up
>>>>> without need of touch ups?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 11:08 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Four years :-)
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Well , since I measured the stock bumper and drew first model .
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Then this spring I had bumper 3D scanned. More or less fit my measured
>>>>> model.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Then more computer modelling , time wasting .
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> The main part of the bumper is quite fast. Cnc router cut panels, 3,
>>>>> then held in curve on a jig, top and bottom plates tacked on. Then full
>>>>> weld. I tig welded this one, but I’d mig the next.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Router a chamfer on top weld, flap disc grind the bottom weld to blend.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> It was the endcaps that took the most time. I have I think four failed
>>>>> versions. Flat pattern cnc cut, then brake press to bend, then a front face
>>>>> and a wee little rear face welded. Grind and blend etc.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Now that the endcaps figured out, not so bad , or slow .
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> So all the hard work done. I’d say less than 4 hours to make one , not
>>>>> counting cnc machine cut time .
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Ab
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 7:59 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> That is really nice, you must have 40 hours in it?
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>                      Stacy
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2022 at 7:54 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Wanted something lighter than my previous and with no trailer hitch.
>>>>> Trying to mimic the stock steel bumper.
>>>>>>>>>> Got one made well enough to powder coat and use.
>>>>>>>>>> https://shufti.blog/2022/08/01/vanagon-making-another-
>>>>> aluminum-bumper/
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> Alistair
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> 1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>>>>>>>>> Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>