Eric,

My previous hime made aluminum bumpers do have broader endcaps to make standing on them easy. This time I slimmed them down. You still can stand on them though .

Yeah , I’ll redrill for plate mounting screws on the front . I do have license plate frame , you’re right. Got one on the back. Aluminum  and engraved thru the black paint .

Ab

> On Aug 3, 2022, at 6:49 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> 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.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>> 
>