So, there was a miscalculation during all this planning prior to mounting the bumper. I went ahead and mounted the boxes with the old bumper in place, since I didn't have the new one yet. The boxes were mounted so that the bumper stuck out about 1" farther on each side than the boxes. This would keep things like trees from grabbing the boxes.
Well wouldn't you know...the MRAP bumper is 4" shorter than the factory one. This left each box hanging 1" PAST the end of the bumper which can be seen in the first picture. I didn't see that one coming. I figured it'd be longer if anything since, after all, it is from a big bad MRAP, right? Not the end of the world. I didn't build the box bracket to be modified though. It was what it was.
So I needed to make some end extensions for the bumper and there were already 4 holes on each end for mounting. I took a few measurements and came to the conclusion that this was going to be harder than it looked...at least for me. To make the extensions would require multiple angled cuts and welds to make them match the bumper. I suck at angles, I really do.
So I go to the rally with boxes sticking out and worry about grabbing a tree and ripping a box off. Seriously, this annoyed me the whole time because by my own "design", it was unfinished. I got many compliments at the rally which were comforting and appreciated but in my mind I hadn't finished the project and it was driving me nuts.
Then I came across a table next to the MKT food trailer. It had these lifting rings sitting in a basket and I stared at them for a minute trying to find a use for them. Then it hit me...
Dual purpose extensions. These rings are 1" thick, use 3/4" bolts and stick out from the mounting surface about 3". Now I have to weld up the small holes on the ends and it'll be finished. I think I got these from Pctrans (Thanks buddy) but was so happy with the find that I forgot to chat him up. If anybody seen me running across the field, giggling like a little schoolgirl, I was going to test fit them on the truck, lol. This was my favorite find at the rally and they were mounted and painted about 2 hours after I stepped out of the truck from the trip home.
I'm waiting on a GL auction to end so I can get the rest of the metal needed for the top grill guard. The grill guard will also be sourced from MRAP surplus if the auction ends in my favor.
Yeah, I rambled a little bit...