The Calmini Bumper/Tire carrier

[ToeJam]

Originally posted by Philosopher
I'll keep my KMA, thank you ...

I never thought I'd hear someone say that.......

[Mobycat]

I think the phrase should actually be:

"I'll keep my *MODIFIED* KMA, thank you."

[Philosopher]

Originally posted by Mobycat
I think the phrase should actually be:

"I'll keep my *MODIFIED* KMA, thank you."

True, true.

[ScottG]

Aside from the class II hitch, I basically like the Calmini bumper. I wonder if the tire carrier is removable? I'd like to be able to put the tire and a gas can or Hi Lift back there for off roading. But, 90% of the time I think I'd rather have the tire out of the way under the truck.

[ChuckH]

Originally posted by ScottG
Aside from the class II hitch, I basically like the Calmini bumper. I wonder if the tire carrier is removable? I'd like to be able to put the tire and a gas can or Hi Lift back there for off roading. But, 90% of the time I think I'd rather have the tire out of the way under the truck.

If the structure is built the way it should be, it would be very difficult or impossible to put a tire under there. In order to have structural rigidity and towing capability, there has to be a big tube behind the skin to support everything and that takes up space. Just look at your bumper and you will see the tire comes right up to the skin, which wouldn' be possible with a reinforcement tube back there. Not only that, but you lose the access hole to the lowering chain!

I've gotten pretty comfortable with having the tire back there. Mine sits to the left a bit, so I can still see most of what I saw before; which wasn't much to begin with.

[ScottG]

Originally posted by ChuckH


If the structure is built the way it should be, it would be very difficult or impossible to put a tire under there. In order to have structural rigidity and towing capability, there has to be a big tube behind the skin to support everything and that takes up space. Just look at your bumper and you will see the tire comes right up to the skin, which wouldn' be possible with a reinforcement tube back there. Not only that, but you lose the access hole to the lowering chain!

I've gotten pretty comfortable with having the tire back there. Mine sits to the left a bit, so I can still see most of what I saw before; which wasn't much to begin with.

You are probably right. I haven't spent as much time under there as you have (thanks to KMA)

No matter what everybody thinks about the Calmini bumper, I'm glad they are building stuff for the Xterra.

[rrdstarr]

Amen!

[ChuckH]

I'm glad Calmini is building Xterra stuff too...I just hope that they finish the job and answer the requests of those who are interested in buying the bumpers. Calmini and Skid Row both have the potential to build a perfect or nearly perfect bumper, so I'm only nitpicking because I know they can do even better. Know what I mean? Believe me, I'm not defending the KMA in any way! :monkeypis
KMA

[ned946]

Originally posted by ChuckH
I'm glad Calmini is building Xterra stuff too...I just hope that they finish the job and answer the requests of those who are interested in buying the bumpers.

Anyone with suggestions, please communicate with Steve at Calmini. He DOES want to make the bumper everything that we want it to be. He DOES have much experience and has some reasons for the design.

[Philosopher]

Originally posted by ChuckH
Believe me, I'm not defending the KMA in any way!

I'm not either, but mine does exactly what I wanted it to do - it holds my spare tire, allows me to tow my camper without ruining my departure angle, and gives me rear recovery points. And aside from the shitty looking welds, it is beefy and I'm happy with it. Especially considering what I paid for it.

[Snoopy]

Express your concernes. I know Ned's already mentioned this but I'll stress it again. Steve is a very approachable and friendly guy. Give him a call about your concerns and he will address them. He seems open to your ideas and he understands customer satisfaction. Heck, we talked for over a half hour on products for the Xterra that they offer.

[Synchro]

Originally posted by Snoopy
Express your concernes. I know Ned's already mentioned this but I'll stress it again. Steve is a very approachable and friendly guy. Give him a call about your concerns and he will address them. He seems open to your ideas and he understands customer satisfaction. Heck, we talked for over a half hour on products for the Xterra that they offer.

Steve at calmini needs to learn to do market research. everything he needs to know has been posted on the 3 main boards over the past 8 months. it seems that he has ignored all the hard work Schlud, ChuckH, Gothamist, MrT, FSRBIKER, Will, myself and everyone else have put into working, hypothisizing and prototyping on this issue.

I have already spent way more than a half an hour detailing what i have done and why the design choices were made in grave detail on this and other boards. all he has to do is read what we have said. Is he to lazy to read what his target market has to say or? why not stand on the shoulders of giants? why not learn where others have screwed up? otherwise he can repeat what has been done over the past 8 months by others and myself.

[Matt Peckham]

Originally posted by Synchro


Steve at calmini needs to learn to do market research. everything he needs to know has been posted on the 3 main boards over the past 8 months. it seems that he has ignored all the hard work Schlud, ChuckH, Gothamist, MrT, FSRBIKER, Will, myself and everyone else have put into working, hypothisizing and prototyping on this issue.

Well, I think this is pretty much market research. He produced a prototype bumper, and someone posted it to all the efficient and well attended Xterra boards. I doubt we would've added as much productive advice had we not seen their design. I think we should all step back and realize that it's a prototype, and it will hopefully be redesigned or further improved to become the bumper that most of us would want to own.

I kinda wish the side fenders were made of a single slab of 1/4 inch that would not bend under seriously harsh conditions, I would also like to see some open ends where a high lift can be inserted to aid in lifting the Xterra without any complex maneuvers. just stick it in the slot and start jacking. Some of the most effective designs are the simplest. A 4x4 square tube as the basis for the bumper, laid across behind the bumper, would allow for such a Hi Lift slot. or the slot could be a hole in the back bottom below the 4"tube, using it for the structural mount. the 1/4" plates for the sides would then be welded to the end. the tow hitch could be welded underneath the bar, and a more sano plate could be welded under at an angle, to cover up the undercarriage.

The top corners need not be too fancy, just a piece of 2x4 welded on top and angle cut to match the rear hatch.

The swingaway could be mounted to any part of the back, it'd be might strong.

I would take something similar that didn't have the tire carrier. I just don't like them.

[Matt Peckham]

OK, here's my thought on tire carriers.

I know that the higher up, the more heavy an item becomes when lateral forces are applied, lower objects are closer to the center of gravity, basically nullifying any effect.

adding that 40-60 pounds of steel will almost counteract any tippiness increased by putting the tire on the top.

I could be totally off on this. please feel free to crucify me...

[Schludwiller]

Originally posted by Matt Peckham
just stick it in the slot and start jacking.

Let's try and keep this discussion out of the gutter, ok Mr. Peckham?