Suzuki Sidekick Front Bumper Build - 1st in the "Ultimate Hunting Buggy Build" Series
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Check out the full build of my Sidekick/Tracker front bumper. The video includes all aspects of the build and installation including critical vehicle mods.
Stay tuned for the rest of the series which will cover all of the accessories I fabricated for this vehicle including a rear bumper with swing away tire carrier, rock sliders, skid plates and a winch cradle that combines with an insane roof basket to create an integrated game winching system!
For all sorts of vehicle accessories (not just Sidekicks) have a look at my website:
www.balmerfab.com
The latest shop updates and a massive amount of photos of both my custom and production stuff can be found on my Facebook page:
BalmerFabrication
Thanks so much for watching my video! Please like, comment and subscribe!
I built a tubing bender like that years ago in my black smithing shop. Urs looks well designed.
You know what you’re doing! Great work man 💪🏼
If this is the first vid the rest must be great, keep up the good work from australia
Amazing work 👌👏
What is your final product weight?? Tracker's front suspension isn't very heavy.
without tube work (grill/headlight protection) the front bumper is just over 50lbs. Fully outfitted it's about 70lbs.
What does this bumper cost and where does the winch go??
All the pricing is available on my website:
www.balmerfab.com
The winch goes on a cradle and is installed in the receiver. This way the winch can be used front and rear and can be kept out of the elements when it's not in use.
I prefer the 8 valve engine ours is a 91 2 door Geo Tracker.. Currently waiting on me to return it to service.
I know some folks do prefer the 8 valve but I'm not much of a mechanic... what are the benefits of the 8 valve vs. the 16?
Wow I don't want to miss a single one of your series and visit your store . We live above the snow line of the NE mountains in the NE top corner of Washington state WAAAAY off grid up trails in our 180 acre homestead.and Toyota beast crawler and Comanche Pioneer Metric ton and an Isuzu trooper tank and an Isuzu diesel pup and several F250 diesels and a 97 Tacoma and an amphib 6x6 on tracks.. It's all about challenge up here.Really glad to catch you in the beginning of this series. Stay strong and live free. Dandahermit (;80 yrs old Alaskan bush rat)
That sounds like quite the fleet and quite the homestead!
If the Sidekick came apart- the bumpers would still be standing
Great job
Love your videos
Thank you so much 😀
Subbed up man.
I built a 91 hilux surf like 11 years ago (sas built armor etc.) and last spring my woman made me sell it as i never used it, all my wheeling friends sold there rigs and started drag racing or moved away. Lol i had 18k into that rig.
Now my brother inlaw is building a low budget bronco 2 lol and all of a sudden i need a rig, im picking up a first gen 4door geo tracker today for 300$
My new sxs... i also aquired a hacked up XJ with yota axles, 4link/coils/bill stiens lol thats for next winters project i guess but I love this bumper man as well as the rear. Any idea what size tires and lift are in this my friend.
Thanks very much for your comment! Sounds like you had a fine rig back in the day. I'm sure the Sidekick will serve you well in the future. A Bronco 2 would be a cool build as well.
The Sidekick in my video has a 4.5" suspension lift and 31" or 32" tires if I remember correctly.
Thanks for the sub!
Hi, Great video and a very neat and functional end product. Much as I would love to support you, shipping a bumper to South Africa would not be cost effective. I have a 3 door and am looking at building a bumper for her. Any chance of a copy of your plan for the 3 door bumper?
Thbaks
Thanks for your comment and your interest in building a similar bumper! Please email me using the contact from on my website and we'll chat about build info.
www.balmerfab.com
I can't wait to go to your store. I don't do face book or any "social media" except I guess this . Hmmm
I'm not a big fan of social media generally either.
@@BalmersWorkshop so you're a Canadian. Aye ? I moved to the Bellingham Area ( Deming) from Alaska in the mid 90s n set up my custom fab business and long haul trucking. Bought a lot of steel from Morse Steel. You're product is top notch. Unfortunately I got old and sick so I'm on such a small fixed income won't be able to buy your superior products. I'm dealing with spinal cancer and a few other accompanying nuisances. Haha but maybe I'll manage to splurge on something.bulding my 87 Comanche right now. Trying to find a worthy full width winch bumper. I lost my businesses and don't have my shop anymore or would just build the stuff I need. Thanks for replying. I watched your videos for hours yesterday eve.You have a great shop. Dandahermit
Beautiful work!! Wish you were in New Zealand. I have 14 of these Suzuki’s. Cheers.
Thanks for the kind words! Are your vehicles stock or have you modified some of them?
I have a 2000 suzuki vitara 2.0 4x4 4 door hatch.how much for this same bumper front but no hitch.n matching rear but with hitch.
Thanks very much for your interest! ...I'm a bit late with my response to say the least! Please contact me through my website balmerfab.com, for product/custom inquires.
Outstanding design and build quality. I would buy that Sans the meat boom option but would want the receiver. Dandahermit. ( But I doubt I could afford it)
Email me through my website if you'd like to discuss a build :) www.balmerfab.com
God your shop is a dream. Where are you?
I'm in Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Sounds Kool.Function specific designed. My kinda priorities . Dandahermit.
Glad you like it!
Really nice and well explained!
Thank you!
That is some clean welding
Wish I had a rack in my garage. I have a 92 the same exact color. I want to build a bumper like this but I suck at welding lol. Once I figure out how to tweak the settings on it maybe I will figure it out.
Thanks for the comment and the view! All the best with your project :)
Your a master craftsman and a professional welder with great detail! Love your work, I have a 89 JXL
Thanks very much!
You're more than welcome.
Haha. That teal was the original color of our Tracker. Wish it still was. Black now.
Ya, the blue is my favourite colour for Sidekicks.
Hi, how much weight do you add with this bumper?
Greetings from México
Cheers from Canada - friends of mine are vacationing in Mexico right now :)
Without the tube work, it weighs about 60lbs, with the tube work, I think it's about 70lbs.
That is a nice bumper. Gatherin info to build my own, lots of great advice in ur vid.
Thanks very much! ...I'm a bit late with my response to say the least, thanks for watching!
What kind on tire and spect is on yours jeep and do you have 2inch lift??
Thanks for your comment. The vehicle belongs to a customer and I'm unsure of the tire brand but I can tell you it has a 4.5" lift which involved adding new control arms, springs and shocks front and rear.
Decent jig.
Cheers!
Nice work 👍
Thanks very much! ...I'm a bit late with my response to say the least, thanks for watching!
I owned and ran DanCoFabrication in Deming Washington for over 12 years while running a small fleet of long haul trucks running into the Yukon and North West Territories. Got old n sick. Now just hanging in up here in the snow. Haha Your work style and ethic is mine as well. I miss it. My projects are all over the world we built the AlCan pipeline .and off shore drilling platforms and ships n barges n blabla . Had a great run. Now I'm just old n tired . Haha
Thanks for sharing your story :)
Wish I could add pictures of my Geo Tracker it has a home made lift kit heavy duty bumpers front and back , winch in the front and one on the roof to help control the divot cherry picker in the front.
See that round pipe sticking out of the side of the frame rail? I drilled that out and taped it, it was like 20 years ago so I don’t remember the tape size I think it was a inch. Makes a hell of a mounting place for a bumper with a winch in it.
Thanks for your comments! I'd love to see your rig... you can send pics on my Facebook page if you like: facebook.com/BalmerFabrication
Interesting....
Very nice job! Clean matched body lines and I really like the 2 in receiver idea! Thanks for posting. When I'm done fixing the rust, a bumper is on the list to do.
Thanks very much! ...I'm a bit late with my response to say the least, thanks for watching!
I have a Vitara and It Is so fucking hard find a bumper like this, i would try tocmake something ( Just try, I couldn't) but Need time and tools even ti Just try!
Thanks for your comment. It is a big undertaking to get set-up for fabrication... the bumper featured in the video is available for Canada-wide shipping if you happen to be in the country... www.balmerfab.com
You just got a new subscriber.
I'm planning to buy a Suzuki side-kick, but I would love to get more horsepower.
Does anyone know how to do it?
Ps sorry for my bad English.
Thanks very much for your subscription and your comment Rafael! There are headers and cams available for the stock 1.6L but, as far as I know, the best bet is to do an engine swap. The 1.8L out of a Sidekick sport has a bit more power but probably not enough more to justify the labour and cost involved. The common solution is to use the 2.3L from a Suzuki Areio (aka Suzuki Baleno Suzuki Liana) This engine put out 155hp in stock trim so it's a reasonable upgrade. Beyond these options, a full Toyota driveline swap can be done which then gives you lots of Toyota engine options...
How much lift do u have and what size tires ?
It's a 4.5" suspension lift with either 31" or 32" tires (I forget).
What does that bumper cost?? Where does the winch go?
All the pricing is available on my website:
www.balmerfab.com
The winch goes on a cradle and is installed in the receiver. This way the winch can be used front and rear and can be kept out of the elements when it's not in use.
Is this your Suzuki? If so, curious what size tires you have on it?
The vehicle belongs to a customer but I believe the tires were 31"x10.5"x15"... they may have been 32"...
@@BalmersWorkshop Gotcha! Thanks!
What’s up with the covered license plate?
I cover the plates on my customer's vehicles in case they're worried about privacy issues.
I was hoping to see a video on that tube exo Skelton
Thanks very much for the interest! The exo build was done well before I began taking video footage of my work so it's limited to pics but, if I do another exo'd Sidekick I'll definitely do a video of it.
This makes me miss my 93 Suzuki sidekick. Only had a 2wd stock version but it still was able to get me around some desert trails that a sedan would get wrecked on. Way fun car!
They're great vehicles, even in 2wd!
Nice welds!!! I'm off to the workshop to try that circular motion you do instead of my side to side stepping forward motion.
Thanks very much! I hope it works well for you.
Can you provide a detailed specs? I'm going to try it out on my 1995 Vitara (Philippine Sidekick).
Thanks for your comment! The idea of my content is to offer people the opportunity to build their skill set so that they can create their own ideas rather than strictly copy mine. Having said that, I'm happy for people to follow my design very closely if they want to, but I'm not open to giving away every dimension and angle involved in the process. Feel free to contact me via my website if you get stuck and I'll try to help you out.
Dude awesome work! I’m from Aldergrove! Just picked up a 99 tracker and am going to save my pennies to get a bumper made by you! Would love to support you eventually
Thank you for your views and potential business. I look forward to meeting you :)
Inspiring stuff! Keep making videos! Also a big fan of your welding cart!
Sir I love your Car!! and very nice content
Thank you for your kind words! All the best to you :)
Very nice.. How much to have one built and shipped to my 96' sidekick in Utah?
Thanks very much! Please have a look at the website for pricing and options and contact me from there. I appreciate your interest!
www.balmerfab.com
*Excellent work 🤗*
Thank you! Cheers!
Great work Mr Man you are inspiring to keep me faling in love with vitara
Thanks very much for your comment!
Helllo! This is by far the best and simple design for an offroad bumper!i would really apreciate if you could tell me the angles of the bumper ,thangle vetween the end bits an center.thank you!
Thanks very much for the kind words. I'm happy people are getting useful info from my videos. Please contact me through my website and I'll help you out with some dimensions/angles.
www.balmerfab.com
suzuki vitara in PH! awesome work!
Great video buddy !
Thanks very much!
Awesome work, whos ever that is will probably break their CVs they need to lower the diff straighten the CVS out
Thank you! The lift kit that's on the vehicle is actually made by a local competitor of mine (they make high quality stuff as well). Normally I'd agree with you but the axles have proven to hold up well under heavy abuse on many vehicles. Its actually the aluminium center section that fails in most cases. It is surprising though.
@@BalmersWorkshop I just got one for 900, it's pretty good little beast, escudo v6 2l, it's built like a truck underneath.
NICE
I admin several Suzuki/ Tracker FB groups. I hope you are in them.
I'm in the BC Suzuki Club but that's all...
Geo Tracker Nation
&
Geo / Chevy Tracker Suzuki samurai Sidekick Owners Club
Loved the video!
Thanks for watching!
This is awesome mate. Only vid I have found on how to attach bullbat mounts to a 4door vitara, thanks heaps for your work can’t wait for the skid plate vid on this truck
Thanks so much for the kind words! Stay tuned for more on this Sidekick as well as plenty of other Suzuki content and much more :)
@@BalmersWorkshop Hmmmmn looks like a good bumper and it is interesting that you state the 8 mm bolts will tear off so you put in thicker ones .If I ever get around to renting the Mig to do the welding , this will come in handy. Will you be putting links to your other videos in the show more section? BTW Is there any difference in the front end of a Sidekick and the Sidekick Sport? I have not gotten up close and personal yet as there are other priorities with my 4x4
Thanks for the comment! I'll be adding more videos to the "Ultimate Hunting Buggy" playlist so please look for them there and subscribe for all the upcoming content :) Sidekick front ends vary depending on the model. The sport front end (frame horns) are very similar to the 4-door model in this video. I have lots of footage of a sport model front bumper build and install so I'll likely be doing a video on that in the next little while as well - stay tuned and thanks for visiting Balmer's Workshop!
One of the best bumper builds on UA-cam....
Thanks very kindly!
Beautiful work!
Good job... Bosku
Thanks very much! It looks like you do some really cool stuff too - I've subscribed to your channel :)
Make me one how much
My Sidekick bumpers are priced from $649 CAD. Please contact me at www.balmerfab.com to place an order. Thanks for your interest!
This is a great video
Thanks very much!
Beauty is in function. Dandahermit
Thanks!
Good to see u get started. Thumbs up and subbed. Dandahermit.gu guess I'm ur first sub?? Haha
Thanks for the sub!