Ended up using the stock frame cross member....
Ground out the frame rails from it and then used a extension hitch and cut off the length I needed...
Flipped the cross member over so it went up instead of down then notched it for the hitch....the pic of the hitch does not show all the gusseting and overlapped steel that was done....

Flipped it cut off the body mount pockets ground frame smooth and then put the cross member in, started the angles and plating I'll finish it tomorrow or Saturday.


Putting angles on it to slide off stuff and will do the sides after I finish plating in the inner sides...this thing will not move....

Here's how it started









Here's how it looks



28" from ground to hitch which is lowest part aside of frame rails



Giutted the rear jack storage to allow the clearance







This shows how far up flipping the cross me bear and then notching the hitch in gives you...its at least 8"+ higher now the ground clearance back there is huge.

 

Neat idea! Clean work. Love the new lines, i was personally never a fan of the cross member look but you pulled it off

 

I did something similar to yours. Cut the rear cross member off, and raised the hitch.
The lowest point of my rear bumper is about 3/4" below the frame rail.



The weight savings and approach angle is much better this way.
I went from a 140# spare tire and 160# bumper tire carrier, and this weighs in at 54#

 

Yeah this is reinforced but light and the cross member is integrated into the bumper back so the hitch is less than 1/2" sticking out from the cross member but its raised almost 4" high than a stock cross member from being flipped...
Never done a plate bumper done lots of tubes on race trucks and pre runners so figured I'd give the angles a try....it is literally up there lol....its a minimum 8" Ill measure the factory bumper and hitch....

 

You won't see the cross member its already partially plated in as a bumper....it will look like an extremely low profile rock bumper not a cross member at all....

 

You've done a great job. I really like the minimalistic look of your bumper.

 

Thanks...I'll be reinforcing and adding tow points to it....

 

We're did you get the taillights from

 

Made em...
Will be selling them soon , complete with lights or plates alone.

 

DAMN! That's awesome! Looks really good, high clearance, clean look. Very nice work