drewgraves - Tumblr blog

[drewgraves]

I finished my GMC bumper. My website is www.gravesfabricationllc.com

[drewgraves]

The storage rear bumper is something I had the idea for about 4 years ago. Hard to believe how far they have come since my first prototype! 

[drewgraves]

git sum

[drewgraves]

This is my stock height second genny on 22.5 Alcoas running one of my bumpers. 

[drewgraves]

2 Years ago I had no clue what I was doing. All I knew was I had a vision for automotive design that I wanted to make real. With a week to go before my first truck show I knew I needed some pictures of my bumper on a cool truck. So I found this truck for sale on craigslist and called the guy, explaining my situation. Luckily he was down to let me take photos of my bumper on his truck in exchange for a couple cases of beer. So my friend Jared and I drove 2 hours to this dudes shop and installed the bumper on his truck just for a few pictures. I actually lied and told him these photos where for a magazine photo shoot haha. To be honest, I didnt even know if the bumper was going to fit the truck. My dimensions where based off a truck I found in a junkyard haha. I was relieved when it actually did fit. I actually used to go to junkyards with a laptop and a tape measure to get dimensions off trucks. I am fuckin glad that era is over. That sucked. :D #gravestruckgear #ambition 

[drewgraves]

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“ I got a buddy who will do it cheap “ 

[drewgraves]

This is a storage rear bumper I made for a pipeline welder from Pennsylvania. It was really cold this day when we installed it! I got a chance to talk to him last night, and he still loves the bumper a year later. 

[drewgraves]

Graves Truck Gear Bumpers are probably the cleanest steel bumpers you’ll find anywhere and they are tough as hell. 

[drewgraves]

[drewgraves]

This is a bumper I built for my friend Mason from Oklahoma. I’m so glad he painted it black and went with the murdered out look. This truck really fits the bumper. The hood scoop is really nice on these newer Chevy’s too. 

[drewgraves]

Crafting my latest bumpers for the 08 and up Chevys today! 

[drewgraves]

Here is a bumper I made for my friend Max Winston from Texas. 

I added a bunch of little custom touches. The 3/8 rod grilles, the air vents with hexagonal aluminum mesh, tons of angles and “rivet” looking screws. This bumper came out so cool and for a great dude too. 

I love the destruction of metal working. The fusing of steel, the deafening sound of grinders, the blinding light of the welder. It creates a place for me to totally zone into my work. No one else can be around unless they want to be blind, deaf, or on fire from the grinder. I like to be alone for a good amount of my day.

I love designing bumpers built to destroy whatever is in their way too. So its a great combination.

[drewgraves]

Henry C McElroy III 's bumpers I just finished up last week! They are for his GMC. Nothing better than a set of Gravestruckgear bumpers just before paint. Its a shame stainless steel is so expensive or we could leave them in bare metal!

[drewgraves]

This is a bumper I made for a guy from Florida. He drove all the way from FL to PA to have me install it. Good times! 

[drewgraves]

Graves Truck Gear

Hey guys, this blog was formerly Diesel Nuts and I’ve always run it in my free time. Over the past couple years my business Graves Truck Gear has become more and more busy, and Ive had less time for the blog. Since my business is all about diesel trucks, I figured why not show you guys what I build on here instead of letting this thing waste away? So I’ve renamed it, and I will continue to post diesel stuff on here but mostly what Im up to fabrication wise.

My name is Drew Graves. In 2015 I started a bumper company called Graves Truck Gear. Over the past 2 years Ive been really busy doing new work for customers all over, but Im based out of Pennsylvania.

When I started, I knew that I didnt want to build the same bumper everyone else is already doing. I experimented and honed in a style all my own, a more sleek, aggressive and less gaudy bumper than what else was on the market. That has been my niche and people really appreciate it.

I am really lucky to be able to live my dream like this making custom bumpers for people. As a kid in high school I spent my days day dreaming and drawing sketches of trucks, now I pretty much get to do the same thing and get paid.

Thats my story, as GTG continues to grow I will keep you guys posted on what we are up to. In the mean time enjoy the photos!

[drewgraves]

2003 Chevy Bumper for Zach. 

I spent about 2 months designing this bumper. You have no idea how good it felt to step back and see it completed and on my customer’s truck after all the work. This picture was taken in my drive way by my friend Matt. The custom mesh grilles where a first on this one and they add a really cool touch. The skid plate is also custom. If you look you can see the bends on the sides are also an arc, which was alot of fun to build into the bumper instead of the typical straight line style. All in all this bumper turned out so good and really started putting eyes on my business in the industry last year. Lots more good stuff to come though! 

My other social media is 

www.gravestruckgear.com

https://www.facebook.com/drew.graves.102?ref=bookmarks

https://www.facebook.com/gravestruckgear/

https://www.instagram.com/gravestruckgear/

https://www.instagram.com/djrewsif/

[drewgraves]

#panheadsforever @dangerdanimal #chemicalcandypaint #transfer #hok #valsparauto #distressed (at Fort Worth, Texas)