rear setup

i am about to start building my rear setup and i was wondering about a few things. first i have already made my bar ends w/ bushings and now i was wondering what size steel to use for the brackets i was going to use 1/4'' thick or is that overkill. also i was going to use 2x2 square tube for bars but i want to turn it on its corners instead of flat but i can't find any bag brackets to fit it that way, and last i was wondering if these notches i made will work i was going to weld them to the frame and use 1/8'' or 1/4'' plate and weld from about 6 inches up the notch to about 6 or 8 inches down the frame and also box in the part of the frame i cut out.

your axle isn't going to travel very far into you notch.

first I do like the step notch but you will want to make the inside more open as like robbie said you won't get much travel. About you putting your 2x2 bars up on there angle you will just have to make your own bag bracket ends to hold a circle plate to mount it. Also with the notch if you decide to use them use 1/4 plate don't ever think it is over kill because when you are finished you will never have to think about it as the only thing you will have to replace is your bushings one day. I like your ideas with what you are doing just take your time and I would like to see the bars done the way you are saying.
Here is my set up for the rear not done yet but it gives you an idea and the notches are mine that I got lazer cut.

i figured that by the time i weld the notches on the frame that i would have the hight of the frame plus the depth of the notch for the axle to travel that would equal about 11 inches and i was looking at some z71 rims do you think thats enough travel to lay the frame.

If you set them on frame and over lap the steel then you should be perfect just remember to use at least 1/4 plate and and good length over lap on the notch and the frame.I think it should be enough just measure the lomest part of the rear frame to the ground then from the top of the axle to the bottom of the frame and the differance between the 2 is how much of a notch you need to lay the frame out and remember the hieght of the tires as well actually you should have the tires and rims that you are going to be using on the truck.