1 ton tail light location

[ggdad1951]

after reviewing Bunn's book, the parts book and anythng else I could find I thought I had the right location for my tail light and bracket (first picture below). When we put my bed on the other night it was obvious that it was wrong as the bed side covers the area where I had it mounted, so we had to remove it.

From the parts book and Bunn's pictures the bracket I have should be the right one. BUT how does it mount? Pre tear down pictures shows it on the hitch that great grandpa welded to the frame (picture two). It does not appear that the rear stake holder, while it has the holes for the sheet metal bracket, does not have the weldnuts on the inside for bolts.

ANyone have the proper location or a picture for a one ton that shows the tail light bracket location?

[Plymouthy Adams]

a one ton taillight would have to be stored back of the barn..that would be a huge sucker...!!

[Jeff Balazs]

a one ton taillight would have to be stored back of the barn..that would be a huge sucker...!!

RRRRR...RRRRRR......RRRRR LOL

Or maybe it is mounted on it's own trailer.

Jeff

[ggdad1951]

hahahahaha you guys are FUUUUuuuUUUUUnny!

[JBNeal]

the tail light bracket you have and its mounting location are correct for 1-ton flatbeds, etc., not the Express models, as there would be interference with the bed sides. Further study of the parts manual shows an error in Group 23 Body illustrations and Group 8 Electrical parts listings for the Bracket: 8-55-75 shown for all chassis & non-Panel body configurations in Group 23 does not match the Group 8 parts description, as 8-55-75 is for Express models only. Arm 8-55-111 is for all models except Panel & Express.

From Bunn's Dodge...Ref.Guide & History, tail light location can be seen on pp.29, 48, 50, etc. Also on p.48 is a close-up of tail light installation. From what I've seen from The Money Pit, there appears to be a provision for self-tapping screws on the passenger side, as the sheet metal is formed in a way to double its thickness in this location. So I reckon the driver side was installed the same way at the factory. But since this is sheet metal that sticks out, the bracket can be easily ripped out. I've got three beds that this bracket is re-attached with nuts & bolts & a variety of washers, both flat & locking. Another bed has the bracket brazed back onto the sheet metal. The Spring Special has its original mounting intact, with bolt heads visible from outside the truck, but no nuts visible inside the stake pocket, only the bolt threads.

Bottom Line: Express tail lights mounted to the bed; flatbed tail lights mount to the frame

[ggdad1951]

alrighty then! Thanks for the info...now I gotta get that configured!

I kinda figured it'd be something like that....wonder where they found that bracket!

[ggdad1951]

had a bracket (luckily) from a box of random parts I bought off a guy over a year ago. LIttle touch up paint and good to go. Thanks for the help guys!

 

 

[John-T-53]

Looks like nice original bolts holding it on. Did you have them replated? Original washers too?

[ggdad1951]

Looks like nice original bolts holding it on. Did you have them replated? Original washers too?

Yah, I had a bunch I pulled blasted and reCAD plated. The washers are the ones from McMaster-Carr (as close as you can get to original), the originals were/are slightly larger in overall "diameter". I started to just use new ones after several old ones I had used cracked in half.