Protecting My Backside

[Merle Coggins]

OK... the back side of my truck actually. Thanks to Dave72dt who hooked me up with a rear bumper for my truck back in April. I got it cleaned up and ready for paint a few weeks ago, then this past weekend I finally got it painted. Tonight after work it was dry enough (no rain) to finally install it.

 

I'm a happy camper.

 

 

Merle

[pflaming]

I have the same bumper. I like the simplicity of it. Nice work.

[Desotodav]

Looks great Merle.

How do the brackets work... do they just run straight through to the inside of chassis rails?

[pflaming]

Mine were an elongated Z. They went in and under the bed edge then angled up, then leveled out and fit on the outside of the frame. I cut a square hole at dead center, welded in a square tube which I attached under the bed to a cross member. Now I can insert my square bar/hitch knob when I want to pull something. Saves the shins when I walk by. Got pics if anyone is interested.

[Desotodav]

I'm sure that IanD would ask you for the pictures if he was on at present Paul. I'd like to see some myself if you wouldn't mind mate. I have a tow hitch on the 53 coupe truck that I might consider modifying down the track to include a bumper.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I know you feel more comfortable knowing you have a bit of protection in the rear from simple low speed (parking and parking lot) accidents..I personally like having the bumpers on my vehicles...another item crossed off the list...

[Gizzardsniffer]

Nice job!

[Merle Coggins]

Looks great Merle.

How do the brackets work... do they just run straight through to the inside of chassis rails?

 

Yes. They slide into the inside of the frame and attach with 3 - 1/2" bolts on each side. Each bracket consists of 2 bars that come out together, are rivited together, then branch out like a "Y" or "T" to connect to the bumper with one bolt at each end of the "T" legs.

[Young Ed]

The cross braces and center hitch have been added but you can see what the brackets look like.

 

Edited May 30, 2013 by Young Ed

[HanksB3B]

Merle,

 

Looks just like mine but:  "Now isn't that a silly place for a license plate ? (except if you're Bonnie and Clyde) I want to make a complimentary bracket that mounts my plate centered from the tailgate center support and illuminated (but I'm waiting for someone like ggdad to do it)  (yeah right, that and your spare tire carrier) 

 

Just a wish, 

 

Hank  

[IanDAustralia]

Merle, that bumper looks great, good job!! Thanks for the info & the photos guys, they will be a big help as Dav mentioned. Dav was kind enough to sell me a front bumper that i am using for the rear.

This will be a project down the track a bit, as yesterday I took the "old girl" back home, to my Dad's farm about 3 hours away.(See photos)

We have sold our property & are moving into a city apartment in Brisbane. (I have getting a lot of pressure from my wife & daughter for the move for a couple of years.)

The project will be "hold" until i buy another place, maybe a weekender somewhere.

[pflaming]

Here are pics of my bumper: I had to spread my mounts out, one pic shows the curvature of the mounts, PO had bracing so they had to be cut to spread the brackets then welded back, and pics of my hitch mount. 

 

 

 

 

[Merle Coggins]

Paul,

If you would have put it to the inside of the frame, where it belongs, you wouldn't have had to spread the brackets.

[pflaming]

I couldn't because of the cross bracing the PO added. He may have had the bumper on a different truck. On the back side of the bumper was some cured concrete so he may have been a brick layer or . . . whatever, I got it on and I like it. A forum member from San Jose GAVE it to me. Thank you again!

 

Edit: Now that I look at the pictures, I could have put them on the inside!!!! Funny how once you get your mind set on something, how it then rules out other options. Got to keep an open mind. 

Edited May 30, 2013 by pflaming

[ggdad1951]

Merle,

 

Looks just like mine but:  "Now isn't that a silly place for a license plate ? (except if you're Bonnie and Clyde) I want to make a complimentary bracket that mounts my plate centered from the tailgate center support and illuminated (but I'm waiting for someone like ggdad to do it)  (yeah right, that and your spare tire carrier) 

 

Just a wish, 

 

Hank  

Hank, you gotta ask!  Send me a PM and I'll see what I can fab up for ya!

[pflaming]

I modified the license mount from an 89 S-10 for my license plate. To be totally old school, it should stay on the side, but It just wasn't what I liked. This works well, has a light also. 

 

[Scruffy49]

Bumper brackets? Is mine the only one that the frame rails dipped and continued past the rear valance panel? My bumper is welded directly to the frame, hitch shelf is welded to the bumper, ball is welded to the hitch... Has been that way since long before I was born (1972) and the truck was retired before I turned 2 years old. Somewhere at my parents' house are pics of the truck taken in the 1950s with a stock trailer attached to it, so the bumper/hitch combo must have worked alright.

 

[Merle Coggins]

I doubt that your frame is any different than the rest. I suspect that when that bumper was fabricated, the mounting brackes were made to match up with the frame and welded solid to it. Good fabrication work though. I wonder how they rolled the ends of that C channel so smoothly.

 

Merle

[pflaming]

Scuffy, look at my 2nd pic, post # 12. Mine dip and extend also. Mine had a similar 'bar and ball' mount welded on. I torched it off, it was a shin breaker and I didn't like the look. Now mine is hardly noticeable yet functional. Your bumper is different than mine and your tailgate hinges are different also. Do you have a 3/4 ton? I can not understand why the 3/4 T had a center support, the width is the same . . .  go figure. 

Edited May 30, 2013 by pflaming

[Reg Evans]

Merle,

 

Looks just like mine but:  "Now isn't that a silly place for a license plate ? (except if you're Bonnie and Clyde) I want to make a complimentary bracket that mounts my plate centered from the tailgate center support and illuminated (but I'm waiting for someone like ggdad to do it)  (yeah right, that and your spare tire carrier) 

 

Just a wish, 

 

Hank  

I got tired of hitting the plate with my knee in the stock location so I moved it over. No light but the coppers can't catch me with my 251 and 3.0 rear gears.

Edit. I was going to add a photo but 1/2 the time I want to attach a photo the upper header where you click on the photo icon is grayed out and won't respond. What up wit dat ?

Edited May 30, 2013 by Reg Evans

[BulldogTom]

I know that is the right bumper, and the work looks great.  But there is just something odd about the way the bumper sits so low and back on the truck.  I almost bought the bumper from Kevin at the BBQ, but when I placed it on the back of my truck, it just looks odd to me.  If I were keeping my truck, I would like to get a pipe bumper the same size as the taillight buckets.  I think that would look really cool.

 

Just a preference.  But the work on that bumper is fantastic Merle.

 

Tom

Hollister, CA

[Jeff Balazs]

Tom;

I have to say I am with you on this. I know this is the correct item.....and not to take away from anything or anyone's work....... I just don't think they have the right amount of visual mass for the rear of these trucks. Especially the tall & wide bed models.

 

I am not sure what the perfect arrangement is but I have a period step bumper that I am going to attempt to modify and reuse. It was on the truck when I got it. It is big and heavy but is currently too wide for my taste.  I am going to make it a bit narrower and extend the returns forward to an inch or so behind the rear fenders. I want it to function as a true step bumper and it's mass should work well to protect the rear of the truck form all but the heaviest impact. I know it is more of a utilitarian look than a lot of folks like.....but in this case function may result in better form. I will post some pictures when I get it done.

 

Jeff

[Reg Evans]

Oh happy day !  I just answered my own question about sporadically being able to attach a photo. This time .......all I had to do was click on what looks like a light switch on the upper left hand corner of the header.

 

I will now attempt to post a photo of my rear end.  A low sided bed looks even less substantial than a high sided one. I've been thinking of fabricating some sort of gravel shield there for years but it's tough when you're the president of the Northern California Procrastinators Association.

 

[Don Coatney]

I will now attempt to post a photo of my rear end. 

 

Thanks for the offer Reg but I will pass on that picture.

[Reg Evans]

Thanks for the offer Reg but I will pass on that picture.

 

Oh Don.......you're just no fun any more.