Dodge truck rear delete

[dgrinnan]

 A lot of these trucks don't have rear bumpers.  I don't want to spend over $400 for one and brakets.  Have any of you made your own delete plate for the rear to cover up the ends of the frame and dress it up a little.  I have seen some elaborate ones with an area for the license plate and frenched tail lights.  I just want some to fill that big empty space back there.  If you did make your own do you have the pattern/template still with measurements?

[Young Ed]

Even the actual bumper doesn't really cover the end of the frame. However I'd encourage you to reconsider since you've done so much I'd hate to see it get dinged

[Los_Control]

Thinking the rear bumper was a option. So some would not have them.

 

I do not like the bumper previous owner put on mine ... it is what it is. Big chunk of 6" angle iron welded to the frame.

Right now would be a good time to change it. ..... Something is better then nothing. .... I'm going to leave it for now.

That is a future Fred problem.

 

Your truck is too nice to have a bumper like mine .... I have some 2.5" pipe sitting around, Clean it up & paint it, put some end caps on it. you could use that  

 

I was talking to a engineer one time while he was replacing a brass screw block on a $100k piece of equipment.

I asked why do they make the block out of brass, when you know it will wear out?

He replied, it is a sacrificial piece. The 8' threaded shaft is way more expensive to replace then the block .... I learned from that statement.

 

IMHO, your rear bumper is the sacrificial piece. It is way cheaper & easier too touch up the paint on it, then repair a ding in the tailgate or match up body paint ... replace a broken tail light.

 

Just depends how you will use the truck .... A simple mistake backing up at the grocery store could cause hundreds of $$ damage, or a scratched bumper.

 

 

 

 

[Tooljunkie]

I used a spare rear filler panel and inverted it. Much better look than nothing there at all. Thought i had a photo, but i dont. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

cutting a couple of pieces of steel for brackets is low investment for protection at the rear...finding a bumper is often just a trip to the wrecking yard to find one that will be of correct length or a bit longer and cut as I did here.  My Morris panel van never ever was given a rear bumper from the factory and well I refuse to run without a bumper so I found this discarded bumper and tweaked it a bit left and right with some slice and dice and welding, wrapped around the excess metal and then shaped this to match the angle of the van body.  Was not that hard, took less time than I thought and provided me a space for the rear lights as I wanted dedicated turn signals separate from the single red stop/turn/running threw on some back up lights, rubber snubbers, rear camera and let the big dog eat. (rubber snubbers not show but are the factory unit with a big M on them protection and eye candy....the protect the behive lenses)  approx 15 inches per side curved then trimmed.  Back up lens is now flat faced clear with super bright LED lamps..  

 

While an English van, the manner of working metal will be the same.

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Plymouthy Adams

[dgrinnan]

I will eventually end up with a rear bumper but until then I created and added a rear panel.  Once I get around to installing bumper I will cut slots for the bracket to extend through and keep the panel in place.  I still need to wait for the paint to completely cure so I can buff it. 

Edited April 18, 2023 by dgrinnan

[Jerry Roberts]

On 4/7/2023 at 2:46 PM, dgrinnan said:

Have any of you made your own delete plate for the rear to cover up the ends of the frame and dress it up a little.  I have seen some elaborate ones with an area for

I also didn't like seeing the ends of the frame rails on the 1939 - 1947 trucks . I made a cover from a sheet of scrap steel . 

[dgrinnan]

I like it Jerry.  similar to what I plan once I come up with a bumper.  Slot the cover for the bumper brackets.