Crazy Bumper?

[LSUMurse]

Has anyone seen a bumper like this? I can't decide if I like it or not. It's kind of ugly but rather useful.

[cdowns]

pretty common type back in the day of work trucks and bumpers that served a purpose

[LSUMurse]

Have you ever seen one "dressed up"? I'm trying to get together a plan for restoring/personalizing this thing and haven't made up my mind on this bumper.

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by LSUMurse

Have you ever seen one "dressed up"? I'm trying to get together a plan for restoring/personalizing this thing and haven't made up my mind on this bumper.

Clean it and reapaint it white, then put some non slip bedliner on the top....

[MikeyMan]

I kinda like it. Looks heavy duty and seems like it would protect the fenders & back end.

Clean it up and paint it white, along with a white upper cab and white front bumper & grill.

[mcmlxix]

you could always put speed holes with dimples in the side step part... non-slip and a custom touch

here's the idea for the dimples

[special-K]

I like everything about that truck. I'd just paint it. It already had diamond plate,so no need for wholes. And,those steps with holes have raised ridges to aid in foot traction,which serves the same purpose as tread plate. They call those Bartens bumpers and they were common on Stepside,first,for obvious reasons. The design carried over onto Fleetsides once they came out. After '72 they pretty much became extinct. I've only seen them on western Fleetsides. Here's my '72 (Wideside)

[AirSpeed]

I had a similar bumper on my 69, I wish I would have gotten rid of it sooner, I had a kid back into my truck hitting the bumper, instead of protecting my truck the bumper actually caused more damage as it caved in the bed sides when it was hit. In my opinion they cause more harm than good. If you hit it anywhere it's going to dent your truck.
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[Southcity]

I like everything about your truck, it's different, the side mount spare, that rear bumper fits the truck, the big mirrors look good too and there are many that go through great lengths to achieve a patina that your truck already has naturally. Looks to be a long bed step? kinda hard to tell from the pics. Get it running well, drive it as is and enjoy it.

[LSUMurse]

Thanks for all the info and opinions. I'm glad to know the name for them. Does anyone know if they are strong enough to pull a small, say 16', camper trailer? Just looking through a couple examples on the web, they weigh 1750 - 2250 lbs dry, with a hitch weight on the 2250 pounder of 255 lbs dry.

[pritch]

I have a similar bumper on my green '68-the Fleetside version, anyway.





That extra apparatus was a winch of sorts for sliding a camper in and out somehow. I don't know if it will show up in the pictures, but there is even some rubber weather stripping where the bumper wraps up around the bedsides.

[Daddy Brim]

I like it, make it look like a truck. Mine does not wrap around like that but they have many good uses. Like a good step for getting in and out of the bed. I like to use mine to sit on when I eat my lunch at work, and don't forget about the tailgaters, a quick brake check usually fixes that.

[special-K]

If my bumper was hit hard enough for the bumper to cause damage to my bedsides,the hit would be hard enough to damage the bed no matter what bumper was back there because the back of the bed would be pushed forward. I think it depends on how well they are mounted. Obviously,with that much mass it needs some serious mounting,which mine has. I've looked at removing it and it's going to be one heck of a chore to do. There's enough steel down there to build a bridge.
I know mine could tow anything you hook to it. It has a 2" receiver welded to the bottom,which has a frame below the truck frame with mounting plates as heavy as any Reese hitch. The P.O. used mine for towing both 5th wheel and tag behind. I've hauled about 3,500# behind it with just the ball on the bumper

[leddzepp]

I would keep that bumper. It looks sweet since it wraps all the way around and contours with the lines of the truck. Looks clean, and like it belongs there, not an after thought.

[special-K]

I figure these bumpers on Fleetsides are a carry-over from Stepsides when that's all there was. They just bake sense. You get a step up near the cab,but nothing behind the wheel. They are the first "step" bumpers. They gave you a good step into the bed from the rear when the tailgate was down.

[David67]

looks very similar to the one that was on my short step

[mr48chev]

If it fits in with the theme of the truck when you get it done keep it. Those step bumpers were dealer installed and usually manufactured regionally. A lot of the Texas trucks used to have the dealer's name and town etched in the face of the bumper which made them pretty cool.

I wouldn't be worried about pulling a trailer of that weight as long as the bumper was mounted solidly to the frame.

This is the bumper that came on my 71. One of my uncles buddies welded a piece of heavy plate in the middle to handle a horse trailer and my son and I bolted and welded a Harbor Freight receiver under it to tow my sailboat with. With all of that on it and the notch missing out of the right side for what ever reason it's a bit too ugly but works well.

[Low down and dirty]

I like these bumbers....I have a 68 short step. I've been looking for one, but no luck. If you decide to get rid of it...I'm interested.

[68gmsee]

Absolutely useful for farmers and rachers who frequented loading/unloading docks at the feed and seed stores. If you ever go to one of these coop stores you'll see a tall loading dock. You back it up until the bumper stops you -I've seen many farmers/ranchers do that.

Back at the farm or ranch the back and side extension also protects the truck when backing up to unload.

If nothing else, keep it for nostalgia. I don't see them around anymore.

[100%Chevy]

Here's the bumpers on some of my stuff.
The first 2 pictures are of the bumper that was on my 68.Real customized!
The rest are on some 64's,65's and a 66 I have.






The bumper on the primer red 66 step has Paducah,Ky.stamped in it.
Mike.

[68 SHORT-STEP'N]

I like it , clean it up & paint it , It'll look great .

[VWNate1]

And you'll find it *very* useful , I suggest you keep it .

David 67 , you're truck has the *exact* same bumper as my '69 C/10 Step Side , does your have the Dealer's name stamped into it ?. I'm keen to know !

This one , is TERRIFIC as it's made to tow , provide a step for getting into or out of , the bed and , best of all , it allows you to stand up close to the tailgate when reaching in the bed and also allows the tail gate to hang nearly straight down , again saving your knees & calfs from the normal dings & bruises .

It is , IMO , the ultimate light truck bumper ! .

I'm keeping mine , I just need to find two more steel hubcaps then off it goes to be powdercoated white to match the wheels , hub caps abnd front bumper

Your truck looks great .