"Custom" Rear Bumper for Flareside

[ckuske]

Hi Guys,

I've mentioned this before, but an update:

I know most Flaresides came with what I call the "skinny" bumper, where the license plate hangs off the driver side with a bracket.  However, that's not how my truck was purchased by my Dad off the showroom floor back in '84... It is a step bumper.  In the "lost years", that bumper was removed and replaced by a different one.  Looking on FTE, maybe it is a S-10 bumper from LMC (it doesn't hang over the flares, which is important if I was to find a new one, as the current bumper is bent on the driver's side)

All this being said, on FTE someone else posted a long time ago a picture of the EXACT same bumper that my truck had!  Any ideas on the original manufacturer or where to find a compatible step bumper that doesn't look obnoxious on a Flareside would be great.  As far as I'm aware, no changes have ever been made to the brackets, unless the Dealer swapped them out originally with Styleside brackets (?)

Anyway, here's the picture.

[ckuske]

A little more information: The bumper I currently have is 61.5 inches wide from tip to tip.  Looking underneath, the bumper mounts straight onto the frame, no adapters or special brackets.  I think the frame is 37.5 inches wide.

So, I am looking for something that width that will hookup to a 37.5" inch frame.

Or, if the Internet really pulls through, I find out who made the bumper pictured above!

[Gary Lewis]

Chris - So yours doesn't mount the way shown in the 2nd illustration below?

[ckuske]

Nope!  It's a truck that was ahead of its time, with identity issues!

It mounts to the frame like a Styleside (I think), but the bumper is "stubby" so it doesn't hang out past the tailgate.

Here is a picture from underneath my truck:

[Gary Lewis]

It looks like a custom installation.  The arms are welded to the bumper, right?  And they are dog-legged outward to fit the frame.

[ckuske]

Yeah, that's kinda the conclusion I came to also.  The current bumper is twisted on one side, and has the dent to prove it.

I'm not sure how to proceed on this to be honest.  I'm just trying to figure out a plan - I'm not going to buy anything immediately.  I would like a step bumper that is shorter than the Full-Size ones - ideally in the neighborhood of 60" to 62", and need to figure out how to mount it.  The suggested mounting brackets expect a Ranger 33" frame (too narrow) or a Chevy 40.5" frame (too wide).

I guess I buy the bumper I want (like this one maybe) and where would I take it from there?  A Body Shop?

And, I'm tickled pink that I found someone with the same original configuration since I'm sure you all thought I was crazy.  It is the EXACT same bumper that I remember!

[ckuske]

Here's the FTE link for the curious.  The pretty red truck in the thread has the same current bumper as my truck (at least by looks alone).  So I'm curious how they mounted that bumper - did they Frankenstein it like the PO of my truck, or bend the brackets?

[Gary Lewis]

You want a welding shop.  They can easily make brackets to bolt to the frame, not weld, and then weld them to the bumper.  I'd scope out a shop and tell them what you want to do.  If you can agree on a price then order in the bumper and have them attach it.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Google Lens would probably be able to identify that bumper in the first couple of screens.
It's pretty amazing how far it's come!

The old Amazon Fire Phones had a similar ability, except using AWS, and it was a decade cruder.

[ckuske]

Good idea!  I actually tried that as well.  No dice so far, but maybe I'll look for other tools that do the same thing.

I sent a message to Fey/Westin asking "what bumper will fit my truck that is around 61 inches wide?" and they said "Can't help you, sorry.  We don't make anything for Flaresides."

Guess I'll need to buy what I like and figure out how to mount it through some "custom" method.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I remember when a Fey (argent) bumper was $100 for the Bullnose trucks and $125 for chrome with the plastic tread!

I suppose I'm old....

[Gary Lewis]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I suppose I'm old....

Not nearly as old as some.  Our favourite carb/ignition specialist notched up another year two days ago.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

It's not like you can ever notch down another year!  🤣

Ive known women who will never admit to a day over 29, although they're senior to me

I honestly don't care at all, as long as I don't have to suffer in the end

[Rembrant]

Reminds me of the old Toyota pickup and 4Runner factory step bumpers with the black plastic caps on the ends. There were so many companies making aftermarket bumpers back them...some of them were difficult to find 20 years ago let alone today. Good luck!

[ckuske]

Good call Cory, that brings back some memories of seeing those!

I'm not expecting the stumble upon the original bumper as I remember it at this point (although that would be amazing).  I'd just like to find something that is similar in style and size.

I think the best path I have is to find a bumper for a smaller truck like a Ranger, S-10 (yuck, haha) or similar, and see about getting custom brackets made from there.

I would swear the current bumper is the Fey one I mentioned above, but I emailed their support dept and they wouldn't answer either way.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Fey are a zombie.
They are a name consumed by a beast that churns for profit.

I had a '77 Datsun pickup
I bet that skinny bumper would be perfect.
There's a Canadian YouTube channel that has done a playlist of metal finishing a similar truck 💡

Fitzees Fabrications. (sp?)