I was just wondering if anyone has seen a setup like this on these trucks before. The angle iron and the rear bumper. I just figured a previous owner had welded it on there, but recently saw a picture of one that looked identical. What do you think?

 

That looks home made to me. There were after market bumpers available that had very similar design, but a more sophisticated look. Your rear fender looks like it was never hit, probably due to that bumper.

 

Yup. It's farmer-made. It was common to brace the rear of the bedsides to prevent them from being spread out with use.

 

Thanks guys, I'm with you, I think it's homebuilt. Like you said though, looks like it did it's job!

Now I don't feel bad about cutting it off...

 

Usually added when running without a tailgate. The tailgate is about all that keeps the bedsides from flapping back and forth.

 

All rear bumpers were optional...thru...at least thru 1979. People that didn't opt for factory or dealer installed bumpers went to junkyards, bought something from whatever, then made it fit, or built home made rear bumpers.

 

Yup. The only thing that holds the bedsides up is about a half a dozen spot welds where the back corner stake pockets join the rear bed sill. When those get weak and break from vibration or rust, the weight of the fenders pull the bed sides over. Those 'fancy' braces hold everything back up so the tailgate will latch.

I learned that one the hard way back when I was 15 on my first F1, cutting the ugly braces off with a hacksaw, never having a clue how much pressure they were under. It about popped me in the face when it cut loose.