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Does it bolt straight to the frame rails or does it use brackets? The diamond plate bumper on my truck has some ****ty custom made plate brackets. 73 highboy
'Dunno which diamond plate bumper ya got but it bolts to brackets and then the brackets bolt to the frame.
It typically requires two on each side to provide triangulation which, in turn, provides strength - especially at the outer ends. If it gets hits outboard with no triangulation to the frame, it will kink. Ever notice all the front bumpers with a kink at or near the frame mount? That's the result of a lack of triangulation.
Forgot to mention that I want to get rid of the diamond plate bumper and get a stock chrome one. Do the chrome ones use the same brackets?
Uhh yeah guy, that's kinda important! 'read to me like you simply wanted to replace the custom bracketry with the correct bracketry.
You mean a "contour" bumper. Nope, brackets are different . The factory ones are tough to find cuz many original owners wanted to tow and opted for a dock bumper. Back in the day, bumpers were optional unlike nowadays. Dunno if the Bumpside styleside brackets will fit but those retail for around $130 (Refer to LMC PN 40-3705) .
I used a contour bumper off an 80s Bronco ($55) and use a bolt-on Class III receiver hitch ($23). The same Bronco donated its brackets (two inner and two outers) but I had to modify (extend) the inners because they were too short - I could only get one bolt inserted in each frame rail. Here's the stock and the modified bracket with a sectioned piece of 3/16" plate.
Btw, I don't recall if there was a difference in frame widths btwn highboys and half-tons so do yer homework and take measurements.
Yeah there is a difference, number dummy confirmed that for me the other day.
Bummer that the brackets are hard to find, I guess I'll just make some from scratch. Do you have a pic of your bumper with the hitch? Cause I would also need a hitch to tow my boat