Does anyone know any process that can soften up rubber? I have one of those rear bumpers that extends a couple feet up the side of the bed, and has a rubber strip seperating the bumper from the truck bed. These strips are in very good shape, but extreamly stiff.
(No one need tell me that I should cut these wings off. This bumper came with the truck and I want to keep it. Some have said that this was not stock equipment, but if not, it was an after market option that many rigs came with. either way, it stays).
thanks

 

How long you got? If you can somehow soak the rubber in Armor-All for about a year, they will soften up fine. Other than that, I dunno.

 

Mark, a little more FYI, those winged bumpers were only installed west of the big muddy, very regonial.
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John

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thanks for the info. Some have almost called me a liar, when I said that this bumper came with the truck. Do you know if it was "Ford stock", or was it an after market product that may have been installed by the dealer. (I'm in the Seattle area). Some have called this a "hunter bumper".

 

Hi,
Just a couple ideas that may or may not work...........
Rubbing alcohol will "manipulate" some types of rubber. A heat gun might work good as well, but I definately wouldn't try them both at the same time!
I would also try them first on a scrap piece of similar type rubber in case either cause any damage.

Are these "winged" bumpers the same ones used on the '57-'60 boxes? If so then they were regional to the West just as John described. They were a dealer installed (Non-Ford)item.

Hope these ideas help, but please be careful. I wouldn't want to see any damage caused because of any stupid idea I had

 

There are magic compounds used by low buck sports car racers to soften up racing slicks. Most used it to get another race or season out of an old set of tires. Don't remember the name of it but racer supply places like WREP should carry it.

 

Mark, It is OK to say that it came with the truck, just understand that it came from the dealership that way not the factory. There were several dealer add ons AC was one as well as the rear bumpers.
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John

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[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group

In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.