I want to keep my rear bumper but I would like to know the best way to bring it up nice and close to the truck so the finish looks right. Do I just need to make my own brackets or has someone already created something for this?

 

I've never seen brackets for this. It depends on how far in you want to go. Have you tried unbolting the OEM brackets from the frame and moving them in to see if they will go in far enough to suit you? If so it would just be a matter of drilling new holes in the brackets or frame. New brackets would not be difficult to fab out of 3 pieces of suitable sized strap steel. Two to bolt to the frame welded to one across behind the bumper. It just won't have the spring give of the original bumper mounting.

 

Thanks AXRacer. I'm putting my bed back together then I will work on this next. I just wanted to research as I get to that point.

 

Mid-Fifty sells these "snugger" brkts


1948-79 Ford F-100 Bumper Brackets, Snugger (4) Plain Steel

 

I used the snugger brackets from Mid-Fifty. Here's what they look like installed.

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-US


Same snuggers. I think they really look good.

 

I cut mine.

Check out this thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-brackets.html

 

That really looks nice. Just right, by my eyes. $100 isn't bad for a set of 4 brackets. You'd be hard pressed to make them for that if you bought the steel, added in the cost of consumables to cut, bend, drill, etc., plus if you added your valuable time futzing around trying to figure out where and how they should be shaped and bent. There you go.