Rear bumper brackets.
 

At some point in its life someone welded some heavy angle iron to the frame instead of bolting it for rear bumper brackets. I just installed a tow hitch and had to cut them off. I can bolt them back on but am curious if they could do harm to the frame if the truck is rear ended...or I do something stupid. Any options on this? It would be nice to not have to buy new brackets.

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

It's obviously been on there for a while so I don't know why it wouldn't work again. It depends on how hard you get hit. The hitch will take the brunt of it anyway unless the vehicle is higher than the hitch.

Lets see if anyone has any experience with that.....

LockDoc

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

I’m probably worried about nothing. I just had visions of getting rear ended and having the engine shoot out the front.
Curious if the stock brackets are designed to have some flex or break away feature

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

LOL...

Maybe in the late 60s early 70s those brackets did something, maybe. My recent experience suggests they hold the bumper up and allow some adjustment then completely collapse in a collision.

EDIT: I got hit pretty good...bed into cab, most of the impact was into the bumper/driver frame rail.

-klb

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

Get a bumper like this if you want protection. The sport bumpers are just for looks. Nothing more

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

What ever hits you will be a lot worse off.

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

You would have to be hit by a freight train for this to ever happen!:chevy:

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

Love the sticker...

Re: Rear bumper brackets.
 

I'm diggin' on the vintage MT mud flaps. Every truck had a set of those, when I was a kid in Montana