Rear Bumper Question?

Alright, through the internet and pictures and looking around I've got myself thoroughly cornfussed on rear bumpers. I'm debating, because I want to replace the rear bumper on my K30 and go back to a stock type bumper, with a reese style hitch to get the bumper where it belongs, put a hitch on that will actually pull some weight (and possibly a pulling sled *in my I have a dream section of my brain) but most importantly to get the god awful hillbilly exhaust this truck has had on it since I've bought it... off of it! With winter coming, I'm going to have a little more time to tinker on the old girl. And this is going to be one of those things I address this winter.. Soooo... Does anyone have pictures of their rear bumper/hitch setups on early '80s K20-K30 for reference, comparison or inspiration? I plan on redoing the whole exhaust this winter as well, and plan to have it high and tight, haven't quite decided if I'm going to go all the way out the back to the bumper or dump it over the rear axle yet but it will be one of those two.. In true dual form! But that will kind of be dependent on the bumper I decide to go with.. Here's a few pics of the current situation..

Standard suburban bumper and hitch on mine. But you probably will want a step bumper.

Blazer bumper and home built hitch

You need the step bumper. Sun is setting so I will make photos later.
I have a nice hitch (home made) that pulls my 5,000 lb boat as well as a 27 foot camper. The hitch is bolted to the frame and hangs lower than the bumper.
My exhaust goes out the back.

I agree. The sport bumper looks great, but the step bumper also looks great, and it makes it easy if you need to get in the bed. You can make either setup work for the sake of utility, though.

Here's some pics of my step bumper on my 89 1 ton. Don' know what the bumper itself is rated for but pretty healthy piece of plate on the bottom there. Hope it helps!

Thanks for the replies guys! I like the different takes on the bumpers. Now the next question is, home made hitch or best aftermarket brand like Reese? Anyone have good/bad points?

QBuff02 said:

Thanks for the replies guys! I like the different takes on the bumpers. Now the next question is, home made hitch or best aftermarket brand like Reese? Anyone have good/bad points?

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I made mine.... and the bumper brackets too

This is from my 84 C10. I would only ass-u-me the bumper is the same. And Im sure this isnt the stock bumper, its prob one from LMC, but it was on the truck when I bought it. It has a hitch on it, its hard to see in the pic. I assume Reese, its bolted to the frame, and has the wiring for the hitch.

(dont mind the transmission leak, its been fixed, and now my busted ass CTS sits over the stain... I need to clean it up still.)

spanky55amg said:

This is from my 84 C10. I would only ass-u-me the bumper is the same. And Im sure this isnt the stock bumper, its prob one from LMC, but it was on the truck when I bought it. It has a hitch on it, its hard to see in the pic. I assume Reese, its bolted to the frame, and has the wiring for the hitch.

(dont mind the transmission leak, its been fixed, and now my busted ass CTS sits over the stain... I need to clean it up still.)

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Grampa bumper and I am one and I scrapped that thing off mine lol

Honky Kong jr said:

Grampa bumper and I am one and I scrapped that thing off mine lol

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Yeah, but it makes it easy to step up and get into the bed. That makes me sound super old. Eh, some day I'll go for the sport bumper. But I like my all chrome bumpers. I dont want no stinkin' rubber around my bumper. Im going to go raw dog into the streets.

spanky55amg said:

Yeah, but it makes it easy to step up and get into the bed. That makes me sound super old. Eh, some day I'll go for the sport bumper. But I like my all chrome bumpers. I dont want no stinkin' rubber around my bumper. Im going to go raw dog into the streets.

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Lol mine has rubber because it was free lol

Honky Kong jr said:

Lol mine has rubber because it was free lol

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STD's are free, and I dont want one of those. HA!

Here's what was on my truck when I bought it. It's an FEY made by Westin. I had purchase a 89-99 style like in post #6, but it does fit like I wanted it too. I'll probably go back to this style once I paint the truck. My truck had an aftermarket hitch when I bought it. Sorry I don't know the brand. I will have to move my forward spare tire mount towards the axle an inch or so due to the bracket on the back of the receiver.

spanky55amg said:

STD's are free, and I dont want one of those. HA!

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STDs aren’t good but the process of getting them is ok.....