Can anyone tell me about this step bumper? (Aftermarket?)

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Grit dog

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
9,429
Reaction score
17,285
Location
The Right side of Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
ali_c20 said:
This looks like an oem bumper to me. It's stamped out of 1 piece which requires heavy tools.
The aftermarket step bumpers I've seen have the middle part where the trailer hitch is separate and the top diamond plates are welded on.
I don't know if the style of the step bumper has changed between 73 and 87/91.
I'm sure someone with more knowledge can clarify this.
My 74 oem step bumper and picture of a bumper that says it's oem:

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
Click to expand...
Fwiw, you’ve got it backwards. None of you pics look like OEM. OE is a 3 piece bumper welded together. Top diamond tread, bumper itself and the trailer hitch part are 3 separate pieces.
Only one piece OE rear bumpers were the sport/blazer type afaik.
 
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
3,863
Reaction score
13,809
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
bluex said:
I thought for sure there is a thread on this somewhere that @Keith Seymore posted in saying no step bumper was factory installed. I wanna say it was all squares but maybe at a certain year they started.

Or maybe I heard it somewhere else, possibly about 67-72 instead. :shrug:
Click to expand...
Not correct.

"No bumper" was the base condition but if you ordered step bumper they would put it on in the factory just like the sport bumper.

'86 brochure shown:

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
35,111
Reaction score
43,667
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Keith Seymore said:
"No spare" was also the base condition.

If you didn't think about it or specify one then you weren't getting a spare tire.

K
Click to expand...

Huh. I did not know that. But now I do! Thanks Keith!
 
xm20k

xm20k

Runs on 93 octane, caffeine, and spite
Supporting Member
Joined
May 26, 2025
Posts
1,109
Reaction score
2,851
Location
Girard, Ohio
First Name
David
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
388
Stock step bumper 2 stamped pieces to form the outer skin (face and diamond top) and three pieces of plate to make the internal box that the hitch and inner brackets bolted too.
You must be registered for see images attach


I pulled that heavy piece off of mine and swapped to a sport bumper, that is 2 stamped pieces the face and the plate bracket.
 
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
3,863
Reaction score
13,809
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
Turbo4whl said:
Did that also mean you did not get the jack if you didn't order the spare?
Click to expand...
Good question - but I think you still got the Jack and tools.

I don't remember looking under the truck or at a build sheet before installing the jack under hood.

K
 
Blue Ox

Blue Ox

Turning Diesel Fuel Into Fun
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Posts
5,874
Reaction score
14,630
Location
LI-NY
First Name
Derek
Truck Year
MCMLXXXV
Truck Model
K20HD
Engine Size
6.2L
Turbo4whl said:
Did that also mean you did not get the jack if you didn't order the spare?
Click to expand...

Keith Seymore said:
Good question - but I think you still got the Jack and tools.

I don't remember looking under the truck or at a build sheet before installing the jack under hood.

K
Click to expand...

Correct. We ordered the truck without a spare (long story about false economy and nagging wives) and we still got a jack.

[RANT]What we didn't get besides a wheel and tire was the spare tire carrier and crossmembers to support it. So for almost forty years we drove around with the spare in the bed.

It was probably the stupidest conceivable use of a truck bed, to haul pieces of the truck around. Not to mention that if you really needed to haul anything significant you had to leave the spare behind. You have no idea how much I hated the whole thing. And I'm sure it cost more to buy all the bits separately as well. [/RANT]
 
82BBC20

82BBC20

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Posts
49
Reaction score
77
Location
Oklahoma City
First Name
John
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C20 Silverado
Engine Size
454
The first new truck I bought was a 1979 Chevy K10 Scottsdale edition, it did not have a rear bumper on it. They had a large rack with about a half dozen rear bumpers to pick from in the corner of the show room!
 
Safetyguy

Safetyguy

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2021
Posts
8
Reaction score
4
Location
Central Coast, CA
First Name
Greg
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 Scottsdale Camper Special
Engine Size
400
Had a guy that I worked with in the mid '70s. He bought a new Ford (Horrors!) pick up. It had no rear bumper. He got pulled over by CHP or local PD and given a ticket for "No Bumper". I told i to take it back to the 'stealer' show them the ticket and complain. He took it back to the stealer and they put one on for him. True story!
 
HotWheelsBurban

HotWheelsBurban

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2023
Posts
3,907
Reaction score
11,023
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Carol
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
bucket said:
I don't think rear bumpers became standard equipment on trucks until '97 or around in there. Full size and S10 both.

I'd be interested to know when light truck rear bumpers were required by law... or if they even are required now.
Click to expand...
My Crew Cab was built in the beginning of the model year; late September '96 as a '97 model. I suspect that it was special ordered because of some of the equipment it has....but it wouldn't surprise me if by 1997 the government wanted a proper bumper on the rear of a light truck unless it was getting a work body or other commercial equipment. Most of the work bodies I've seen, have an integrated bumper (often where the vise or pipe bender is mounted).
 
bucket

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
35,111
Reaction score
43,667
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
HotWheelsBurban said:
My Crew Cab was built in the beginning of the model year; late September '96 as a '97 model. I suspect that it was special ordered because of some of the equipment it has....but it wouldn't surprise me if by 1997 the government wanted a proper bumper on the rear of a light truck unless it was getting a work body or other commercial equipment. Most of the work bodies I've seen, have an integrated bumper (often where the vise or pipe bender is mounted).
Click to expand...

I've been digging around here and there, and as of yet, I cannot find a US regulation requiring a rear bumper on a pickup truck.

All I've found is a bunch of generalized info (some of it incorrect) and a bunch of stuff about the 5 mph bumper laws that were just for passenger cars.
 
HotWheelsBurban

HotWheelsBurban

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2023
Posts
3,907
Reaction score
11,023
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Carol
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
bucket said:
I've been digging around here and there, and as of yet, I cannot find a US regulation requiring a rear bumper on a pickup truck.

All I've found is a bunch of generalized info (some of it incorrect) and a bunch of stuff about the 5 mph bumper laws that were just for passenger cars.
Click to expand...
Could be..... I do know back then, the 8600+# gvwr trucks were not required to have any airbags.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Chevrolado
Can anyone ID this suspension setup?
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
mtbadbob
mtbadbob
J
is this a Frankentruck?
Replies
13
Views
3K
Redfish
Redfish
carid
Gear Up for Adventure: Special Offers on Fab Fours Bumpers!
Replies
1
Views
472
carid
carid
RanchWelder
Ididit Column Swap
Replies
4
Views
479
RanchWelder
RanchWelder
Dejure
Any Reason Not to Modify an Accel Coil?
2
Replies
18
Views
1K
Matt69olds
Matt69olds

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
48,413
Posts
1,066,764
Members
42,792
Latest member
WyldTinker
Top