Figured I’d do a small write up on a bumper install I did a little while back. I really liked the idea of steps in the bumper on the 14+ trucks. (I recently noticed that early avalanches have them also.) The fact that you can still utilize them while hooked to a trailer and without lowering the tailgate is nice in my opinion.
So, I tracked down a new takeoff bumper from a 2018 1/2 ton locally. Paid $150 for it complete with brackets, license plate lights, harness, trailer plug, etc. I was looking for a 1/2 ton bumper specifically because I noticed that the HD ones had a raised section at each end of the top step. I didn’t care for how it looked.
I couldn’t find a lot of info on the swap. I read that 1/2 ton to 1/2 ton it was a direct swap, but was unsure about mine being an older 3/4 ton. I removed my bumper and started hanging the new one. The new 1/2 ton brackets bolted right to the frame of my truck, but they hung the bumper about 3inches too low. I did more research on 15-19HD trucks and determined they would not work either.
I decided to graft the new 1/2 ton brackets onto my original brackets. After tracing everything out and cutting apart the brackets, I welded everything back together. Then I sandblasted and painted them.
So, I tracked down a new takeoff bumper from a 2018 1/2 ton locally. Paid $150 for it complete with brackets, license plate lights, harness, trailer plug, etc. I was looking for a 1/2 ton bumper specifically because I noticed that the HD ones had a raised section at each end of the top step. I didn’t care for how it looked.
I couldn’t find a lot of info on the swap. I read that 1/2 ton to 1/2 ton it was a direct swap, but was unsure about mine being an older 3/4 ton. I removed my bumper and started hanging the new one. The new 1/2 ton brackets bolted right to the frame of my truck, but they hung the bumper about 3inches too low. I did more research on 15-19HD trucks and determined they would not work either.
I decided to graft the new 1/2 ton brackets onto my original brackets. After tracing everything out and cutting apart the brackets, I welded everything back together. Then I sandblasted and painted them.