rear bumper. ^ or not

[i_gots_to_4x4]

am considering a 3 inch body lift. but im also thinking about leaving the rear bumper where it is and not raising it with the body. my reason is that i frequently need to climb into the bed, and i fear this will become next to impossible at my age if its 3 inches higher than it is now. if anyone has done it this way and can post some pics for me so i can decide if it looks too funky that way i'd appreciate it.

 

[Daves89]

This is the only pic I have of my truck after I did my body lift. A lot of people just leave the rear bumper alone and put diamond plate to cover the gap.
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/476/0607090753.jpg

 

[Toms01PSD]

At your age? What you need is that tailgate step system the F150's have!

 

[i_gots_to_4x4]

dude, im almost fifty and have trouble climbing in the mf now. dont want to have to go get a stepstool.

 

[pillen140]

if you leave the bumper, i think it looks kinda bad.. you could cut a square hole in the bumper to use as a step?

 

[dirtracer81_2]

Yeah im with pillen on that one. What i would do is put a hitch under it. I hate going down the road and see a truck with a gap between the bumper and bed its just not right. Its like seeing another mans crack. Honestly I dont think another 3 inches is going to hurt you any.

 

[Chris.S.]

I've seen it done with the diamond plate to cover the gap as mentioned above and it really doesn't look bad at all. You can tell something is up, but it's not bad at all. Plus, getting to keep the usability of your bumper (for towing, pulling etc) might be nice actually.

 

[i_gots_to_4x4]

i actually already have a hitch. it just never occured to me that i could use it to step up when the gap opens up between the bumper and the hitch. duh. the other reason i was thinking bout leaving it was ive read the brackets used to raise the bumper that come with the lift kits arent exactly of the highest quality. how much trouble is it to attach the diamond plate, and exactly where does it attach to?

 

[Chris.S.]

I've never taken a really close look at the set-up to see exactly where the diamond plate attaches, but it shouldn't be too tough. It could probably just screwed into the bottom of the tailgate I'd imagine...

The brackets that come with the kits even say right on them that they are not for pulling or towing. They just keep your bumpers lined up, but they're only cosmetic once you use the brackets.

You could even get a little step that slides into your hitch receiver....

 

[Smurf Mobile]

The brackets for the back bumper on the PA kit are fairly decent. The problem is they mount to the sides of the frame and trying to put the weight of a trailer on there would twist and tear parts. But you already have a hitch so thats not really a problem. The front bumper mounts however are basicaly a peice of aluminium and make the already weak front bumper even more useless.

Andrew

 

[Dweano]

Heres how my truck looks

not very pretty i say. The smashed tailgate doesn't help either tho. I like the diamond plate idea tho...might have to do that.

 

[88BII got it for $250]

Dweano, your truck dont look bad at all for having a body lift.
a little filler metal in the same color would make it look nice.

 

[Dweano]

Thank you. Im thinking filler of checkered or same color as stock ...possibly even same color as the bumper. Right now im working on a suspesion lift tho so i have to reassemble my front end before i make it look pretty again