Telescopic rear bumper
 

Installed on a 68 GMC....the bumper is missing but its on an option sheet

Anybody know what that is?

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

Hi Joe Cool!
This is very interesting. I know that VWs had these as an option. This is the first truck application that I have heard. Hopefully someone will chime in.
-Richard

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

what is it?

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

I bought my 69 to carry a camper that extended beyond the end of the bed about 3 feet. In order to protect the rear of the camper, provide a step into the camper and mount the license plate where it could be seen, I bought an extending/telescopic step bumper from the dealer and had it installed prior to delivery. It was listed on the sales contract as "expand-o-matic bumper". It could be extended a little more than 3 feet. Over the years, I modified it to work on 2 other trucks I used to carry the camper. I still have it but I don't have any pictures. It looks like most of the period correct step bumpers when not extended.

I never heard of them being available from the factory.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

I also had one on my 71 c30 Longhorn I had years ago for the same reason. The bumper brackets were 2" square tube that slid into receivers bolted to the frame. Both the receivers and the square tubes coming out of the bumper had holes drilled in them so that the bumper could be secured in either the in position or the out position with 1/2" bolts. It worked really well with the camper. I am pretty positive it was a dealer installed bumper, not a factory piece.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

This:

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

special-K's picture reminded me that I do have this shot with the wife standing on the bumper.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

Under my 70, and the 73 has a square tube version.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

Thanks all the fine replys.......very helpful. I saw it not on a SPID but rather on a printed sheet under the seat. The SPID was missing but the option sheet was under the seat. The bumper is missing but it is a camper truck......

Those were the days........Love those pictures!

Thanks!:metal:

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

Mine is the round tube version.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

What camper model is that?........sure looks like a nice one.....I would not mind having that camper even today!

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

I see a Honda 305 Scrambler in the picture!

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

here's another pic of one - this on my 71. It wasn't on the spid or the bs, it was added on by a po somewhere along the line.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

I am sure this was a dealer add on

How about spot lights? Dealer add on I guess

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

The bike is a 1969 Honda CL175.

The camper is a 1969 Four Winds 11 footer. It was made in Orange or Santa Ana California. The company went defunct in about 1974. It is in no way related to the Four Winds RVs of today. I still have it today. Just stored. No longer use it. Here are some pics of the interior taken a few years ago. Very 1969ish decor.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

I have had a couple of truck campers and never have seen that kitchen layout....way cool.......I bet that baby weighed alot.......did you get some white knuckles driving that srw truck with all that weight?

You are the blast from the past........the exterior of that camper really look cool
Looks ahead of its time........did it leak a lot......most of those old Tc did...

want to sell it?:mm:

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

I always estimated the weight at 2800#. I weighed the truck and loaded camper with the wife onboard. I believe it was 7140#. Truck GVWR is 7500#.Yes, there were many white knuckle moments, especially with coil springs. I only haul campers on duallys now days. No comparison. The L-shaped kitchen floor plan was great. I wish the new campers had that floorplan. No significant leaks. The last couple times I used it, there was some slight leakage around the front window when driving. Not when parked. Sealed everything in sight to no avail.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

These were not an RPO. They were aftermarket and GM dealers offered them.
No one asked,but while we're talking campers (there's a great thread somewhere in the back pages),my camper was a Huntsman made in KS and CA. Lock Doc had one on a Custom Camper he bought. I thought I had a picture,didn't find one. Mine had real cherry veneer and the truck didn't feel it,except smooth the ride a bit. It didn't feel heavy at all and the truck pulled like it was empty. All the pictures I have of campers are from the front. Here is another Huntsman on a truck a member bought in CA.

Re: Telescopic rear bumper
 

That tie down is unreal...........thanks for the cool picture