Bumper questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Grandpas1955 · 05-16-2016, 11:23 PM

Can anyone tell me about this bumper? 1955 3200
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OrrieG · 05-16-2016, 11:43 PM

After market, usually dealer or trailer/hitch place installed. Usually has a tag somewhere with the capacity and manf. unless it was removed.

_Ogre · 05-17-2016, 01:20 PM

agreed
not that i need to reinforce any info orrieg posts

my original 58 had a similar front and back with a push bar up front
original gas station truck back when gas stations did service work

mr48chev · 05-17-2016, 05:11 PM

Yep and somewhat regional. Depending on what part of the country you are in you see different styles of step bumpers on the older trucks as the dealers seemed to get them from reasonably local manufactures. Lots of Perry bumpers in Texas while you see other brands and designs in other parts of the country.

The bad part of that design is it is usually bolted to the fender and if the bumper is tweaked it tears or dents the fender along with in wet areas the fender often rusts out along that line of the step.

vineyard1 · 05-17-2016, 06:12 PM

That looks like one made by "Barden". They were very popular in California & Oregon back in the day. Nice until you backed into something & then kiss the fenders goodby. Popular with ranchers & loggers

mr48chev · 05-18-2016, 05:31 PM

Good chance it is a Barden bumper, Looking online I found that they had plants in both Oregon and California and we even had a thread on them three years ago
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=608002

I think there is a pretty solid chance the bumper on my 71 was made by them.

Grandpas1955 · 05-20-2016, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vineyard1

That looks like one made by "Barden". They were very popular in California & Oregon back in the day. Nice until you backed into something & then kiss the fenders goodby. Popular with ranchers & loggers

Thanks for the info! This truck was bought in Oregon and has lived it's whole life here.
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Grandpas1955 · 05-20-2016, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vineyard1

That looks like one made by "Barden". They were very popular in California & Oregon back in the day. Nice until you backed into something & then kiss the fenders goodby. Popular with ranchers & loggers

Well this was my grandfathers truck and he was logger from Oregon so that makes sense. Haha
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mr48chev · 05-20-2016, 10:52 PM

Back when those were new the guys who had them would always point out that those extended corners were steps that you used to get up in the truck with. Or stand on to reach something. Always on a serious work truck that usually got used hard.

Coupeguy2001 · 05-21-2016, 01:19 AM

with the weight of that bumper, it is probably the reason your truck rides better and the rear doesn't bounce around.
On my 57, when I took off the bumper, my truck was way bouncier.

3200, but 7 foot bed?

05-16-2016, 11:23 PM	#1
Grandpas1955 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Redmond, OR Posts: 6	Bumper questions Can anyone tell me about this bumper? 1955 3200 Posted via Mobile Device Attached Images

05-16-2016, 11:43 PM	#2
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Bumper questions After market, usually dealer or trailer/hitch place installed. Usually has a tag somewhere with the capacity and manf. unless it was removed. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

05-17-2016, 01:20 PM	#3
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,667	Re: Bumper questions agreed not that i need to reinforce any info orrieg posts my original 58 had a similar front and back with a push bar up front original gas station truck back when gas stations did service work __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

05-17-2016, 05:11 PM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,286	Re: Bumper questions Yep and somewhat regional. Depending on what part of the country you are in you see different styles of step bumpers on the older trucks as the dealers seemed to get them from reasonably local manufactures. Lots of Perry bumpers in Texas while you see other brands and designs in other parts of the country. The bad part of that design is it is usually bolted to the fender and if the bumper is tweaked it tears or dents the fender along with in wet areas the fender often rusts out along that line of the step. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

05-17-2016, 06:12 PM	#5
vineyard1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Healdsburg, Ca Posts: 9	Re: Bumper questions That looks like one made by "Barden". They were very popular in California & Oregon back in the day. Nice until you backed into something & then kiss the fenders goodby. Popular with ranchers & loggers

05-18-2016, 05:31 PM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,286	Re: Bumper questions Good chance it is a Barden bumper, Looking online I found that they had plants in both Oregon and California and we even had a thread on them three years ago http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=608002 I think there is a pretty solid chance the bumper on my 71 was made by them. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

05-20-2016, 10:52 PM	#9
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,286	Re: Bumper questions Back when those were new the guys who had them would always point out that those extended corners were steps that you used to get up in the truck with. Or stand on to reach something. Always on a serious work truck that usually got used hard. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

05-21-2016, 01:19 AM	#10
Coupeguy2001 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: phoenix az Posts: 723	Re: Bumper questions with the weight of that bumper, it is probably the reason your truck rides better and the rear doesn't bounce around. On my 57, when I took off the bumper, my truck was way bouncier. 3200, but 7 foot bed? __________________ http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/v...d.php?t=489721



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