Truck update:
I just finished up my last project on this truck.
My rear bumper has been shot since day one - the chrome was stained and it was rusting from the inside out. I looked into aftermarket bumpers - and they just weren't for me.
I saw someone put at 2014+ 1500 rear bumper on a NBS 1500 series truck and I really liked it.
I picked up a work truck model 2014+ rear bumper for cheap on ebay ~$250. It is flat black, has no sensors in it, and was supposed to bolt right up to a 1500.
I got the bumper in a few days - and stripped it down.
It had a few scratches in it - but I sanded and smoothed them out - and primed, base coat, and clear coated the rear bumper ~$40 in materials.
I got the bumper back together and tried to put it on the truck - it bolted right up but I had a huge gap between the bumper and the bed.
I thought that would happen - so I ordered a set of 2015+ 2500 HD brackets - and while the bolted to the bumper they would not bolt to the frame as the bolt holes are in different locations and the hardware setup is different. I mocked them up in the rear frame rails - and the bumper sat in the same exact location as the 1500 brackets!
So I decided to go back to the 1500 brackets - and send the 2500 bumper brackets back.
On the frame rails - I made the top hole for the bumper bracket the new bottom hole. I drilled a hole in the frame 2" above the old top hole. I also drilled another hole for the most forward hole in the frame rail 2" above the old location.
This moved the entire assembly up. I then painted the new holes in the frame rail and bolted everything up. I also moved over the wire harness for the rear plate lights, and the locking spare tire access port over from the old bumper.
For less then $300 I got a new rear bumper that isn't jacked up.
Old bumper:
Bracket differences:
Body work:
Installed:
