Rear Bumper Brackets

I just noticed something different on my 61 E-pup. My truck came with a big heavy diamond plate rear bumper----like maybe for towing. I was considering swapping the big ugly bumper out for a standard bumper, but upon reviewing other's rear bumpers, I noticed that most/all trucks have cut outs in the rear roll pan to accommodate the rear bumper brackets---my truck does not have those cutouts. Can someone school me on rear bumper brackets. The brackets on my truck actually go under the rear roll pan and appear stock. Did some of these trucks come with the diamond plate bumpers as an option?
THX Mike

I think either econopoor or barnabas talked about that in a recent post that there were some bumper brackets that went down under rather than through the rear roll pan. Also, my van has one of those big ugly diamond plate bumpers on the rear. Someone probably added it at some point on mine.

The standard bumper brackets go through the body.  your Econoline was ordered from the factory without a rear bumper, which got it the no-holes rear pan.

Your bumper was either a local option, or Ford subbed it out to a customizer.  Those bumpers were not in the Ford parts book.

The Econoline pickups with the utility box option seem to all have the after-market step bumper.  Here is my 1963.

Thanks Barnabas, I knew I had seen a pic that one of you Econoline gurus had explained it before!

I always thought the brackets on those step bumpers looked awkward. They go down and under the rear pan. My guess is that the company that installed these bumpers did not think about going through the panel and instead figured a round-about way to go under and back up.

Barnabas said it all. My 67 was a bumper delete truck for the factory. It got a "dealer bumper" when it was sold by the original dealer. This was very popular in the 60's as it provided free advertising for the dealership. Many like the one Barnabas showed got step bumpers. First thing I did was remove the saggy bumper. It looked like a loaded diaper on the back of my truck. I've also seen dealers cut holes in pans that came without the rear bumper.



Duane

Well, that answers that question. I personally think the trucks look better with no bumpers. The huge diamond plate thing just looks too out of place----although, I may put it back on for a while. It might grow on me. I obviously would have to cut holes in the rear roll pan to install a standard bumper.
Thanks guys, Mike

Thanks for posting your pic Econopoor. I had not seen a dealer installed bumper, just these special-order step bumpers.

All of the non-standard rear bumpers hung too low.

Interesting discussion. I was kinda bummed when I was told my rear bumper wasn't a factory original. However, my truck is one with no holes in the roll pan, which makes me wonder if the bumper is a dealer installed item and original to the truck, if not the factory.

It's era correct. It could have been original to the truck. Most dealers here in the south engraved their name but not everyone did.
Duane.

My 64 Econoline truck when I got it had a heavy diamond plate bumper also. But the brackets went through the slot cutouts. Then someone welded it to the frame. It is well done and looks original. It curves around the box corners.
https://servimg.com/view/19442682/1
https://servimg.com/view/19442682/1

demondog
You linked to pics of your new van, not the heavy bumper on your pickup.