Front and Rear bumper difference

[TPTFPS68]

Are front and rear bumpers different? I have 4 steel painted bumpers and all of them measure exactly the same in length and frame bolt spacing. I know this is a very elementary question, but it has been years since I have had a complete bronco to look at. I just bought a couple bumpers from someone on here( front and rear) and I can't tell them apart.

 

[Rustytruck]

Best I can recollect. 1966 had its own style Bumpers with straight cut ends. after that they got the rounded cut ends but the front bumpers had a hole in the center at the frame for bumperettes and the rear didn't get the bumperette holes. in 1968 they tweeked the ends on the front bumper to roll them back a little. The back stayed the same. in 1969 they went back to the common bumpers with no bumperette holes in the rear bumper. In the mid 70's Ford used what they had and the rear bumper may or may not have had the bumperette holes. My 1974 rear origional bumper had the bumperette holes from the factory. Ive had my Bronco since it had 10,000 miles back in 1978 an unwrecked origional back then. If someone knows more than this or I am incorrect please add or corect.

 

[DirtDonk]

That's some good info Rusty.
The chrome bumpers I pulled off of an original '72 Explorer, I thought, both had the holes. It's been awhile, and I've long since adiosed them both I think. But I was pretty sure I bought short carriage bolts to fill the bumperette holes on both bumpers.

To the best of my knowledge, the bumpers were original to the truck, unless any of them had been replaced for whatever reason before my friend bought it from the original owner when it was 2 years old.

So to confirm (and just wanting to see some of the old pics again ), I've been staring at some old pics from a Rubicon trip in '75 that show the truck. I'd forgotten that it actually had the front bumperettes! Cool.
In one pic I'm sure I can see bolt heads in the face of the rear. Had to use a magnifier, but I'm sure they're there.


Paul

 

[TPTFPS68]

Best I can recollect. 1966 had its own style Bumpers with straight cut ends. after that they got the rounded cut ends but the front bumpers had a hole in the center at the frame for bumperettes and the rear didn't get the bumperette holes. in 1968 they tweeked the ends on the front bumper to roll them back a little. The back stayed the same. in 1969 they went back to the common bumpers with no bumperette holes in the rear bumper. In the mid 70's Ford used what they had and the rear bumper may or may not have had the bumperette holes. My 1974 rear origional bumper had the bumperette holes from the factory. Ive had my Bronco since it had 10,000 miles back in 1978 an unwrecked origional back then. If someone knows more than this or I am incorrect please add or corect.

So there is really no difference in a front and rear bumper except maybe bumperette holes, right?

 

[Rustytruck]

Correct except the 1968 the I dont think the front will fit in the rear. Bumper fits on both ends as do trailer hitches so if you want to mount something up front its easy.