hey everyone i was wondering whether the smittybilt front and rear bumpers are compatible from an 88 pickup to an 81 pickup.

not really sure as i don't have both trucks in front of me.

thanks everyone.

pictures of the bumpers on my truck.

 

It could probably be made to fit, but the frames are different so it probably won't be exact.

 

thanks for the info. any idea on the seats? will an 88 bench seat direct bolt in fit in an 81? or is the cab narrower?

 

Have a grinder and a welder? If so you could definitely make it fit. All those bumpers are so similar that I've converted them from many different makes and models and they work just fine.

 

I think the rear bumper will work but I know the front won't without moving the mounts. I have a front and rear that came off my '82 if you need any measurements or know anyone that wants to buy them!

 

pretty much there was a guy looking for bumpers, seats, etc for an 81-88 (craigslist ad... found out he has an 81) so i offered mine. wasn't 100% on whether they were a direct bolt on or not.

I searched but really didn't find much. only a couple links for a smitty rear bumper part number that was for a 78-95. figured i would give it a shot

 

They are not compatible without modification.

I just tried to install a Smittybilt rear bumper from a first-gen pickup onto my '87 and it did not fit. The diagonal tube supports and plate brackets hit the lower rear valence below the tailgate if I installed in the rearmost position. The bumper has two sets of holes which do appear to have the same spacing as the holes on my '87 frame. But when I attempted to mount the bumper in the more forward position, the bends in the bumper mounting brackets hit the end of my frame rails.

 

The thread is like 3 years old!!

I hope it was figured out by now!!

 

I realized it was old. But as someone who scours the archived threads for answers to my own questions, I hate unresolved threads.