lets see your after market rear bumpers I am buying one off this site http://www.bumperdude.com/ and wanted to see if anyone got better choices I am sick of the factory bumper one touch and its trashed

those are awesome looking...i have a full replacement bumper on mine...from renagade ..think they are made in enid,okla...there awesome..and it is WELDED to the frame...i would hate to be an animal being smacked by one of these!

Here's a shop built bumper on my previous 79 Chevy C30. Channel iron with a rounded section welded in the corners. The lightest piece on it was the License Plate inset in 1/4" plate. Cheap Lic Plate lights quickly failed to be replaced by SignalStat Truck lights. Lights & Lic Plate were through bolted with stainless & lock nuts. Finish is rustolium... touch up spray every couple of years. Bumper was totally solid when I sold the truck in 2006. 4 BIG bolts each side & a stop welded to the bumper so it could not be pushed forward but could be unbolted to remove. It caught 3 cars over the years, no scratches in the tailgate. I felt very sorry for the cute co-ed who slid into me in the slush at a stop light... likely totalled her BF's car. It crumpled the hood & etc pretty good & the green flood was gushing everywhere.

Lessons:

The shop built reciever was very solid but the cross pin hole was a tad off square which was a PITA.

Mounting the trailer wire socket in the bumper cost me replacements when hit & when a garage pushed the truck... It would have been better mounted underneath.

You can see some here (scroll to post #7 for pics): http://www.midwestdieselconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3904

My purchase from bumper dude turned out to be a NIGHTMARE the bumper did not fit and came missing all the hardware what a joke of business The bumper they make does not clear the rear spring shakles on the short bed models no one asked me what size bed or cab I have But they refunded the money with no questions asked I went with this here http://www.ranchhand.com/products.aspx?year=2002&make=Dodge&model=2500%20Pick-up&description=Back%20Bumper%20Without%20Lights fits well and clears the hitch fine and looks beefy as hell I cant wait to hit some walls

I have been wanting one of these.

http://fusionbumpers.com/Img-Dodge/0308-RB.htm

I wanted that but it was too much for my budget.