How to measure for Pelfreybilt (and other) high clearance rear bumpers.

Alright, so this thread is not about how to install a high clearance rear bumper, but the most acurate way to measure for the cut. I seen everyone just get a tape measure and measures from the bed cap down to where they want to cut. The problem is, the further you work your way from the tail light towards the fender flare, the bed bulges out more. Therefore, your line will progressively start getting higher. Which isn't a huge problem because you can adjust your bumper to the angle of the cut if you like. My solution was to measure one spot and use a lazer for the line.

Step one -Get the truck bed perfectly flat. This can be accomplished by putting blocks under the wheels or using a jack. Make sure it is perfectly even as this will determine your cut! Use a long level on the top of the bed cap. Do not use a short one, as it will not be as acurate.




Step two- Using a tape measure, measure from the bed cap down to where you would like to cut. When doing this measurement, do it closest to the taillight as possible since the body line is most flat at that point. Pelfreybilt calls for 16 1/2 to 17 inches down from the bed cap. I did 16 3/4 and did not have to retrim. Now when making the mark, use a flat line at the desired height. No dots, as the laser will not be acurate.

Step 3- Now, with the fender flares removed, place a magnetic level laser

on to the bed of the truck closest to the wheel wells. Project the laser beam directly at the mark you made by the taillight. Now, make sure the bubble on the laser is perfectly aligned while also overlaping perfectly on the line that was measured. This may take sometime to get it perfect, but your cut depends on it!

Once the laser is level and the beam is pointing directly at the measurement line, take a pencil and start to trace the beam of the laser onto the bed.


Step 4- Once you have traced the beam onto the bed remove the laser. Now place the laser onto the the side closest to the taillight. Align the beam to sit perfectly on top of the line that was traced onto the bed, while also having the bubble in the laser perfectly level.

Now, using a pencil trace in the rest of the line that is missing.

Repeat these steps onto the other side of the bed!

***Thank you to LandBruiser for the idea and lending a hand and also 552Jrider for helping out!***

 

Subd!

Awesome write-up.....I'll have to sticky this for the future. Going with standard clearance for now until I get the truck paid off before

 

Thank you very much! I figured it would help a lot of people out.

 

Great write up OP. I'm gonna remember this when I have to chop shit up in the next couple months.

 

How do you then mark where to cut the flares? Do you just mount the flare and cut it?