Are bumperettes the same size left and right? And which side is up?

I have two, supposed to be from the same vehicle. One is the same diameter on each end. The other has a smaller diameter at one end. It seems I will have to locate the license plate further left extending outside the body?

 

If you want to install them in the orientation which they were used on military Jeeps, there are plenty of pictures on line - https://www.google.com/search?q=m38...exsAXFg4G4Cg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=1409&bih=957

 

I understand they were dealer installed options?

 

Standard on M38A1 military. Never seen them on a civilian except added by owner.

 

Maybe in the later parts book. I recall some bolt-on flat black bumperettes at some point, but I don't remember the specifics. Maybe '76-on, or later?

 

Ok, Crown sells them, and gives them Jeep PN 5355457

http://www.crownautomotive.net/product/CJ-Rear-Bumper/J5355457.html

That's an early 70s or later PN.

 

I had some on my MB, one was a bit "sprung". It was a bit of a chore to get back on.

 

Not surprising. They are made to fit the '76-on rear cross member, which is different from the earlier one.

 

The WWII jeeps had them mounted with the "tab" up while the A1 had them mounted tab down. Feel free to install them how you prefer. The chrome later style usually came tab free!

 

When I redone my TP, the chrome front bumper was messed up from a plow attachment, so I put the rear on the front and put bumperettes on the rear. To make them fit I had to make adapters to bolt on the rear cross member. A full TP bumper on the rear hinders my tow bar, so bumperettes made more sense.

 

x2

 

So, what was the purpose of the tabs?

 

Maybe to give more room to stencil in the two lines of military unit markings. On my A1, they read, stenciled on by the last unit to have the jeep:

Left bumperette
ORNG (Oregon Natl Guard)
SPT 82

Right bumperette
HQ
III

I don't know about the civvy ones, but the military ones are over-engineered; you could hoist the jeep by them.

 

I have read that the ones on the MB were bumperettes and also served to support the spare. When shipped unassembled they were sometimesinstalled with the tabs down in theatre because they fit either way. On the MD they were installed with the tab down. I don't remember on the MC.

 

I always had an intuitive sense that maybe the tab-up was handy to prevent slipping off when using the side of the bumperette as a step.
But then why put it tab down on the M38A1?
:?

 

I never could figure out which way to mount them on the MB, pre internet days.

 

interesting subject