Custom Bus and Truck Panels · 2026-07-23
Rub rails aren't just trim. They shield the body seams and hide the rust nobody checks. Here's how they work with the rear body and bumper brackets, and how to replace them.
Rub rails are the horizontal steel ribs running the length of the bus. They look like styling, but they're doing real work. They stiffen the side panels, they take the first hit from anything that scrapes the bus, and they cover the top seam of the lower side panels. That last job is the one that matters to anybody fighting rust, because the rail traps grit and moisture against the seam it's protecting. The worst rust on a bus is often hiding right behind a rail that looks fine from the road.
Chasing side body rust? The rub rail comes off first. The panel behind it almost always looks worse than the panel below it, because the rail held water against the seam for years. A rail that's dented, rusted, or has pulled its fasteners is worth replacing on its own too. A loose rail lets the panel flex and crack at the screw holes.
The back of the bus is its own little cluster of parts. The rear body panels around the emergency door, the bumper, and the brackets that tie the bumper to the frame. The brackets take the most punishment. They're heavy steel (the IC and Amtran rear bumper brackets we stock are 3/16 inch plate), but they rust at the frame mount and bend when somebody backs the bus into something. A bumper sitting crooked or sagging is usually a bent or rusted bracket, not a bent bumper.
Rear bumper brackets come in different leg lengths and bolt patterns even within one brand. Measure the horizontal leg and count the bolt holes on your old bracket before you order. The wrong leg length puts the bumper in the wrong spot.
We stock rub rails for IC and Amtran, Thomas, and Blue Bird, rear body panels for those brands plus Collins, and rear bumper brackets (mostly IC and Amtran), along with the gussets and connectors that tie them together. Order by part number where you've got one, or send photos and measurements and we'll match the part to your bus.
Browse rub rails, rear body panels, and bumper brackets for IC and Amtran, Thomas, and Blue Bird.
This site requires JavaScript. Please enable JavaScript to browse our full catalog.