Payload perimeter protecting bumper

A method for protecting a tailgate of a pickup truck during a process of loading pallets into a box of the pickup truck using a forklift, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a male receiver insert structure;
• providing a bumper member which comprises:
• a contact portion;
• an elongated pivotable structural member;
• a plurality of intra-gap spanning sleeves coupled to opposing sides of elongated pivotable structural member;
• providing an intermediate portion, disposed between said male receiver insert structure and bumper member and configured with a first side rear aperture, a first side bottom aperture, and a first side front aperture so as to permit bumper member to pivot from a vertically oriented configuration to a horizontally oriented configuration;
• a) inserting the male receiver insert structure into a hitch receiver of a pickup truck while its tailgate is up;
• b) inserting a retention pin to securely attach the male receiver insert structure to the pickup truck;
• c) removing a pivot limiting pin from a non-pivot axis intra-gap spanning sleeve, which is located at first side rear aperture;
• d) lowering the bumper member until the bumper member is horizontal;
• e) inserting pivot limiting pin through first side bottom aperture, non-pivot axis intra-gap spanning sleeve and then through a second side bottom aperture which is across the gap from first side bottom aperture;
• f) lowering a pickup tailgate to allow open axis to a payload area from a rear portion of the pickup truck;
• g) driving a forklift up to and contacting a contact portion;
• and
• h) lowering a pallet down into the pickup truck without contacting the tailgate with the front of the forklift.

A method for stopping an approaching vehicle from coming too close to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a male receiver insert structure;
• providing a bumper member which comprises:
• a contact portion;
• an elongated pivotable structural member;
• a plurality of intra-gap spanning sleeves coupled to opposing sides of elongated pivotable structural member;
• providing an intermediate portion, disposed between said male receiver insert structure and bumper member and configured with a first side rear aperture, a first side bottom aperture, and a first side front aperture so as to permit bumper member to pivot from a vertically oriented configuration to a horizontally oriented configuration;
• inserting the male receiver insert structure into a hitch receiver of a first vehicle;
• inserting a retention pin to securely attach the male receiver insert structure to the first vehicle;
• parking the first vehicle at first location;
• removing a pivot limiting pin from a non-pivot axis intra-gap spanning sleeve, which is located at first side rear aperture:
• lowering the bumper member until the bumper member is horizontal;
• inserting pivot limiting pin through first side bottom aperture, non-pivot axis intra-gap spanning sleeve and then through a second side bottom aperture which is across the gap from first side bottom aperture;
• determining that the first vehicle is ready to be moved;
• removing pivot limiting pin and pivoting upward the bumper member until the bumper member is vertical;
• and
• moving the first vehicle.