Bumper Fix?

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User6974

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This is my first time posting here so mods please move if in wrong thread.

A while ago I was on an off road trail and went over a steep dirt mound (like a big speed bump) too fast and when my front tires went over my back bumper slammed on the dirt mound causing my bumper to slightly bend at an upward angle (first pic with red line).

The exhaust tips also got messed up as you can see one is bent up touching the bumper and the other has a gap.

I’ve looked underneath and there doesn’t seem to be any type of frame damage.

There is no real issue other than I don’t like the look of it and the exhaust tip rattles on the bumper sometimes.

Do you think a body shop can fix this? Or am going to need a whole new bumper?

A member on a different forum suggested replacing the brackets that attach the bumper to the frame as they may be bent?

IMG_7852.jpegIMG_7850.jpegIMG_7854.jpegIMG_7853.jpeg
 

Daw14

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The way vehicles are made nowadays you will most likely need brackets and the bumper , then the exhaust will also require attention, maybe it can be persuaded back into a better position.
 
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User6974

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The way vehicles are made nowadays you will most likely need brackets and the bumper , then the exhaust will also require attention, maybe it can be persuaded back into a better position.
I haven’t been able to find the brackets online if anyone has a link that would be great…

And for the exhaust from looking underneath it looks like the pipes are just bent upward. I was planning on upgrading them anyways.
 

Daw14

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Lots of 4th gen bumpers come with new brackets , may be something to look into if the gen 5 does too.
 

Dean2

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Modern bumpers are basically beer can strong. Good for nothing but decoration. The brackets aren't any better. Put a farm jack on any of these and they will fold right up. The rigs we use off road all have built or aftermarket front and rear bumpers, with fabricated brackets that mount to the frame.
 
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User6974

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Lots of 4th gen bumpers come with new brackets , may be something to look into if the gen 5 does too.
What do you mean come with new brackets? I bought used a few years ago, never saw any extra brackets?
 
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User6974

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Modern bumpers are basically beer can strong. Good for nothing but decoration. The brackets aren't any better. Put a farm jack on any of these and they will fold right up. The rigs we use off road all have built or aftermarket front and rear bumpers, with fabricated brackets that mount to the frame.
I don’t off-road frequently, if I did I would get a better aftermarcket bumper. I’m just wanting to straighten out this one if possible.
 

HarryS

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It looks to me like it's bent down. If that's the case, just jack up the truck using the corner of the bumper, until it's straight.
 

Dean2

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It looks to me like it's bent down. If that's the case, just jack up the truck using the corner of the bumper, until it's straight.
Two things wrong with that. Bumper is bent up not down and the bumper is not as strong as the brackets so it will fold before the brackets do. Personally, I would take it right off and go from there. A lot better result will come from replacing or straightening the brackets, then seeing what needs to be done to the bumper. Wrecker yard should have all kinds of parts real cheap.
 

Wild one

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I don’t off-road frequently, if I did I would get a better aftermarcket bumper. I’m just wanting to straighten out this one if possible.
Well get under the truck and start unbolting the bumper,and then straighten out the brackets. Heat and some hammering should straighten the brackets to the point everything looks good when bolted back on.
 

DanAR

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Do you have a picture from head on at bumper height, showing the whole bumper from the rear?
 

DanAR

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To me the bumper does look a bit twisted, probably in the center section with the back edge on the left side just slightly higher than the right, although it’s pretty subtle in the picture. Not sure bracket adjustments are going to help that much. A frame shop might be able to pull it back in line but they are getting scarce and it might cost as much as a new bumper. Sorry.
 

El Guapo Phil

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Here in Belize, I backed into a 3 foot post. It twisted the bumper, brackets, and cause a bent on the passenger side cargo panel. What to do? I took it to Nixon, the body man who you can trust. He said it will take about 2 hours of work and we can straighten out the bumper good enough for it to fit right and look good. They brackets can be pounded out and maybe put the tail back in it holder. For the dent, he used a body jack to pop it out.

He proceeded and I was amazed how he knew where to pound the bumper while off the truck and pop--out the dent. The cost? Well, he is a good man so he charged me two hours of work....$50 BZD.

He said if I wanted to replace the brackets and bumper it would be another $35 plus the parts. Guess what I did? I am driving it because it look good.

You can do a lot of things if you are willing to do the work and have someone to lend a hand at whacking into alignment the parts, you can make it look good. Well that is my experience in Belize.
 

Tulecreeper

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Here in Belize, I backed into a 3 foot post. It twisted the bumper, brackets, and cause a bent on the passenger side cargo panel. What to do? I took it to Nixon, the body man who you can trust. He said it will take about 2 hours of work and we can straighten out the bumper good enough for it to fit right and look good. They brackets can be pounded out and maybe put the tail back in it holder. For the dent, he used a body jack to pop it out.

He proceeded and I was amazed how he knew where to pound the bumper while off the truck and pop--out the dent. The cost? Well, he is a good man so he charged me two hours of work....$50 BZD.

He said if I wanted to replace the brackets and bumper it would be another $35 plus the parts. Guess what I did? I am driving it because it look good.

You can do a lot of things if you are willing to do the work and have someone to lend a hand at whacking into alignment the parts, you can make it look good. Well that is my experience in Belize.
In Belize you can also have a full time handy man for like $500 per month. Among other things I learned the several times I was down there. :cool:
 

tron67j

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The bumper brackets are attached to the bumper, it all comes as one piece. The bumper has some design to it to help absorb impacts from behind instead of transferring all that energy to the frame directly. Replacement with a stronger more robust bumper does require awareness of this, up to you if a problem. Also, it is quite possible your frame has bent at the attachment points and needs repair. You can't tell until it gets in a frame machine.
 

mdc1990zr1

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Well get under the truck and start unbolting the bumper,and then straighten out the brackets. Heat and some hammering should straighten the brackets to the point everything looks good when bolted back on.
I would do what wild one suggested. If you can’t straighten out the brackets by pounding, you can “egg” out the brackets and/or the bumper holes to bring it back
 

Hardracer

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My left bumper looked the same as yours when I bought it..bugged the hell outta me..got under there,bracket indeed bent..could not get that piece back straight for the life of me..ended up using about 1/2in.of washers to bring it back up straight....as another has said these bumpers(what they call bumpers) are like beer cans.corner brackets way tougher....the exhaust tips are easily adjustable about a foot or so in on a ball/clamp type thing.
Kinda weird it didn't smash up your plastic molding on the bottom of the bumper..
You'll get it..keep at it.
 
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