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Hi folks. I took my truck for a quick run and stopped at a parking lot. I pulled in and up to one of those cement stops that sit in front of parking spots in parking lots. Like we all do all the time. When I pulled up, my front bumper went over it with no issue, no sounds.
However, when I came back, maybe my tires cooled, who knows, but my front bumper was stuck on the cement , specifically a hidden piece of rebar that just poked out from under it. So I could not back out! To be clear, I did not know about the rebar until after i finally backed up.
But I made the wrong decision and used more throttle. Well, it worked, but also bent my bumper! See the photos.
Any advice on this and how to straighten a front bumper back out? I’m thinking heat and force from a Jack. Or find a shop with a big press. And yes, it is now removed off the truck. I would not try and bend it while it’s on the truck, lol. I may just need to buy a replacement, but I’d prefer not to spend the cash.
So sorry it happened. Its a beautiful truck!
Not to hijack this thread but it got me wondering though. Say when you were backing out and first felt that something seemed wrong, if you did shut off the engine, got out, and looked under and saw that piece of rebar catching the bumper, what does a guy do then? Air the tire(s)way up? Take off the bumper maybe. But what if you dont have an air compressor or tools along? I know we got some really smart dudes on this forum. What are your ideas on how a guy could quickly get himself out of a jam like this?
Did you meet up with a fat girl in the parking lot to take her home with you?
All kidding aside, I have found that straightening a bumper will only have the result of making it look like it did before - by using way more time and effort and professional equipment than you'd expect to be needed. Whatever angle and amount of force that caused the damage has to be replicated in the exact opposite direction and force. That is very hard to do on a shop bench. Anything less and you will consciously notice a lessor effort. You won't help but notice the re-bend evidence and stretch marks.
You have a nice looking truck. And a glossy black simple stock-type bumper. Might be quicker and easier to hit up the catalog parts company and get a replacement. A little bit of filing down the rough edges and paint prep, some paint and clear coat and you'll be looking at your truck with pride again?
I agree with the others, in that you will probably never be happy with the straightened bumper.
But to get it close I would use a wood 4x4 or some other stiff working surface and several large C clamps. You can use shims and wedges to get pressure exactly where you want.
So sorry it happened. Its a beautiful truck!
Not to hijack this thread but it got me wondering though. Say when you were backing out and first felt that something seemed wrong, if you did shut off the engine, got out, and looked under and saw that piece of rebar catching the bumper, what does a guy do then? Air the tire(s)way up? Take off the bumper maybe. But what if you dont have an air compressor or tools along? I know we got some really smart dudes on this forum. What are your ideas on how a guy could quickly get himself out of a jam like this?
Bummer
Before I took it off the truck I would have tried "pushing" up against a phone pole or something. That would get the bulk of it out.
At least with it on the truck it gave you a fixed mount to work from. Like others have said, you'd be better off with a replacement. It will be less time and effort in the long run and you'll be happier with the results.
I had something similar in high school. I pulled into the auto shop parking lot in my 60 F100. the only spot left was on a slight hill with a chain link fence across the back. I pulled up the edge of my bumper hit a pole. The pole pushed to the side then "sprang" back behind the bumper.....oops.
I tried back up, nope. Since I was running late for class I left it and figured I'd worry about it after school. I came back to the truck hours later and 2 maintenance guys were trying to move the post. In all of their wiggling the post around they dented my hood.....agh. I yelled at them a bit then grabbed a crescent wrench and pulled the bumper off. Tossed it in the back of the truck and drove home.....doh
I agree that it would be tough to get it to look “right”. I see an LMC delivery in my future. I actually ordered one from a different company, then they canceled the order after 3 weeks saying no stock from manufacturer.
to the question on how to handle it… I should not have assumed it was just small amount of cement holding it back. I should have looked. But I was rushing around that day.
second, I have crowbar under my seat. One of the types that has the flat wide end. I probably could have bent the inner bumper edge up a tiny bit. Yes, bending it, but that would be a place facing the ground and not seen normally.
so overall if I wasn’t in a rush, I believe it could have been avoided. Someone said putting more air in the front tires, which I agree could work. But getting air to the middle of a parking lot would take time.
if you can picture it, there was not enough room to back up onto anything. It sorta pinned me exactly in place. It was crazy random. Maybe I should have played the lottery that day.
Mine got bent backwards, almost to touching the body. I took it to a bumper and powder-coating shop, who straightened it perfectly, sandblasted it, and powder-coated it for $150. The OEM bumpers are much heavier than the repro's, I'd at least try to save yours.
Bummer
Before I took it off the truck I would have tried "pushing" up against a phone pole or something. That would get the bulk of it out.
At least with it on the truck it gave you a fixed mount to work from.
I thought about this, but I don’t like the idea of putting that much force on the frame in one corner. Can’t be good for frame integrity and would not be accurate to get it straight.
Good point
Like Ross said, it'd be worth hanging onto and messing with. You can buy a repop for now and mess with the bent one when you find some time
Do you have access to a press? Take your time, go slow and you can probably work a lot of it back out
