Okay, so after weeks of procrastination, I decide today to get my drivers license and stickers renewed because they're going to expire soon. I get in my truck, head to the ministry of transportation and get my licence and sickers. When leaving the parking lot, I am backing up slowly and all of a sudden I hear my reverse sensor go "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP" and then instantly after that goes off I slam on the breaks but not fast enough. *BAM*. I hit this little pole sticking out of the ground... I get out.. I am madder than hell and I look at the dammage. It hit right near my trailer hitch... Bends in the metal...

So after swearing a blue streak up and down, I go to the stealership to see how much it will cost to repair... The guy says since it's chrome, it can't be repaired and I need to order a new bumper.... The quote he gave me is 1100 bucks for a new bumper installed.

The girlfriend said its barely noticeable and I shouldn't get it repaired... Personally it bothers the hell out of me and I want to get it fixed.

My question to you guys is that can't chrome plated steel be banged back into shape? Do I REALLY have to get a new bumper... The chrome isn't even scratched, it's just bent in a bit. Can't I just get it bent back out?

What's your experiences in this?

Sincerely,
One severly sad and unhappy guy...

 

I have tried this, and it can be done, but it is NOT easy. I see you already know how to swear, that will help. You run into a few problems with this.
1. The chrome itself can flake off when the steel is bent back.
2. Heating the metal will make it easier to bend, but will most likely discolor the chrome, and could have and effect on your b/u sensors.
3. Being such a smooth surface, pounding it back out will often leave beauty marks that are quite noticable, depending on the size of the dent.

$1100 is steep for a bumper, but I guess that's the going rate. Depending on your deducatable, may be time to call the insurance man... Just a thought.

I can't stand a dent, no matter how tiny. It's the first thing I see.

Best of luck with this

 

I would remove it and try to press it back if you can figure a way to get pressure to the spot. Then if you are not successful, get a body shop to get you a new bumper. I had a dimple in the bumper of my last truck that I never got fixed. Every time I walked up to the back of the truck, that was all I could see. now, every time I walk up to my new truck, I look at it and think, wow, no dent, sure hope I don't do that again, LOL Good luck.

 

I'd kind of like to know why your sensor didn't alert you in enough time. You paid for the thing, it should have given you enough time to correct.

May want to check that out, might be able to get Ford to pay for it (slim chance, but its a chance).

 

Here are some photos of the dammage:

 

I got a small scuff on my rear bumper and was quoted around $400 cdn ($300 us) to have my bumper replaced.

As for repairing your bumper , their is allmost no way you can do it with out causing more damage.

Your other option is to keep your eyes open on ebay and your local autowreckers for a like new bumper.

I have just put up with the small scuff on mine.
Later Trev

 

I have to agree with you there...
When I went to the body stop at the stealership, the guys said that it's fairly commonplace for the reverse assist to fail to pick up small objects. Especially if you're turning while backing up. (Which was exactly what I was doing).

Like 1 Krazy Kanuk said I'll have to keep my eyes open on ebay or at the local autowreckers for a like new bumper...

Or maybe I can keep my fingers crossed and be lightly rear-ended by someone and they can then pay for the bumper replacement.

 

I got a ticket for 75 in a 55 and then locked my keys in my (rental)truck... looks like today sucked for alot of us.

 

Sheeze and I was worried about business matters and a few other things. Glad I wasn't on the road today

 

my day was good, i drove a five hundred and man that things hauls some *** for the huge trunk it has, truck is getting new gear set

 

I'll join in on the bad day... My brother took my truck out, went into a parking garage. Went under the "low-clearance" thing with no problem, the place is packed-no available spots, went all the way up to the top floor, where I guess low-clearance is lower than the rest of the garage. He cleaned the ladder rack off the top of my truck...bent the bedrails, ripped a 1" gash in the bedfloor...
He parks outside the garage and ends up with a parking ticket.

I, however, found $5 in the Wal-mart parking lot. Makes me feel special.

 

That dent is on the strongest part of the bumper. I think as far as fixing that, you are pretty much hosed. It is noticeable. It would be hard for me to live with. I'd say hit EBAY....

 

best reply I've heard in a long time.

 

I got to drive some girl's Saleen last night, made me feel special.

 

Damn -- it's hard to figure out whose day sucked the most!

And come to think of it -- the last two days since I picked up my new F-150 have pretty much sucked for me as well!

Do you think there's something on around here?

Oh yeah -- and for a "reverse take" on RockPicks experience, I just got my insurance renewal in the mail and my last speeding ticket finally dropped off my record. My insurance dropped $241.00 for the next 6 months! I can't figure out if the ticket was the full reason for this drop, or if the fact that Texas insurers are now also looking at your credit score to determine insurance rates may have played a role (?).