Anyone want to chime in on how difficult the front bumper is to remove?

Here's the story: I pulled into the gas station to top off the tank. Pulled behind an old lady who was finishing filling up (all the other bays were occupied). I was a good 16 to 20 feet behind her. She threw it into reverse and backed right into me. There was a BUNCH of room in front of her to pull ahead and leave. Bent my lower bumper right by the tow hook. Needless to say I was pi$$ed off to no end. She got out and looked at me like I was the one who did something wrong then asked if I wanted to call the police. I was so disgusted that I just told her to leave right now before I got really upset. My deductible is $500 so I'm certain that it isn't even worth reporting to my insurance agency.

Now I'm going to spend some time either tomorrow or Saturday taking the bumper off and trying to "fix" it with a soft mallet. It isn't much...matter of fact I'm sure that my wife will say there isn't anything wrong with it. I just try to take care of my vehicles and I'm not at all happy with how it looks right now.

Anyone have suggestions?

 

be gentle but firm with the hammer, make sure you have something under the bumper that wont scratch the paint/chrome

there should be 4 or 6 bolts holding it onto the bumper brackets (come up from frame rails)

 

Thanks Patman. I was just looking at it and I could see two of the nuts holding it on at the front of the frame. I'll have to search for the other ones.

Next step is to figure out a backer for it so I don't scratch the chrome just like you said. Probably going to use a pillow or something.

 

I'd lay a big fluffy comforter down and lay it on it.

 

If you'd have called the police, it's her fault so her insurance would have paid for it; instead you are fixing it yourself.

 

x2... you call right away, don't even move your vehicle... if she tries to leave take her license number for the hit and run.

 

Good luck fixing it with a hammer/mallet. Thats some thick steel. I had a donor bumper and had a hell of a time bending it back with a visegrip on the edge.

Theres about 10-12 bolts holding it on. Pop the hood, theres a bunch down under the headlights and a bunch underneath the truck. Fairly simple, I took mine off myself and rehung it myself.

If its down at the bottom Id leave the bumper on the truck and swing away. That way you dont have to hold it, its not gonna move still attached to the truck. Just take the plastic valence off.

 

There are four big bolts holding it onto the frame, two outside, two inside, the other smaller bolts on top just hold the plastic on the top of the bumper! It's not a bad job with two people! I did it once to install my chrome tow hooks with the brackets for my Go-Rhino push bar!........Don't forget to measure the gaps so that she lines up perfectly!!!

 

Always call the police! And if they won't come because it is on private property take pics with your cell phone, get any witness names you can and exchange information with the other person. No matter how minor the damage is! I am an insurance agent. You will not believe how many times I have seen something like this happen only later to have the old lady come back and say that you hit here in the rear! Believe me people are all cooperative at the scene but as time goes by they start thinking about what they can get away with! Next thing you know your paying to fix their car and for "injuries" just because you didn't follow through! Sad but true! If nothing else get all the info and do everything you can to protect yourself even if you don't want to mess with it at the time! Hopefully this will not happen in this case but you had every right to have her insurance fix your truck from the sound of it?

 

good luck, that thing is HEAVY

 

You're all correct. I should have called the police for various reasons. If nothing else then to get this old lady off the road. She shouldn't have been driving...in my opinion.

As far as insurance, we're no-fault here in MI. I'm going to guess that my $500 deductable would just about cover a bumper (but this is just a guess). It isn't horrid meaning if it was a rear bumper in NASCAR I wouldn't get a black flag. I'm just annoyed that it is now damaged.

 

I was across the street from my truck one day. I watched an old lady open her door quickly and get within an inch of hitting my closed door. Her husband is a semi-good friend, but I would have still walked over and taken a picture and called the police. It is no excuse for me to have to pay $500 for my door to be fixed and repainted out of pocket.

 

sue the old bag

 

Long shot, but the gas station might have a camera to prove your point to the insurance co.

 

Extremely long shot since it was almost 2 years ago!