Backed bumper into a trailer hitch, do I have to fix this? (possible rust issue)

I would take the bumper off and do a fiberglass repair from the back side after massaging the broken piece back into place. Then smooth the seams of the break on the outside with some grey silicone.

John

 

If it's "your baby" then fix it right.

If you just want to save money?
Many ways to seal it up and negate any rain water risk.

Do it right...or Get Er Done...your choice.

 

Maybe time to stop calling these things "bumpers".

 

Duct tape will fix anything...

...and almost an identical color match.




jk

In all seriousness, I haven't had the rear bumper cover off and am unfamiliar with what's underneath. If you are just looking to create a waterproof seal, a good quality silicone glue would work to that effect. Also, using a hair dryer(recommended) or heat gun and a little elbow grease will help with the removal of the creases in the plastic cover.

 

Water (and any salt contained therein) will splash up inside from underneath. I don't think it's a rust issue, just cosmetic.

And yes, it's a "bumper cover". Not really sure there's a "bumper" under there. There isn't on the FJ Cruiser.

 

If not sealed properly, the eps foam energy absorber between the bumper cover and the aluminum bumper will deteriorate and lose it's energy absorbing properties.

SCH-I535

 

OUCH !!!!

 

I recently got my Pri back for a destroyed cover, bumper frame and other - there is a metal strut under the cover with some foam. The cover itself (new) was listed at about 900.00. Here's the thread and the pics are near the end of page 1.

Collision repair advice | PriusChat

 

There won't be a risk of rust , the area right behind of it is foam and aluminum beam . There is no exposed of bare metal. So no. But sure looks ugly...

Best bet is to search craigslist or other places to get a good condition used replacement (if budget is an issue)

 

Try rockauto.com. Get it painted then install.

 

It might be better to install, then paint. And extend the paint a bit into adjacent body panels, what they call blending, where they gradually thin out the color coat. Frustrating to have to repaint half the car, but that's actually the best way to avoid an obvious transition.

 

What he said^


iPhone 6 ?

 

True.

Guess I'm old enough to remember when bumpers were designed to absorb an amount of impact, and continue on....

Todays "bumpers" are designed to absorb impact....then need to be almost entirely replaced at great cost.

 

I don't think they're even designed to absorb impact, likely the body crumple does that. They're largely "fairings", in my estimation. The 3rd gen rear bumper can barely hold itself in place, there's been a lot of saggy butt reports, lol.

Our first car was an '81 Civic. It had a chromed steel wrap-around rail, with a wide, black rubber wear strip at it's equator, it was mounted on two shock asbsorbing horizontal shafts, bolting into the frame.

Our next car, an '83 Accord I think, had switched over to the fairing style, but at least it was unpainted black plastic, poorly mounted, with a pebbly texture. At least it could take a minor ding without showing too much.

Todays bumpers are ridiculous glass jaws.

 

I recommend a bit of aluminum like this


iPhone ?

 

Oh here come the prius memes


iPhone 6 ?

 

You might get away with using the stick on rear bumper cover that is an OEM accessory.

It is black plastic and covers most of the hole, but might need a little artful extension along the bottom edge to fully cover.

I am thinking along the lines of the black material they use to line in pick up truck beds. Fit the plastic cover before removing the double sided sticky tape to see how much further you need to cover with the spray on stuff, mask and see.

Roland

 

Good thing the trailer tongue didn't hit the hatch or you'd be looking at a bigger repair.

My concern wouldn't be with water getting in the hole but rather with hatch wall having paint damage around that dent & getting rust

You could do 1 of 3 things:

1) Buy a new bumper cover and have it painted
2) Buy a used bumper cover in the same color
3) Buy a used bumper cover any color and have it painted

If it helps, I have a 2012 blizzard pearl rear bumper cover that I can sell you.


iPad ?

 

Having replaced my rear bumper cover twice I can say without hesitation do not buy the $100 bumper cover. The plastic is so thin it looks pretty bad on the car. I went that way the second time and highly regret it. Buy a good condition used bumper and take it to a body shop and its $150 to have it painted. Must be painted off the car.

It looks very much like a G2 bumper which is fairly easy to take the rear cover off and uses alot of clips along the bottom that may break off when you pull the cover off. Buy new clips online before hand.

All in maybe $250 which may be cheaper than your insurance deductible.