Damaged Bumper need Advice

TrailKruk · Nov 26, 2021

Ill blame it on the covid recovery but I made a big mistake. While heading down our many snowy dirt back roads to a nature trail I drove up on a fallen tree. Not wanting to get more redneck pinstripes than I already I have I instead decided to back up and promptly backed into a dirt mound. Looks like I bent the passenger side muffler cover to hell and tweaked the bumper way more than I would have expected. I have insurance, I am still under factory warranty as well of course... Have any advice?? Get quotes from a body shop or three and see if it's worth claiming? Drive it off into a lake in shame?

The System · Nov 26, 2021

TrailKruk said:
Ill blame it on the covid recovery but I made a big mistake. While heading down our many snowy dirt back roads to a nature trail I drove up on a fallen tree. Not wanting to get more redneck pinstripes than I already I have I instead decided to back up and promptly backed into a dirt mound. Looks like I bent the passenger side muffler cover to hell and tweaked the bumper way more than I would have expected. I have insurance, I am still under factory warranty as well of course... Have any advice?? Get quotes from a body shop or three and see if it's worth claiming? Drive it off into a lake in shame?

Two schools of thought on minor damages to a truck. One, it’s a truck and an off road truck at that. It’s going to get bumps and bruises if you’re using it. It’s minor, don’t worry about it.
Or two, just file a claim with your insurance and get it repaired if it bothers you that much. It’s a small claim that will unlikely effect your rates or standing. Being a new truck, I’d file a claim and get it fixed.

Remanaz · Nov 28, 2021

These bumpers are like thin as heck sheet metal and do not stand up to even a light hit. I backed into the corner of a utility bed at 5mph or less and it buckled the bumper to where I could not open my tailgate. I went aftermarket.

I can't tell if you damaged the bumper shell or just the brackets and exhaust tip. If it is just the brackets and tip it may not be horribly expensive. If the bumper shell needs to be replaced things get expensive. I was seeing new takeoff bumpers on ebay for $1000 and up. Brand new was $1000 for just the bumper shell (painted). I did not continue to look at the individual components pricing but I have to imagine the price exceeding $2000 for an entire new painted bumper. That is retail not including labor. A shop will likely be closer to $3000 to replace the entire bumper. I hope I am wrong and it is cheaper though.