Rear bumper bent down how to repair

streetglider · July 31, 2021

I was avoiding a goose that walked in the roadway when a young guy hit me in the rear. We had just gone through a light and I was moving very slowly when I got hit. My tow hitch was in so the real damage was to his front bumper. I just noticed that the driver side of the bumper looks to be pushed down a inch or so and doesn't line up like the other side. Is this an easy fix? I hate to get the kid's insurance involved epecially if I can just fix it myself. TIA

diyer2 · July 31, 2021

If it bothers you, I would file a claim.

Tahoe02 · July 31, 2021

Maybe try a floor jack with a board and see if you can raise it an inch.

Enough · July 31, 2021

A couple of guys that have been in the "they only hit my trailer hitch" club have found frame damage after the fact. The way these trucks are designed with the hitch and bumper bolted together makes for some interesting damage and difficulty lining things back up.

I'd file a claim. That's why we pay insurance.

JimCost2014 · August 1, 2021

Rather than forcing it back into place, loosen it, reset, then tighten back up.

If you go with the method in the first video, it is very important not to forget the massive burnout before starting!!!!

Edited August 1, 2021 by JimCost2014

eppieguy · August 3, 2021

On 7/31/2021 at 11:29 AM, Tahoe02 said:

Maybe try a floor jack with a board and see if you can raise it an inch.

^^^ This, I've done it a bunch of times.

streetglider · August 3, 2021

It looks like I will have to file a claim. More damage than I thought and the father is accusing me of trying to get his insurance to pay for damage that was already there. He said that since my hitch was in, and even though it punched a hole through his bumper, his car could not have caused the corner of the bumper to be pushed down and forward. He is even claiming that he sees touch up paint (there is no such paint) under the bumper which just doesn't make sense to me. I made a huge mistake trying to keep his kid from getting a ticket.

Earl Cordova · August 3, 2021

Years ago on two different occasions I had tried to help out the guy that bumped into my vehicle by not calling the police

and got screwed for hundreds of dollars both times.

Sjordan · August 5, 2021

I have learned always file a claim. Got rear ended at very slow speed in my BMW which did not appear to cause any damage other than a scuff. Filed a claim and they found the exhaust was bent slightly and there was a broken bracket as well. Ended up being over 2k and my insurance went after them and I got my deductible back.

streetglider · August 5, 2021

The old line that "No good deed goes unpunished" certainly fits here. My insurance company will handle it from here. I never let him get me angry even when he accused me of touching up the paint though he was coming close. I knew then he was going to want an argument no matter what.