Cheap Plastic Bumper Side Trim

[pm26]

Today I looked at a brand new '08 4X4 3500 crew cab dually Duramax equipped LTZ pickup with a sticker price of $ 51k and to my dismay I saw that the large front bumper side pieces were nothing but chromed plastic!!!! Do they really expect this crap to hold up to any impact or abuse at all? No offense, but this is ridiculous. It's a good thing that at least the center part of the bumper is chromed steel, even though it feels thin and flimsy. Are all plastic bumpers coming for the 2009?

 

The problem with these chromed plastic pieces is that the plastic is much harder than on typical car plastic bumpers, and it will crack easily under any impact. And something tells me that the replacement pieces will not be cheap.

[hotwheels57]

...so, you won't be buying it then? (btw, thin & flimsy chromed metal is more expensive to replace and heavier, affecting fuel economy).

[-Devil-]

its still cheaper to replace a peice of chrome plated plastic then it is a metal bumper .. esp considering it is replaced in parts ... not the entire bumper...

[VMax2007]

Simple solution....Don't hit anything!!!

[Norseman]

Today I looked at a brand new '08 4X4 3500 crew cab dually Duramax equipped LTZ pickup with a sticker price of $ 51k and to my dismay I saw that the large front bumper side pieces were nothing but chromed plastic!!!! Do they really expect this crap to hold up to any impact or abuse at all? No offense, but this is ridiculous. It's a good thing that at least the center part of the bumper is chromed steel, even though it feels thin and flimsy. Are all plastic bumpers coming for the 2009?

 

The problem with these chromed plastic pieces is that the plastic is much harder than on typical car plastic bumpers, and it will crack easily under any impact. And something tells me that the replacement pieces will not be cheap.

 

Still not as much cheep a ss plastic as this POS!

 

[mini1]

Solution= learn how to drive or get Sierra.

[asilverblazer]

Do they really expect this crap to hold up to any impact or abuse at all?

The problem with these chromed plastic pieces is that the plastic is much harder than on typical car plastic bumpers, and it will crack easily under any impact.

 

I wouldn't hit anything with the bumper of any truck since the GMT-400's they are made to absorb impacts so that you aren't injured in a frontal collision. They are ALL flimsy and breakable, whether it is plastic or metal. At least most plastics will bend and return to original shape, metal don't.

 

I say if you PLAN on hitting anything with the bumper, you're gonna need a "Road Armor" bumper.

 

***EDIT***

Especially on a 50K dollar truck.

[Bobslob]

Dang right

[VMax2007]

Still not as much cheep a ss plastic as this POS!

 

 

^^^^Mods, PLEASE rid this awesome site of such a BUTT UGLY POS truck pic!!!!

[pm26]

You are missing my point. It is not about hitting something hard with the bumper without damaging it. It is about normal wear and tear that could be expected on a truck when used for its intended purpose. What could be merely a scratch on a chromed steel bumper, would most likely result in a broken piece requiring a $ 250 replacement. something like this is impractical on a vehicle that is designed to be used by contractors for heavy towing and service.

[asilverblazer]

OK, they both can sustain scratches, but I think if the impact is hard enough to break the plastic, it would also be hard enough to bend the metal. The plastic can bend a certain amount before breaking, the metal bends and stays bent. I prefer not to sustain any damage at all.

 

While most of us don't use our tucks for a contracting service, I don't see why those that do can't take a little more care to avoid damaging the bumper at all.

 

I use my truck strictly as a truck, and manage to keep mine looking nice. (General ranch style work.)

 

I don't mean to offend anyone, but its a peeve of mine, people not taking care of their stuff, or others for that matter.