Crummy Bumpers

[jimnance]

Last week has the misfortune to slide in the mud into a utility trailer parked out back. The ground was more slippery than I anticipated, and anti-lock doesn't work when you have no traction.



Anyway, it was a very slow speed deal with a fairly gentle bump. Unfortunately, the front bumper did not fare well at all. The damage was extensive enough to require replacement.



To my amazement after the bump I was able to bend the bumper back somewhat by simply pulling it with my hands!



I wish Dodge had put some of that extra 1,000 lbs into it's bumpers. :--)

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

You can blame most of that on do-gooders and environmentalists... The front and rearends of vehicles must meet crash standards designed for "our protection" - and at the same time, less weight supposedly translates into reduced fuel consumpton...



I say "supposedly", because we need to factor in the INCREASED energy required to manufacture, transport and install the REPLACEMENT parts dictated by premature and unnecessarily increased damages such as yours...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You might want to check out www.reunel.com for a "real" front bumper. They designed it to work with the boxed frame, and it has the waves under the headlights to complement the stock front end.

Second gen front bumpers are 0. 080" thick with the chrome, and the rear is 0. 062" thick. Not much more than cosmetic. I haven't measured the thickness of 3rd gen bumpers... probably similar.