Rear bumper taco'd at 1.5mph?

[JR]

I had a '64 F-250. The bumpers were so sturdy that I'd lift it with a Hi Lift jack.

I carry a hi lo jack in my 67 Land Cruiser. After all these years, the bumper is still the first place I grab. It's rock solid.

 

[R.Taylor]

Alright... It's turned out to be a $#@&! day. Got up and drove to my shop this morning... Loaded up the FabFours rear bumper I bought at the end of November last year. Work has been so busy that I have not had a chance to install the bumper.... As you've all read already, I wasted my rear bumper yesterday as I backed into a parking spot.
So... I pulled off the OEM taco and followed FabFours directions page by page. Got the trailer power/parking sensor harness all pulled out of the OEM and installed into the FabFours... Sensors and all. Even epoxied the OEM LED license plate light fixtures into the new bumper as specified by FabFours. Then I get to page 14 of a 15 page installation manual and I notice the pictures in the manual show different looking OEM fixture points.... Then as I look at it further, There's no darn way this bumper is going on. The supplied FabFours brackets will not fit where it says they are supposed to. Be it I did my homework prior to purchase, There was no compatibility issue mentioned WHATSOEVER. So after staring at this and wondering WTF.... I went to FabFours website and went to the page that has the bumper I bought. Well.... Now it says the following " Note: "Will not work with the heavy towing package on 2019 Dodge HD call Customer Service for details". Okay.... In November it did not say that. It says this bumper fits 2019 RAM 2500 to 5500 models, Sensor version and non sensor version available. So I then look at 4WheelParts website where I ordered it from and look at the description on the item page..... Nowhere can I find it saying it won't work on my truck. Then I look at my build sheet and nowhere do I see my rig built with a Max Tow package.... I ordered my truck custom built from FCA. Then I go to RAM's website and build a 2019 3500 as I ordered mine... Nowhere do I see any options or choices to add a heavy tow package. Long story short..... FabFours screwed up somewhere down the line and found out that it won't fit all the trucks they said it fits. 4WheelParts still has not updated their page saying it won't fit. So.... I wasted an entire day only to be left with no bumper and a zip tie attached license plate. I'll be calling FabFours and 4WheelParts first thing Monday morning. Not a happy camper. On another note.... There's a bunch of plastic behind the OEM rear bumper that was crunched and broken from my 1mph pole kiss. Unbelievable FCA, Makes me wonder what my close near $80k actually bought me. Now I have to battle 4WheelParts and my credit card perhaps.... They'll be like "You bought this in November sir... You just now find out it won't fit". Maybe FabFours has figured out a different mounting bracket for the trucks with the heavy tow package (which I don't see in my build list) and they'll send me some. Not happy, RA is blasting my elbows out now.. It's lay down time. Sorry to rant but I hate this kind of crap. Here are some pics of my OEM bumper with it's broken plastic innards and my new invisible bumper.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wow. That is a lot of plastic to be inside a bumper like that!

 

[Wiredawg]

I hate vague, omitted, or wrong information from aftermarket manufacturers about their products. I researched the front grill/brush guard on for my 2017 Ram 5500 and it checked out, except it had wording about parking sensors (Park Sense) MAY not work, but had a link on the web page to the sensor relocation kit, so in my mind, manufacturer identified possible problem and a solution for the problem. I ordered and installed the grill guard and front sensors did not work, so ordered the sensor relocation kit, which in no way would even install, let alone work. So I contacted the manufacturer about the problem with the sensor relocation kit... and their response was they do not have a working solution for making the sensors work. I'm pretty angry about the misinformation (lie), their attitude about it, and MOSTLY with myself for not contacting the manufacturer BEFORE ordering the grill guard. I was very close to taking the grill guard off and returning it, but I like the look so much, I decided to keep it not have the parking sensors operational. I did return the relocation kit.

RTaylor, yours is a worse case of misinformation, manufacturer incompetance, and frustration. I hope you figure out a way to get resolution AND that you report your bad experience online.

Cheers and the best wishes, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

The plastic is there for the parking sensors wiring on the lower side of the bumper and for 4 & 7 way towing receptacle not very good setup.

 

[R.Taylor]

Looking at FabFours website and installation manual.... They show the bumper installed/being installed on a 2019 2500 but it says it fits the 2500 to 5500 model trucks. I have yet to find where there is a "Heavy Towing Package" offered as an option on the 2019 3500 AND would not a 4500 or 5500 truck be "Heavy Towing" with no lessor hitch class options offered? When I build my truck on the RAM site I see a trailer tow group option (brake controller/trailer cameras etc) no mention of a different class receiver. I have that group as well as the 5th wheel hitch prep. Where my OEM bumper mounts to the receiver there are 2 bolts on the left side, 2 in the center and 2 on the right side. In the FabFours install manual they show the OEM receiver has 2 bolts on the left side, 2 in the center and 2 on the right side BUT it has inboard and outboard mounts on both left and right side of the receiver.... My receiver only has outboard mounts. Here is a picture of my mounting points.....

And here's what FabFours shows in the manual of what it should look like........ I've circled in red what my receiver does not have.

My hitch is a 2.5" Class V.... RAM says all 2019 RAM 2500/3500 trucks come standard with it. Not sure why FabFours says it will not fit a 2019 3500 with the HD tow option. I don't see where the 2019's were offered with a Class IV. I don't even see where RAM has a HD tow option. All I know is I am ticked, I guess I'll get some answers on Monday when I call FabFours. I better not get any grief from 4WheelParts if I have to return the bumper seeing as I bought it in November.

In the meantime I may just bolt a piece of PT 6x6 across the back.

 

[Timd32]

Looking at FabFours website and installation manual.... They show the bumper installed/being installed on a 2019 2500 but it says it fits the 2500 to 5500 model trucks. I have yet to find where there is a "Heavy Towing Package" offered as an option on the 2019 3500 AND would not a 4500 or 5500 truck be "Heavy Towing" with no lessor hitch class options offered? When I build my truck on the RAM site I see a trailer tow group option (brake controller/trailer cameras etc) no mention of a different class receiver. I have that group as well as the 5th wheel hitch prep. Where my OEM bumper mounts to the receiver there are 2 bolts on the left side, 2 in the center and 2 on the right side. In the FabFours install manual they show the OEM receiver has 2 bolts on the left side, 2 in the center and 2 on the right side BUT it has inboard and outboard mounts on both left and right side of the receiver.... My receiver only has outboard mounts. Here is a picture of my mounting points.....

View attachment 121111

And here's what FabFours shows in the manual of what it should look like........ I've circled in red what my receiver does not have.
View attachment 121112

My hitch is a 2.5" Class V.... RAM says all 2019 RAM 2500/3500 trucks come standard with it. Not sure why FabFours says it will not fit a 2019 3500 with the HD tow option. I don't see where the 2019's were offered with a Class IV. I don't even see where RAM has a HD tow option. All I know is I am ticked, I guess I'll get some answers on Monday when I call FabFours. I better not get any grief from 4WheelParts if I have to return the bumper seeing as I bought it in November.

In the meantime I may just bolt a piece of PT 6x6 across the back.

My procrastination has gotten me in trouble before quite a few times. I just went thru a similar thing where I had a bad part purchased in Nov of 2019 and installed in April 2020, was pretty much out of luck the vendors return policy is what it is. So whatever is posted is usually what they do, but that does not mean they can't make an attempt to assist you in this matter.

Is there just an adapter bracket you can get made local, would think your on the hook for shipping even if this was Dec 2019.

I could be wrong but for a while now its all Class V 2.5" on the 2500 and up.

Frustrating for sure, but now a days we've been making alot of Lemonade.

 

[R.Taylor]

My procrastination has gotten me in trouble before quite a few times. I just went thru a similar thing where I had a bad part purchased in Nov of 2019 and installed in April 2020, was pretty much out of luck the vendors return policy is what it is. So whatever is posted is usually what they do, but that does not mean they can't make an attempt to assist you in this matter.

Is there just an adapter bracket you can get made local, would think your on the hook for shipping even if this was Dec 2019.

I could be wrong but for a while now its all Class V 2.5" on the 2500 and up.

Frustrating for sure, but now a days we've been making alot of Lemonade.

4WheelParts allows returns this far out.... It was local pick-up so there's no shipping involved. Looking around some more and it looks like the RAM 3500 DRW has a different hitch receiver.... Which looks like mine but mine is a SRW.

 

[Timd32]

4WheelParts allows returns this far out.... It was local pick-up so there's no shipping involved. Looking around some more and it looks like the RAM 3500 DRW has a different hitch receiver.... Which looks like mine but mine is a SRW.

Sounds good then. Keep us posted how you make out good luck and positive vibes.

Edit, had two different drawing open, they look very similar in most of the hitch dims.

Not sure if you have ever dug around on the ram body builder site. Has some useful info.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commercial/body-builders-guide.html

2500

3500

 

[R.Taylor]

Spoke to FabFours this morning.... They now have different brackets for trucks with the receiver like mine. They did not discover RAM had several variants when they first started production and RAM gave no indication there was going to be differences. So........ They are sending out a set of brackets ASAP for free.

 

[HPSimpson]

At least there standing by there product and taken care of bumper installation, that's the best part.

 

[jhenderson]

All’s well that ends well.

 

[R.Taylor]

So... Got the bumper on and it looks great. Just a touch of adjusting needed to get the gaps looking good and I'll crank it down tight. While I was at it I removed the cheesy plastic trim pieces from the bottom edges of the bed (free if anyone want's em), They bothered me and gave the truck a lower look than it was. I think FCA put them on there to "clean up" the look and even out the lower lines of their power running boards as they do not tuck up out of sight like the AMP boards do. I also decided not to put the OEM bed step back on as the new bumper has pockets for your foot on each side. I installed the Geno's garage WhamoSlamo tailgate lip protector..... The fit could be better and the choice of plastic could be better as the slightest scrape or scratch becomes a permanent mark. it does it's job though and hides my dented lip (which I hammered out carefully). I got the TDR grill badge while I was at it.... Had one on my 06 and I forgot to take it off when I sold it. Anyways.... The TDR grill badge won't work on the new grill, The grill is too deep for the threaded stud on the badge to make it to the other side AND getting on would require removing the grill completely so.... I cut off the threaded stud and carefully ground the remaining bit flush on the grinder, I then used some 3M Acrylic Plus double sided auto trim tape and applied my new TDR badge to my tailgate (I figured I'm usually passing everyone so a fellow TDR member might only see my back end ). Going to order some DuraFlaps as soon as I finish this post.

 

[Wiredawg]

That's a nice clean look... I LIKE it. Need to get black rattle can as now you can back by FEEL as intended with a real bumper. My 5500 integrated bumper on the tow body doesn't need it as the paint is powder coated ad just needs wiping.

Congrats on the professional installation.

Cheers, Ron

 

[R.Taylor]

Thanks Ron! This bumper is powder coated as well and tough to chip... No rattle can needed! I'm thinking of doing a high temp satin black paint job to the exhaust pipe... It's kinda ugly and sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[Wiredawg]

Thanks Ron! This bumper is powder coated as well and tough to chip... No rattle can needed! I'm thinking of doing a high temp satin black paint job to the exhaust pipe... It's kinda ugly and sticks out like a sore thumb.

I LIKE custom... the little things you do to enhance your truck and make it a little MORE yours.

Cheers, Ron

 

[John]

Parking sensors were on but was rocking out to Lynyrd Skynyrd. 100% user error but C'mon... a love tap shouldn't destroy a bumper.

You can always turn up the ParkSense volume level and/or watch the rear camera view on screen (Rear Park Assist System).

 

[Wiredawg]

I thought I was going to take out one of O'Reilly's light Poles yesterday with the 5500... park sense was going off ok and camera was clear, BUT wife was telling me where she wanted to go next and dogs were woofing at a dog, so I was a victim of noize pollution and information overload. scratched my 1' solid steel hitch step and will have to shoot some rattle can. There is a divit in the concrete base.

EDIT: Pic added

Oh, and the reason I was at O'Reilly was that INFERNAL step hitch GRABBED the 5er connector when I disconnected the 5er, and proceeded to RIP it out as I pulled away. It was a clean cut and took two beers and about two hours to fix.

Cheers, Ron

 

[TFucili]

Writes in log book, "Structural Test Successful"

 

[Jared Herzog]

So help me understand. You have mirrors on the doors, a mirror on the windshield, back up sensors, a rear view camera, a drivers license, years of experience, two eyes, and a brain. You hit a pole and damaged your truck and its FCA’s fault? Or should it be the poles fault? Or maybe we can blame being too busy to install a better bumper you already had? I am sorry you hurt your truck but personal accountability is becoming increasingly rare. Own the mistake and move on.