Help with 81 year old Father-in-laws fender bender

So my father-in-law of 28 years, 81, stubborn Marine, had a fender bender with I am guessing a cement pole in a parking lot. He lives in small town Iowa and left the truck hidden a few days, but still hasn’t told any of his kids that live in the same town the story and they don’t want to bring it up. They did snap a picture and sent it to me.

I have had the grill off my 2016 Sport when I put on the Pro grill like many others. But, I have never messed with the bumper. Above is a picture and parts diagram. I think I can make it right with the highlighted parts. Hope to buff the grill surround and touch up paint. I have just the picture to go on right now. Looks like snap on parts? Thanks for your help!

 

Looks like the grille's tweaked some too. Things ain't linin' up just right. Be careful mucking with that area ( air bag sensor). Good luck.

 

I had similar damage from a trail last year. I got the black valance you have highlighted, which didn't fit quite perfect and haven't exactly fixed the gap in the hood/grill surround, it looks like mine is warped similar to yours there. If he has a reasonable insurance company, it may be cheaper/easier to let them handle it.

 

Yes, I did notice that, hoping it is a clip. Don’t know till I see it in person. Trying to get parts ahead of time that I know need replaced.

 

Looks like the parts that need replacing are held in by plastic clips and it looks like you have it down in your highlighted parts.
Check out this vid, might be helpful.
https://youtu.be/w4zmvqFh4dk

 

car insurance(call them)

 

So why are you trying to fix his truck? Has he asked you to? I realize you light be trying to be nice and help out but I would ask him if he wants the help first. Don't meddle where you're not invited.

 

He has good insurance. I think these days he is more concerned about losing his license. They just made him get glasses, doesn’t wear them, might have helped He has the money to fix it without raising his rates too. Just looked like an easy fix to me.

 

use the car insurance, if he's not wearing his glasses when driving then its on him

 

I'd probably do the insurance after my experience with this. I've spent lots of time trying to realign everything just right and it still isn't, and I wish I had just paid the deductible instead of buying all the parts I THOUGHT I needed. But if you give it a try, let us know how it goes!

 

He has seen me do mods on my 2016 when I had it. Also, I have done minor ones to his. Just seeing if anyone has tried this type of fix, before I talk to him about it. I can get parts lower than list and keep his rates down. He likes when I help him out with anything including his truck. Just want to know if anyone has done this fix themselves and their experience with it.

 

My dad is 88 years old and still drives. He was hitting minor things a couple years ago but thankfully that stopped.

It is not easy to age and lose the faculties that we took for granted when we were young. And it is even more difficult dealing with friends and relatives who judge and label everything an aging person does as “getting old.”

The only advise I can give the OP is this: appreciate the fact that your father in law trusted you to send you that photo, and help him without judging. He will be very grateful for that.

 

You missed the part, “stubborn old Marine.”

 

How do you know someone was a Marine?

They tell you about it

 

Appear to be snap in parts, is that the case on the bumper? I only have a photo and diagram to go on right now.

I agree and may just have him file a claim, but I really need to see it in person.

 

Get him a nice steel bumper

 

Yea, they're all snap in. In my case, the grill surround is slightly warped, less than yours above, so i had to jerry rig the spacing on the grill surround and adjust the hood, but it's still offset. i can send pics in a bit to give you an idea.
i didn't have to remove my bumper so i'm not sure if it requires more than snapping it into place.

 

if he's been paying for good insurance all those years why not use it? doing a driveway DIY on it wont bring it back to a 100% off dealers lot look, the under lying pieces are bent up and miss matched

 

I have 75111a you can have it for free, just pay shipping. (It’s a ~$20 part, so might be cheaper to buy locally)

I’m fairly sure you don’t need 53112E, but what you don’t have listed is the actual impact part of the bumper that is damaged (and not shown in the parts diagram) the part that fits behind the cover 53911B. You could get away with not replacing it, but if you don’t the next impact will cause more damage.

 

I agree with what you are saying. But, talking to my neighbor who is 88, she says that if it is turned in to insurance the DOT will be notified and may cause an issue renewing license. I am not a lawyer to back this up and don’t care to investigate it. He lives in a town of 400 with no stop lights and drives to get his mail. He had a low speed accident with a pole.