Rear Ended, Frame Slightly Bent

Hello everyone, I hope I am posting this is the right place, if not please let me know where to post and I will do so.

I was rear ended and wanted to repair the rear bumper myself, no issues for the past year, but now that I was installing a custom rear bumper the slight bend is not allowing the bumper to slide in.

- The OEM bumper is slightly at an angle but never bothered me.


-This is the passenger side damage.


- Driver Side damage

Currently the bumper is off and I was thinking of getting a long pry bar, and lifting it in that area to see if I can adjust it slightly. Would appreciate any recommendations to fix this too, thanks.


Additional Images:

 

Needs a frame, or have it cut and welded. That's more than slightly bent.

 

A friend of mine had a tree next to his driveway that people were constantly backing into. That same tree with a chain wrapped around it and hooked to whatever part of the car that was dented was used to pull out the dents.

 

The frame is bent- you didn't claim that on your/their insurance and haven't taken action in over a year??
That was a huge mistake.

 

2020 is too new to do hack repairs
Contact insurance and tell them about the new found damage, and hope they don’t find a way out of paying for the real repairs

 

Pay to have it fixed correctly on a frame machine, or leave it alone. Pry bar? Oof. That's not a "slight bend."

FWIW, almost 30 years in auto insurance claims and I'm also an ASE Certified Master Collision Tech. I'm not the only one here who knows what they're talking about when it comes to insurance and collision repair. Far from the only one. But I am one of the people who knows what they're talking about.

 

Since the frame in kinked I don't see an insurance company okaying it to be pulled by a frame machine. I could be wrong but any rear end like that on a Tacoma usually results in a frame replacement.

 

Frame replacement seems like overkill for a kink in the last 8" of a simple C channel.

A pry bar isn't going to work well as it's more likely to bend the location you're prying against.

OP's problem isn't just with the aftermarket bumper "not sliding in" due to the bulge.. the new bumper is going to be pointing downward at the ground due to the existing mounting hole locations (on the bent c-channel.)

A metal fabricator could get the new aftermarket bumper to be installed (or appear straight and correct) but that might not be any cheaper than getting an auto repair shop to straighten the frame (as best they can.. doesn't have to be perfect.)

 

Update: I was able to fit the rear bumper.

The prying method did not work, thanks for everyone that told me lol. I did however cut my new rear bumper so the bulging section would not be in the way.


I still have to touch up and repaint but I wanted to test fit to see if it would even work. Thank god for ratchet straps lol.


Note: I didn’t want to go through insurance due to reasons, and I’ll leave it at that.

 

Bring it to the shop, maybe they can fix it without frame replacement.

 

I was gonna suggest this. You wouldn't even notice the bent frame.

 

It's not kinked, just bent, and it's a c-channel area vs. a closed box area. That can be pulled and repaired.

Part of the issue is that the frame is not only bent down, but it's also shortened. It needs to be pulled outward and upward. Now that OP's hack job is complete and he added that steel tube bumper, if he ever gets rear ended again, he's going to end up with neck and back problems galore.

 

Alcohol is a hell of a drug.

 

good job on the riggin.......is that all there is to that bumper?

 

Shoot any good frame shop could pull that. If it all fits with your parts call it good, drive fast and take chances.