2005 Tacoma Rear Bumper

Hi,

Apparently someone backed into my 2005 Tacoma rear bumper. Now, it looks like the driver side bumper is pushed up against the fender. The only damage is a quarter sized dent lower of the driver side bumper.

I have attached pictures of the driver and passenger side of the bumper. Notice that the gap between the bumper and fender on the driver side is much closer than passenger side.

I don't know much about bumper but want to know if this has caused any damages to the frame that could potentially safety hazards if not fixed.

Is this an easy fix by adjusting bolts? It doesn't look like the bumper itself is bent.

I am going to take it to a body shop but just wanted to get some feedback.

Please advise.

Thanks

 

The rear bumper shell is extremely weak on these trucks. Get under the truck and look at the supports for the bumper, they will be attached to the frame. Next look at the bumper shell itself and see if has a curve to it. I highly doubt you have frame damage looking at the damage to the bumper.

As far as repair, you will not be able to adjust the bumper to fit as there is very little in the way of factory bolt hole adjustment. You can buy a new bumper shell on the internet for very cheap (around $100) but you will have to transfer your plastic pieces from your existing bumper. I replaced my bumper in my driveway with very few tools.

 

No not really amigo, if you step hard on the bumper to enter or exit the bed of your truck the bumper gives just like that. I too thought someone had backed up onto mine and realized that was not the case. If you have some muscles, simply grab the lower part of the bumper closest to the side you want to pull out. I did it to mine and it moves fairly easy.

 

Yeah definitely, Modster try giving it a good tug to straighten it out. Like I said these bumpers are flimsy as hell.

 

Thanks. It looks like someone backed into the driver side of the bumper. I don't think that it has a curve, but I will double check. Is it possible that there are adjustable bolts holding the bumper in place and that it just got shifted?

It kinda looks like that the entire bumper shifted forward on the driver side. Is the gap on the passenger side normal or it is too big of a gap?

Thanks

 

It is normal to have a solid 1" between the bumper end, and the fender. Your second picture looks normal. From what I remember doing my bumper, there was no adjustment.

 

Excellent! thank you! I will try to give it a good tug in the morning.

I love my 2005 Tacoma and have taken really good care of it since the 5 miles odometer reading straight from the show room floor!

 

Umm, ok.

 

Hey man whatever you gotta do.

 

Let's hope it will easy to tug to straighten it out! I don't have super muscles but I will give it a try.

 

The guy backed into you enougg to leave a quarter sized dent. The frame is just fine.

 

please...no pictures of your tugging efforts. GLWTT

 

I don't know how heavy the metal is but pulling on the bumper by hand probably won't do the trick. Back in the day I straightened a lot of chrome bumpers (they were probably thicker heavier metal). The best way wad to put a block of hardwood behind it then use a j-hook, hydraulic ram, and chain anchored to floor pots. Since that's probably out of the question a come along anchored to a D ring in a receiver shackle, heavy post, forklift, would work. The trick is fabricating the hook with a nose plate so it doesn't fracture the wood and comes around far enough to give you a straight pull. Once you get the bumper pulled into shape beat the crease with a 3 lb hammer while its tension to relieve the metal then let it go back. You will probably have to give it more than one pull and maybe pull it a bit farther out so that it seemed back into the correct position. Be sure to throw a heavy blanket or piece of chain over your cable and stay out of its way. If anything comes loose while you have it under tension it could really hurt somebody.

 

All good now. I took my truck to a local body shop and $20 bucks and 30 minutes later the rear driver side bumper was pulled back out and both sides are even like they were before! I am a happy camper