Bumpers made of tin?

Did Toyota make their rear bumers out of tin? I backed into a 5" diameter pine tree and the bumper caved like it was a delicate piece of bling, not the tough first line of defense a bumper should be. Really disapointed! Is there an aftermarket solution without getting some big off-road deal? I would like to replace it with something the same size and shape, only tough like it should be.

 

There seem to be a dozen or more bumpers that meet your description.

However, consider that your bumper absorbed nearly all of the force in this minor mishap, instead of transferring the force to more expensive parts. I think this is exactly what you want it to do. You can probably push the dent (mostly) out and continue to use it for many years. If you keep backing into things on the trail (as I have done hundreds of times, sometimes intentionally) swapping to a painted bumper that can be easily touched-up may save some frustration.

Mike

 

For now I will knock this one back out but what are some of these suggestions?

 

Get a non HC plate bumper

 

Don't back into trees

 

Read (or search) through the 2nd Gen bumper sticky thread. There are quite a few.

 

+1
My old mazda b2300 bumper was made out of chrome and never really dented in but most of that energy caused damage on the where the bumper connected on the frame. It eventually caused a ton of rust because it caused the paint on the frame to chip off.

+1 on the high clearance steel bumper.

 

That's strange I backed into a pole in a parking structure and it didn't dent it at all how fast where you going?

 

Bumpers are made to help absorb energy at low speed. Pedestrian safety is also a factor.

The easier the bumper dents the less energy transferred and the less sever the injury to pedestrians.

Moral of the story is stop picking fights with trees or other objects and youll be fine.

 

Mine has that on both sides of the license plate. previous owners fault.

 

Not saying that you were going fast, but you did not mention how fast you were moving in reverse. Most bumpers are designed to withstand up to 5MPH impacts (most, not all)

X3

Bumpers are steel, with chrome plating. You can't make a bumper out of chrome. lol.

 

The only way you are going to save on an aftermarket bumper is if you buy one of those ugly-ass Body Armor bumpers. Can be had for under $400 but look like a solid metal donk bolted to the Tacoma.

 

Plate bumper time just ignore all the other yaya about absorption and get a real bumper

 

4,200 lb of metal forced onto a since area and you want it to not give? You have any idea what that would do to your frame otherwise?

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/164975-bumpers-2nd-gens-only.html

Matt

 

I got rear-ended yesterday, and didn't even get that much damage. Mine took a pretty good low speed smack and faired pretty well. Yours is worse because all the force was in one small spot. But, yeah, a plate bumper would have held up better. I think any other make of vehicle with a stock bumper wouldn't have faired any better or worse in my opinion.

 

Lol "Frontier Toyota" plate on a Tacoma. Heresy!