Forum Discussion

kahoona's avatar
kahoona
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2013

Bug Badly Bumped bumper needs replaced.

Hi
Our 2002 Coachmen Mirada has a nice heavy bumper but I bent it several times. That backswing's a bear if you forget to watch the mirrors. It was a nice one too not a slinky storage tube but a heavy steel one. It now looks like heck. I am going to repair some of the bodywork and have to have paint matched and was thinking of getting a replacement so I can paint it while I am shooting the rest. I can't use this one because it has stretched places from bending that won't go back. Does anyone know where to get a replacement? Coachmen is gone. Any simple flat bumper 8" lomg and 8 to 10 inches would be fine or better yet a nice truck bumper (without the license plate holder place. I think the 2x10 hardwood board might be a bit tacky but what do you think? I posted pictures here. I hope that this is the right way.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96616967@N08/sets/72157634638293231/

6 Replies

  • kahoona's avatar
    kahoona
    Explorer II
    Jul 19, 2013
    I'm afraid I am govong up on the bumper for now. Was about to start pulling the windows to reseal to keep water out and and tint them while I was at it. thought I'd pull the hatches too (small hatches, no basement) and found tat the sides are badly rotted. Apparently the sidewalls are made with aluminum and foam sheeting. These are covered with a thin sheet of ply inside and out. The bottom edge trim piece is made so that it collects water add keeps the ply wet. The wet wicks up. The bottom foot or more of the outside ply is rotted to nothing. On the inside it is even better. The inside sheet of thin ply is covered with a thin black fabric matting that holds moisture against the ply layer. It is shot nearly up to the floor. I'm pulling the hatches and the storage buns to figure the full extent of the rot. It reminds me of a boat that has been submerged for years. Why do they build these things this way? I would have been cheaper to make them so they would not rot actually!I'll get back to the bumper when I figure out how to fix this. The good news is that the outer skin is fine and still attached farther up the sides. The bad news is (see the good news) I'll search DIY for clues.
  • recycler's avatar
    recycler
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2013
    it looks like a school bus bumper/truck front bumper used since the early 50's had one that looked like that on my last dodge was off a 56 GMC school bus..try a truck salvage yard they should have something that will work..as to the hardwood plank don't bother it is not legal..been there done that..
  • Cameo_Phil's avatar
    Cameo_Phil
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2013
    A good sheetmetal shop should be able to fabricate a new one utilizing the old structure as a template. I has this done with my previous TT after I "accidently" removed the old fiberglass bumper at a filling station with the extended rear swing. Worked great and looked like original. Unit was made from diamond plate aluminum.
  • stripit's avatar
    stripit
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2013
    Looks like a mid to late 70's GMC truck front bumper. Contact any bumper rechromer and either send the picture, a good one or stop by with the bumper and have them tell you what it really is.
  • Peg_Leg's avatar
    Peg_Leg
    Explorer
    Jul 14, 2013
    If you were closer, I'd give you a 6,000 lbs axle that you could cut the spindles off of and make one heck of a bumper.

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