Can a rear bumper be repaired?

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

Hi all.
Last summer on our last trip out I was backing into our spot without a spotter(my wife was coming up later) and I backed into a tree. The bumper did its job and left a "tree" indentation about 3-4 inches deep right in the middle of the bumper. No other damage was done and the damage was all cosmetic. I don't want to keep this bumper as is. Can a rear bumper be repaired or should I just buy a replacement 4 inch bumper for around $110 and have a welding shop take off the damaged bumper and put the new one on? Do any of you out there have any experience with something like this? If so, what can I expect to pay a welder to repair or replace the bumper?

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

Thanks for those responses. I ended up buying a standard 8 foot bumper that I can still carry my sewer hose in for $65 but shipping was $55 for a total price of around $120. A welder I called here locally charges $90/hour and he said it would take 1-2 hours. So that looks what I'm going to do. I'm still going to make a few calls and see if I can find a mobile welder who can come out to my house and do the job without me taking my 5th wheel to them. Thanks again!

[myredracer]

Without seeing a pic, it sounds like it might be easy to fix yourself - that is, *if* you have a MIG welder and angle grinder with the right selection of cutting, grinding & sanding discs. Guessing a shop might cost around $500 for labor + material for a whole new bumper? I'd also suggest just getting some new 4x4 tubing or new RV bumper instead of doing a patch. Patching and "blending" it in could take a few hours and not save anything. Perhaps you could cut the old tubing off and leave a little metal in place and bolt the new bumper to it. I'd call a steel supplier and RV parts vendor and compare prices.

Someone posted this vid recently about a guy replacing his bumper himself that had come off. Warning to Travel Trailer Owners Please do NOT do a hack job like that... OMG, makes me wanna upchuck. :E If you're going to replace the bumper and get new material from a steel supplier, you'll have the option of using thicker wall tubing like the owner in the photo did. I suppose you could also go one size up so you can easily get a sewer hose inside.

[csamayfield55x]

a way easier fix and probably cheaper depending on where the dent is, is a bumper cover in diamond plate. They just pop rivet on and cover most of the bumper.
Here is just one quick example I found
https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-Metals-165725-Bumper-Cover/dp/B003AUSM6Q

another one

I am not opposed to replacing it, I have done some myself but if you don't have the tools you could end up paying a bit more to have someone else weld it up
Chris

[westend]

My steel supplier shows .125 4 x4 to be $55. 3/16" is $75. This assumes one cut to end up with 8'.

[eDUBz]

$110 for a new bumper I'd just buy a new one and be done, much easier and time saver.

[mike-s]

Anything can be repaired. But unless you're sentimentally attached to your bumper, it will be cheaper to just get a new one welded on.

[The_real_wild1]

Keep in mind that the bumper is a weak spot. If you beef it up and hit something again you may damage the frame next time. If you are going to do a bigger bumper make sure it gets carried well into the frame.

[Lwiddis]

I'd just replace it.

[CavemanCharlie]

Assuming that you have the 4 inch square tubing bumper. You would have a hard time ever getting it perfectly straght again anyway.

Replace it.

[ScottG]

Just replace it. Not worth all the work to try and straighten it.
I bought a new piece of 4" steel for only $40 and it was only that expensive because I got it too thick.

[JIMNLIN]

I replaced the thin steel square tube bumper on a new '84 26' Aljo 5th wheel trailer with a 4" x 1/4" wall square tubing so I could mount a receiver hitch for towing a 3500 lb boat behind the trailer. The Aljo's main frame rails ran all the way to the tube with two cross members just in front.
I cut the welds loose with a thin 3" dia radiac wheel with a 90 degree Dotco air tool.
I did the welding myself.
Sorry but I have no idea how many bucks it can cost in your area but a few phone calls around will tell the tale.