Backed into a pole - damage assessment needed. Help!

[Jwoodywild]

I backed the corner of my truck into one of those yellow poles you see in parking lots. The bumper cover buckled in the corner and there is a dent in the lower rear quarter panel extension. And of course the tailgate assembly broke. The trim is fine although it came undone - interestingly, it was being held in with velcro on adhesive, which clearly isn't OEM, so someone fixed it once.

My questions:

a. Can that dent in the bumper cover be pulled out? If so, once the tailgate light is fixed and the trim is reapplied it will look a bit lower but not awful. Since the dent in the metal is under the trim it won't show and I would not fix it.

b. If the bumper cant be fixed and needs to be replaced then I would pull out the metal dent because a new bumper won't fit otherwise. I would buy a paint matched bumper from one of the part houses or eBay and put it on myself.

Thoughts? Anything I am missing? Of course option 3 is do nothing and just carry the "road scars" as things all work fine (the light will be replaced regardless).

Thanks - and the lesson I can share? Don't backup while yelling at your kids.

 

[100serieslc]

I'd do option two. Take off the bumper. Fix the metal. Then if you can't fix the bumper (might be able to applying heat to it) find a replacement. Replace the light cover.

 

[Cruiserlab]

"I was on a gnarly line, when the back hopped and slid into a rock"

In all seriousness, though, I agree with @100serieslc

 

[Jwoodywild]

"I was on a gnarly line, when the back hopped and slid into a rock"

In all seriousness, though, I agree with @100serieslc

Any good sources for a new bumper cover that is paint matched? I assume the bumper support is usable but I don't know. Never put a bumper on - I assume its pretty straightforward?

 

[Cruiserlab]

Painted, I don't know. Oem looks to be available, but I don't know if you can get it painted.

Just curious, why not get an aftermarket with no carriers. Cost is certainly a factor for that, though.

 

[Jwoodywild]

Painted, I don't know. Oem looks to be available, but I don't know if you can get it painted.
I don't want to drop $1K or more. I don't need it for offroad so would rather just get a OEM like cover.
Just curious, why not get an aftermarket with no carriers. Cost is certainly a factor for that, though.

 

[Malleus]

New OEM body parts all come primed now. Painted parts are a thing of the past.

 

[Super77]

I had a similar oopsie. The bumper cover attaches to a removable reinforcement panel that comes off easily. About six 12mm bolts IIRC, all accessed from underneath. Remove the spare tire first then unbolt the cover/panel assembly. You can separate them off the vehicle and use a heat gun from the inside to soften and push out the plastic dent. The panel is adjustable to you can dial in the panel gaps.

I’d have a PDR place massage the body metal back, squirt it with some touch up paint, and leave the plastic bumper scar. Sourcing and replacing that part will double or triple the other work required.

Or maybe it’s an excuse to get an off-road bumper

 

[Jwoodywild]

I had a similar oopsie. The bumper cover attaches to a removable reinforcement panel that comes off easily. About six 12mm bolts IIRC, all accessed from underneath. Remove the spare tire first then unbolt the cover/panel assembly. You can separate them off the vehicle and use a heat gun from the inside to soften and push out the plastic dent. The panel is adjustable to you can dial in the panel gaps.

I’d have a PDR place massage the body metal back, squirt it with some touch up paint, and leave the plastic bumper scar. Sourcing and replacing that part will double or triple the other work required.

Or maybe it’s an excuse to get an off-road bumper

Or a backup camera! If I can get the dent popped back out I would be more than happy to keep it. I am not familiar with PDR shops - will look into it. I assume this is straight forward for them?

 

[100d ua]

I doubt there’s any significant damage behind the bumper cover. I was rear ended a while back by a ford focus, nothing crazy maybe a 15-20 mph tap and there was no damage behind the bumper cover and hardly anything to the bumper cover.