FZJ80 rear crossmember question

[R0b0con]

I was out at Charouleau Gap over the weekend with a couple of friends (great trail, if you haven't been I recommend it!) and while waiting for a Jeep with a broken front propshaft to get moved out of the way, a Jeep in our group rolled down the hill a bit and bumped into the rear of other friend's FZJ80 with a pintle receiver. His cross member got twisted down from this.

If this were my FJ80 I wouldn't be fazed, but his Cruiser is near perfect and this was to be its last run before it goes to the new owner. What's the best way to fix this? Can I safely bend it back, or would it be best to have the entire piece replaced since the structural integrity might be a bit compromised?

I should have pics a bit later...

 

[Funner]

I was out at Charouleau Gap over the weekend with a couple of friends (great trail, if you haven't been I recommend it!) and while waiting for a Jeep with a broken front propshaft to get moved out of the way, a Jeep in our group rolled down the hill a bit and bumped into the rear of other friend's FZJ80 with a pintle receiver. His cross member got twisted down from this.

If this were my FJ80 I wouldn't be fazed, but his Cruiser is near perfect and this was to be its last run before it goes to the new owner. What's the best way to fix this? Can I safely bend it back, or would it be best to have the entire piece replaced since the structural integrity might be a bit compromised?

I should have pics a bit later...

F'in Jeeps. Part number for a replacement cross member 51209-60111, a little spendy but available through Camelback Toyota at a nice discount. You could also post up to see if someone will sell you theirs. Many folks cut their crossmember out to install aftermarket bumpers from 4x4 labs. Put tow strap on pintle and pull it back out?

 

[R0b0con]

pulling it out or putting a jack under it and pushing up were my initial thoughts. There are 3 80's in Prescott being parted out right now, so I know I could get a cheap replacement, but I can't weld it back on.

 

[Funner]

but I can't weld it back on.

How about the jack ass that rear ended you, eeerrrrrrrrrrr "your friend"? Can he weld?

 

[mtkreitz]

He had to have hit the back of that 80 pretty hard to do that kind of damage...

 

[R0b0con]

we were on a bit of a slope, Jeep probably rolled 10ft maybe? Just put a small dimple in his plastic bumper.

After taking a closer look, I think trying to straighten it out will not be a feasible solution.

 

[Rudster]

That should buff out

 

[Wilma83]

Maybe let the new owner know and they can decide how they want to deal with it? Who knows they may be putting a rear bumper on that requires the cross member be cut out.

 

[Living in the Past]

Just be glad it was pushed in and not pulled out. Much easier to straighten. I not a fan of any type of hitch that uses the four holes for a pintle hook and mounts something below the frame member. PO of my 79 had one that hanged down then drove it like a rental car. The frame member is pulled out which will be tricker to repair.

 

[RockJock82]

I will be cutting a crossmember out of one of my builds if you need one pm me

 

[mtkreitz]

If you need it quickly (and sloppily) welded in, let me know...

 

[LongDuck]

If $$$ has changed hands on the sale of the 80, I wouldn't touch it until I notified the new owner. As the future buyer of that truck, you'd want to know if it got pranged, right? I would.

 

[R0b0con]

I might take you up on that; taking it down to see John (inkpot) Saturday and get his opinion.

I have nothing to do with him selling it, he just asked me to take care of it while he's in Asia. Though since the new owner is his neighbor, I'm pretty sure they've discussed it.