Mashed Bumper End

[RKHengst]

We’ve been driving and towing some sort of recreational vehicle for over 20 years and have never bent up any part of the unit. Well our luck ran out on our first camping trip with our new JayFlight 31QBDS (love the layout). Pulling away from a fuel pump I hooked the drivers end of my rear bumper and bent the heck out of the very end, perhaps six inches.

Nothing looks out of line in the structure, and before I get into a more serious repair effort, I’m thinking of just cutting off the bent part, and leaving the bumper about 7 inches shorter on that side. Luckily, there was no other body damage.

The question I have is what is the best way to cut the (I assume aluminum) bumper, leaving it perfectly square? Have any of you had this experience to share?

Thank you for any input.

[Iraqvet05]

I would assume the bumper is steel. A magnet test will tell if it is steel or aluminum. If you want to leave that few inches of the softer material (camper framing and siding) exposed to potential damage from the missing bumper section, then a hand held grinder with a cut off disc should work.

[Tunce the traveler]

[QUOTE=Iraqvet05;660046 a hand held grinder with a cut off disc should work.[/QUOTE]

X2

[wabirch]

Can you remove the bumper and with a little heat, bend it back?

[RKHengst]

No, it’s too deformed (smashed) to do that. I guess the question is whether I leave the corner of the trailer unprotected or not. In over 20 years of doing this I’ve never bent anything until now, so chances are that i would be ok. But I do respect Murphy’s Law...