Rear ended, bent crossmember

[HIjeeprig]

Hey all, rear ended coming home from work yesterday by a small Honda. Everyone fine, was stopped for a red light in stop/go traffic. Bumper is trashed and seems only damage further than that is a slightly bent rear crossmember. Should I...
1.buy new crossmember and have shop weld it on?
2. Fix it myself by dropping fuel tank? How do you suggest pulling/banging the bend out?
3.Looks like I might be lucky enough to buy a new bumper and do nothing with the crossmember and it still mount ok

 

[AdventurePig]

Glad everyone is ok!

Gosh, i don't know if I'd worry about fixing that as long as everything else looks fine? I would just grab a Dirtworx or similar rear bumper, prep and spray the crossmember down with some flat black rustoleum, mount the bumper and keep driving it.

 

[OldBuzzard]

Depends on how bad your OCD is. I don't think that bend will hurt anything. A new bumper should bolt right up. And the crossmember could probably be bent straighter, if you really want.

On the other hand, that rust might warrant closer inspection of that crossmember and the rest of the frame.

 

[HIjeeprig]

Glad everyone is ok!

Gosh, i don't know if I'd worry about fixing that as long as everything else looks fine? I would just grab a Dirtworx or similar rear bumper, prep and spray the crossmember down with some flat black rustoleum, mount the bumper and keep driving it.

Thanks for the quick reply! Couldn't sleep last night thinking about what ide find when I removed the bumper. Im thinking of doing that route personally but tempting to spend $100 and get a shiny new crossmember. I did notice my driveshaft pinion seal is leaking slightly, can't be related can it, seems far fetched. Other than that couldn't spot another flaw with the jeep.

 

[HIjeeprig]

Depends on how bad your OCD is. I don't think that bend will hurt anything. A new bumper should bolt right up. And the crossmember could probably be bent straighter, if you really want.

On the other hand, that rust might warrant closer inspection of that crossmember and the rest of the frame.

With the jeep my OCD is through the roof lol. Thanks for the insight.

 

[HIjeeprig]

Did not like the bumper anyway for the record

 

[Tob]

That rust poses more of a threat than the small ding. Best avoid Amazon while sourcing a new bumper… and most parts in general. I’m glad you and your TJ survived!

 

[Rubiconned]

 

[HIjeeprig]

View attachment 550382

Perfect

 

[HIjeeprig]

In my defense I bought the jeep from an uncle that taught me to fish. Very sentimental. Also the bumper was free.

 

[macleanflood]

Baby tap! Lot easier than mine ...



-Mac

 

[HIjeeprig]

Since everyone here is mostly against bumpers with tire carrier. I will follow that advice and may just put stock bumper back on, buy an OEM tire carrier off eBay(have terrible rugged ridge). A worn tailgate latch can handle 31s on OEM mount snugged up to snubbers yeah?

 

[HIjeeprig]

Baby tap! Lot easier than mine ...



-Mac

I'm beginning to realize just OCD I am looking at yours.

 

[Tob]

Since everyone here is mostly against bumpers with tire carrier. I will follow that advice and may just put stock bumper back on, buy an OEM tire carrier off eBay(have terrible rugged ridge). A worn tailgate latch can handle 31s on OEM mount snugged up to snubbers yeah?

Yes. Or if you don’t use the back seat, you could carry inside the tub. If you want to preserve your tailgate, you can also get an Exogate or Morryde reinforced tailgate hinge and tire carrier system.

 

[macleanflood]

I'm beginning to realize just OCD I am looking at yours.

Are you calling my Jeep a hot mess? =)

I'm in the Dave Frieburger camp... don't get it right, just get it running.

-Mac

 

[HIjeeprig]

Are you calling my Jeep a hot mess? =)

I'm in the Dave Frieburger camp... don't get it right, just get it running.

-Mac

Haha no but you sure got hit a lot harder than me. I shouldn't be so concerned over a small dent from my accident in comparison. Did you both walk away fine? Fix it? Drove mine to work today and it seems just fine. Kind of even like the looks of just having the crossmember, which is why I'm thinking just going back to stock. Stock bumper is just sitting in my attic anyway.

 

[HIjeeprig]

Yes. Or if you don’t use the back seat, you could carry inside the tub. If you want to preserve your tailgate, you can also get an Exogate or Morryde reinforced tailgate hinge and tire carrier system.

Yeah I've looked at nearly every post on the forum already and that seems to be the most popular suggestions. It's just when someone says preserve tailgate by doing this..I get nervous about running it on tailgate. As often mentioned, hard to cough up the $$$ for exogate/morryde.

 

[HIjeeprig]

Yeah I've looked at nearly every post on the forum already and that seems to be the most popular suggestions. It's just when someone says preserve tailgate by doing this..I get nervous about running it on tailgate. As often mentioned, hard to cough up the $$$ for exogate/morryde.

Especially with 31s

 

[macleanflood]

Did you both walk away fine? Fix it?

Took a good abrasion to the scalp. Did a frame and tub swap on my Jeep in 8 days, then went on a 1200 mile road trip to Canada and back. All on my channel.

-Mac

 

[HIjeeprig]

Took a good abrasion to the scalp. Did a frame and tub swap on my Jeep in 8 days, then went on a 1200 mile road trip to Canada and back. All on my channel.

-Mac

Wild, good job man. I'll check it out.