Anyone replaced the rear bumper themselves?

[jtrovato]

Hey guys, some idiot was staring off into space and rear ended me last night. Did probably around $3k worth of damage to his 5 series beamer's front end! Left the Tacoma with a little dent about the size of a dollar bill on the chrome bumper and knocked my rear view camera off (still works, just need to remount it).

So this works out well for me because now I'll be getting the color matched indigo rear bumper as a replacement to go with the color matched grill I just ordered (I have a TRD OR), but wanted to know if anyone has replaced their bumper themselves? Is this something an average mechanically inclined person can do themself or should it go to a shop? Let me know if you have any experience in this.

Oh and for the color matched bumper, you can only buy it in black and then have it painted right? As far as I can find, they don't come painted like the grills do. Thanks for your help.

Jay

[GTCOMA]

I replaced mine. it is pretty easy and es you will have to have it painted.

[jacksnodgrass]

I can't provide a lot of info... keep me updated on
what happens with your bumper. I have a chrome
bumper too that I want to swap for an Indigo Ink
bumper.

If you get this part: 52151-04903 it can be painted.
This is the metal bumper ONLY... not the rest (
supports, trim, etc ). If you go with this part
$140-$170, you have to take the rest of the parts
off your original bumper and put them on your new
bumper after it's been painted.

I posted a thread this weekend about getting advice
on having it painted. I didn't get anything back that I
liked.... I'm going to make some calls later today and
see if I can get some estimates.

jack

[msmclean]

I just removed mine last week to install an aftermarket receiver hitch on my 06 and removal/reinstall is easy. It is easier with two people. Like every other piece of sheet metal on a Tacoma, it is alarmingly thin.

[jtrovato]

thanks for the info guys. as far as the painting goes, from what i've heard you have to get the black one and have it painted. painting the chrome bumper won't work too well from what i've heard from some local body shops.

[57HotrodVW]

Personally, I'm glad that my truck has a chrome rear bumper. It's much less likely to get scratched (or show the scratches) when the bumper is bumped into when using the bed, tailgate, and/or hitch.

Powder coating would be much more durable that paint, but I imagine that you'd have a hard time matching the paint.

--Eric