Custom Steel Bumper Guard Attached to Tow Hitch

[RonFLA]

Yeah, these are used for parking on the streets. Keeps people from “kissing” your bumpers. You see Teslas and Mercedes with bumper and light guards all the time. Even people pulling rubber mats/pads out of their trunks to keep careless drivers from damaging your vehicle. Mostly an issue in the winter driving in snow and ice. Problem is it also invites people to be even rougher on your vehicle.

I commend your inventiveness and solution-oriented approach! I like the idea but like others have posted, this will likely create more damage with the shearing forces of even a small impact. Basically you are adding mechanical leverage to damaging your subframe, instead of plastic to plastic impact, you just introduced inflexible steel. Your better off looking for a rubber adhesive pad on the bumper and get taillight guards, more brush guard style. If you do intend on keeping it, keep it rusty and scary looking to hopefully intimidate them more! Good luck in the city.

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[Dallas Maverick]

Those are all great ideas Dallas ! Maybe something like this :

https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/...a9fkoIwCMoUvSatVLiFobiNDCHIwfJvQaAnosEALw_wcB

So, I was driving the other day and saw this:

At first, I laughed because I thought bumper guards went out of style decades ago, and yet here they are on a 2022 Mercedes. As I thought about it more, it made a lot of sense, especially for city driving, where you parallel park, or reverse into a parking garage spaces. And that's all you're after here really: Something to manage the little things.

The name 'bumper' kind of explains why it's there: to handle the little bumps that happen. It was more acceptable when cars were made out of steel and chrome and the bumper was easier to replace. Now, everything is integrated and has other functions like @brdl04 was pointing out. Now they include crumple zones, and parking sensors and other things, which makes them more expensive.

If you like your car and want to keep it in good shape, adding bumper guards might work.

Simplest thing might be to buy a hitch hammer.

It'll keep people and objects safely away, and won't mess with the safety features of the bumper.

There is also a bumper guard for the front end that mounts around the license plate (Plate Pocket). Might come in handy since the Maverick doesn't have a front camera, or parking sensors...

Food for thought.

 

[nunucello]

So, I was driving the other day and saw this:

At first, I laughed because I thought bumper guards went out of style decades ago, and yet here they are on a 2022 Mercedes. As I thought about it more, it made a lot of sense, especially for city driving, where you parallel park, or reverse into a parking garage spaces. And that's all you're after here really: Something to manage the little things.

The name 'bumper' kind of explains why it's there: to handle the little bumps that happen. It was more acceptable when cars were made out of steel and chrome and the bumper was easier to replace. Now, everything is integrated and has other functions like @brdl04 was pointing out. Now they include crumple zones, and parking sensors and other things, which makes them more expensive.

If you like your car and want to keep it in good shape, adding bumper guards might work.

Simplest thing might be to buy a hitch hammer.

It'll keep people and objects safely away, and won't mess with the safety features of the bumper.

There is also a bumper guard for the front end that mounts around the license plate (Plate Pocket). Might come in handy since the Maverick doesn't have a front camera, or parking sensors...

Food for thought.

So, I was driving the other day and saw this:

At first, I laughed because I thought bumper guards went out of style decades ago, and yet here they are on a 2022 Mercedes. As I thought about it more, it made a lot of sense, especially for city driving, where you parallel park, or reverse into a parking garage spaces. And that's all you're after here really: Something to manage the little things.

The name 'bumper' kind of explains why it's there: to handle the little bumps that happen. It was more acceptable when cars were made out of steel and chrome and the bumper was easier to replace. Now, everything is integrated and has other functions like @brdl04 was pointing out. Now they include crumple zones, and parking sensors and other things, which makes them more expensive.

If you like your car and want to keep it in good shape, adding bumper guards might work.

Simplest thing might be to buy a hitch hammer.

It'll keep people and objects safely away, and won't mess with the safety features of the bumper.

There is also a bumper guard for the front end that mounts around the license plate (Plate Pocket). Might come in handy since the Maverick doesn't have a front camera, or parking sensors...

Food for thought.

These products are amazing Dallas. Outstanding links ! The whole forum will benefit from these. Thank you so much.

 

[nunucello]

If you do intend on keeping it, keep it rusty and scary looking to hopefully intimidate them more! Good luck in the city.

LOL rusty and scary ! That was awesome ! I agree Ron √

 

[Micheal]

So here it is.... Steel guard which is attached to the tail hitch. I'm hoping you enjoy viewing. I welcome all feedback on this mod - both good and bad.

[/QUOTE]
I've seen somewhere that a guy made a bumper out of juice cans sandwiched between 2x6 boards. Sort of like the water barrels at the gore points, absorbs the impact. Couldn't find picture though.

 

[WJOHNM]

its not for rear end collisions, its for parallel parking and slight bumps. Chill.....lol

Weather Teck makes a neat looking bumper pad that attaches to the hitch for 50 bucks have one on my suv after some one bumped my bumper only mark on the vehicle after 3.5 years thinking your going just a little overboard.

 

[nunucello]

Weather Teck makes a neat looking bumper pad that attaches to the hitch for 50 bucks have one on my suv after some one bumped my bumper only mark on the vehicle after 3.5 years thinking your going just a little overboard.

Yes - it's definitely a little overboard for sure. But I'm having fun and learning a lot

 

[Maverickman74]

LOL rusty and scary ! That was awesome ! I agree Ron √

Yeah that my policy! It helps with traffic too! You wouldnt beleive how many nice cars move out of my jeeps way and I rarely get parked close to in a lot.

You sold me Maverick Man - starting my redesign now. I like the idea of bolting it together rather than welding.

Also like the idea of using a more pliable metal. You mean something like this :
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superst...BgDn9a4xChygB2GW_mUaAgTsEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Yeah thats what I was thinking. Just give yourself more spacing since it will be designed to give a little. Also could put some thin rubber on the backside of it so if it contacts your bumper it may not damage it as much. Another crazy idea that would make it bigger but better. Would be to cut that 10 ft piece in half, and sandwich a a few junkyard valve springs in between them to make a springboard. Just run bolts through it should be fine and pre load em a little. I think there is alot you can do with that. For cheap. A good source of rubber is old tire sidewalls, just use a sawzall or hack saw blade with a towel around it(for your hand).

 

[Edge Haley]

Biggest problem I see with your welded steel bar across the trailer hitch is if someone hit your rear bumper at any angle and your weld holds, the accident could and probably would cause damage to structural parts of the Maverick's subframe components attached to the hitch. Structural damage is top on the list to get a vehicle TOTALLED.

I keep a rubber step bumper (from Harbor Freight =$32.00) (similar to Weathertech's) in my trailer hitch (of former vehicles) all the time. Been hit twice at traffic lights, both times zero damage to my vehicle but significant damage to the grill of the offending vehicle.

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