"New" Front Bumper

[dietz99vcross]

Well if you do get the bumper from RockAuto and it seems legit, since it doesn't seem like you need it, I would take it off your hands assuming shipping isn't ridiculous.

[yellowgizmo99]

since they made it in 2 pieces and welded the center section they could send it unwelded with the parts and probaly wouldn't be too bad on shipping. just a thought.

[tom4bren]

Man, I need to get my eyes......or my brain......checked.

ROFL - The story of my life!!!

The reason the tube bumper rots is that moisture builds up inside it and then slowly rots it from the inside out. The brackets being flat do not retain the moisture. If you take a look at your factory bumper you will see the end caps are tack welded and not sealded the entire way around which allows the moisture in. Most could prevent the rusting by sealing the end cap and applying a good coat of paint...or be fortunate enough to live in a nice dry desert setting!
As far as round tube not being strong...wrong. Why are tube frames not made with square tube? It depends on the tube material, how it is used and the size/thickness.

Au contrare

Square tubing of comparable size, material, thickness is mucho more strongerer & triangular cross section would be even better. Round tubing is used because of cost & the ability to bend it without deforming the cross section.

[MSHardeman]

Well, you know what they say about things being too good to be true.

Surprise, surprise; the front bumper reinforcement that Rock Auto is selling for $18 isn't at ALL what they are advertising. I'm going to call someone over there and complain, because when you search their site for "bumper reinforcement" for a 2000 Isuzu VehiCROSS a picture of the actual reinforcement shows up, but what I got was this:







I don't remember EVER seeing this little gem on my VX anywhere. To tell you the truth I don't think it even belongs on a VX. The original sticker below the Partslink sticker in the fourth picture states that it is a "front support retainer bar replacement parts for Isuzu Rodeo/ Honda Passport 98". WTF!?

I think it's false advertising when a picture of our bumper reinforcement shows up on the website, but then this stamped steel P.O.S. shows up at my door....and it's not even for a VX. I'm not terribly upset; I mean I really didn't expect to get our bumper for $18 (and wouldn't really have wanted to use it if it actually WAS our bumper), but I am a little annoyed at how misleading the Rock Auto website is.

I'll let you know what, if anything, comes out of calling them on their B.S.

[VX KAT]

I'm not terribly upset; I mean I really didn't expect to get our bumper for $18 (and wouldn't really have wanted to use it if it actually WAS our bumper), but I am a little annoyed at how misleading the Rock Auto website is.

I'll let you know what, if anything, comes out of calling them on their B.S.

A little annoyed? .....
I've heard both good and bad about Rock Auto....think it was Marlin that had good experience with them, but everything else I've heard has been bad.

[H3_VX]

Ended up costing me right at $300. I haven't talked to the shop yet about what they would charge to bend more up and ship them. When I talked to them about this a year ago they said that they would be happy to bend just the pipe up and send it out for others to weld to their stock brackets. Don't know what shipping would be either. I can find all of that out after Moab if anyone is interested.

On a similar note, and something that might make me feel like a boob, but I just got an email from RockAuto that the bumper I ordered from them is expected to ship on May 18th. This might be a SUPER cheap alternative for some.

$300 eh? What does the stock part cost. Gonna go research that now. I bet the bumper you had made is 10,000 times stronger and rust proof than the Isuzu bumper.

[MSHardeman]

I think the Isuzu stock bumper is +/-$350, so I really didn't save that much money, but the shop did make it out of the same tubing that they make their roll cages out of, then capped both ends so that it won't rust from the inside out. After welding and cleaning they shot a coat of self etching primer on it so it will probably last longer than the VX will.

Now that you brought this back up, I need to call the shop to see if they would still be interested, and what it would cost, to make more of these for other VX owner.

[H3_VX]

I think the Isuzu stock bumper is +/-$350, so I really didn't save that much money, but the shop did make it out of the same tubing that they make their roll cages out of, then capped both ends so that it won't rust from the inside out. After welding and cleaning they shot a coat of self etching primer on it so it will probably last longer than the VX will.

Now that you brought this back up, I need to call the shop to see if they would still be interested, and what it would cost, to make more of these for other VX owner.

Please PM me with what you find out from the shop. Thanks.

[Gizmo42]

I dont remember seeing anything like that on my rodeo. Not sure where that piece would go. Mine would be the same as a '98.

[MSHardeman]

Dave, I think they call it a "front bumper reinforcement", whatever that is. The part is so thin I really hope it's not reinforcing something important. If you figure out where it goes, and you need a new one, you can have the one I have because it's not doing me any good.

[Gizmo42]

Going to have my bumper off sometime next month, maybe then I'll figure out where its supposed to go LOL.

[VX MileHigh]

While researching front bumper reinforcements I found something that might explain the part you got. The part number is for a center bumper mounting bracket for an Amigo. The picture and the part number don't match. The part number is 8971257810 but the VehiCross bumper reinforcement is 8971435345 so while they did mess up putting the wrong picture with the part they did have a different part number. I know that doesn't make it right but it might explain the problem.

Well, let's see what happens. Just ordered one, and with shipping the total was $30. The site said that there was a 4-5 day shipping delay due to the part being in an offsite warehouse.

I'll let everyone know IF it ships, and if it does, I'll report on quality once it arrives.

[MSHardeman]

OK, finally got to talk to the people at the shop where I had my new bumper reinforcement done. They said that the easiest thing for them to do would be to build new bumpers with the frame attachments welded to them so all they would have to do would be to ship the bumper out and the new owner would just have to bolt the bumper on. No muss, no fuss.

The bumpers would be made out of DOM tubing (same stuff they make roll cages out of),and bent to the exact profile of our original bumpers. The ends of the bumper would have end caps welded to them so nothing can get into them and rot them from the inside out. All of that would be welded to new bumper mounts, then the whole thing would have a coat of self etching primer sprayed on it. The shop is looking at $300 per bumper, and shipping would be extra.

I know that's almost what Isuzu is asking for a new bumper, but those would eventually rot out again, and I have a feeling that my new bumper will last longer than the VX itself. The shop plans on using my VX one more time to double check all of their measurements, and they will make two bumpers this go round. One to ship out, and one to keep as their template for future orders.

Let me know if you are interested and we'll get the ball rolling.

[Cobrajet]

I didn't think I needed a new front bumper until I took a look last night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww2hmX1HT1w&hd=1

That's not going to provide much protection! I'm very interested in this new product.

[Bob Barker]

I had to remove mine since I did the body lift a few months ago, so I've got one if there is a big demand for it. Rust proof and dry sitting in the corner of my garage.