Rear bumper riding high

[MinkeyF]

Hi folks,

The rear bumper on my ex-RAC MY2018 is riding high. It's making a lovely job of removing the paint from the edge of the tailgate...





I'll take a guess that the towbar/bumper has enjoyed a shunt during it's previous career.

What I'd like to know is can it be fixed?

Can I just loosen a few fastenings and stomp it back into position, or might something beneath be bent and I need to select the largest hammer in the set to correct it?

Any ideas gratefully received

Cheers, Mike

 

[Dellmassive]

I've got similar with my self fit towbar

There is very slightly play in all the bolts from the ball bracket to the chassis rail bolts.

Mine a bit high on one side.

I need to take of the rear bumper cover and spare wheel.... Then slacken off ALL the bolts and adjust, then tighten back up.

My issue was from making the towbar assembly up in doors .. then just bolting in to the van.


I should have left it all loose to accommodate the slight play.......live and learn.

 

[MinkeyF]

Thanks @Dellmassive, spotted your installation thread after I'd posted here.

Very comprehensive instructions! Nice work

Will attempt the same steps if it ever stops raining.

Cheers, Mike

 

[iancellis]

not sure if this helps on this a couple of months after original post i have the same issue and know why, i wont name names but some plank has lifted rear of his van using tow bar as jacking point not once but twice and now needs a good slap for being stupid. so let me have it

 

[Kind of Blue]

MynkeF can you rule or a nudge from behind or nudging some thing very softly that would cause exactly the same thing.

 

[iancellis]

MynkeF can you rule or a nudge from behind or nudging some thing very softly that would cause exactly the same

Oh yes a little nudge from behind wouldn't move that unless it was one big ass mole stuck it's head out of ground and banged it's head, I thought it was a good idea at time to get both wheels off ground same time until I walked up behind van to notice bumper touching tailgate it must be an orange van common issue just rearing it's ugly head

 

[Kind of Blue]

Well I have done more or less exactly the same to my rear end reversing into a shrub stump at very slow speed at home, so slow there was no jolt. Their had been a heavy rain shower and I did not see it the windows and the side mirrors where all covered in wet and their was a very strong sun. I had stopped and thought that I was OK and restarted reversing ever so slowly I did not feel a thing but noticed that the vehicle was not moving rearwards. Got out and it was very similar to your bumper rubbing up against the rear tailgate but with mine I also had some reflector damage also. I was gobsmacked to say the least. I had my tow hitch in place and I was surprised at how easily the bumper had moved out of place and upwards, it is creased in the corner with a very slight crack in the plastic. Their was no noise no bump or thud just resistance to reversing I was even holding slight pressure on the foot brake at the same time.

Oh mines a Caravelle Exec if that makes any difference.

 

[JumpShip]

The bumper reinforcing bars are quite easily bent if nudged towards the ends so if you remove the plastic bumper you should be able to get a look at the reinforcing steel behind and check out what's happened .

 

[Kind of Blue]

The bumper reinforcing bars are quite easily bent if nudged towards the ends so if you remove the plastic bumper you should be able to get a look at the reinforcing steel behind and check out what's happened .

Thank you!

 

[JumpShip]

And the good thing is there's normally a few on ebay cheap enough that have been removed when tow bars have been fitted .
Pardon our interruption...
Normally £50 to £80 Inc shipping .

 

[jmswdmn]

I've searched a few threads about rear bumpers riding high, and this is the closest I can find to my problem, although most others seem to have the problem due to fitting a towbar.

I have just removed my factory fitted rear bumper protector, because it was badly faded. Despite using a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive, whilst pulling it off I have dislodged the bumper from one of the five plastic tabs that run along the top of the bumper, and it is now sitting high. Compared to the other tabs, it looks like this one might have been dislodged and pushed back under the bumper or there is something else stopping the bumper from relocating on to it. See photos attached.

Any ideas on how to get the bumper to relocate on to the tab, or do I now need to try and loosen the rest of the bumper off to get it to relocate? Does anyone have any good photos of what these five tabs actually look like under the bumper, so I know what I'm trying to locate it back on to?

Thanks!

 

[jmswdmn]

answered my own question... removed the rear lights, infill panels, and unclipped the bumper from underneath and in the wheel arches and the bumper re-seated itself.

now i can spend the rest of my afternoon removing the 3M tape that was used to stick the bumper protector on.

 

[Srea064]

Try using a toffee wheel running at a slow speed on a battery powered drill, will work a treat