So in December of 2012 I got up to walk the dog early one Sunday morning. I found this abandoned car behind my truck.






I filed a police report and called my insurance company. The car was not registered or insured. The 'owner' claims they didn't know it was even gone until the police contacted her. My insurance company told me that uninsured motorist accident coverage only covers me if I am driving the car when the other car hits me. Since they hit my parked truck in the middle of the night and fled, I have no coverage and since the 'owner' claimed she knew nothing about the accident, I had no one to lean on to help me fix the damage.

I ordered a new rear bumper with brackets and have had the bumper painted. This morning I removed the old bent bumper and was preparing to put the new one on, when I discovered there is a bracket within the rear bumper...that is bent badly, that was not included with the new bumper.

The large heavy inner reinforcement bracket, that the other brackets bolt to on the inside...is not something I have. I also am not sure what I find in online searches is the same bracket, and I need help.

Looking at these pictures...




...is the large bent bracket running within the bumper itself, the same as the bracket in this auction?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350531109430
I have to order a new license plate bracket and bulb sockets, and I want to get this bracket ordered if it fits inside my bumper...but I also don't want to order it if it's something I didn't have before, and obviously I want to order the correct replacement.

 

That's why I don't park on the street. Lol

 

I don't usually, but in the winter, if we're expected ice or snow, I will park up there. My drive way is very steep both in and out. Normally when weather is expected to be good I park in the drive way down in front of the house.

 

That part doesn't look quite right...... you can download a parts manual from the faq section, and look up the mopar part number, and it will also tell you what that part is called.... make your search a little easier.

Your new bumper didn't come with that stuff? ReallY??? That seems kinda strange.

 

The bumper came with the brackets that would actually mount it to the frame, and they connect to the bumper on the outer edges, but the center would not be supported without that big bulky center piece.

When I look at the 'kits' on Ebay, some of them have that item I listed in the first post. I can assume that it is what I need but as you said it just doesn't look right and that's a lot of money to spend on a gamble.

I'll have to look up the part number.

 

Maybe I'm a little slow this morning, but I found nothing in the FAQ section. Literally nothing.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/faq.php

Even searching for things like 'parts manual' and 'manual, didn't bring up anything except how to disable cookies. LOL.

Can you possibly link me to the parts manual for download please?

Thanks.

 

This thread.

 

Thank you.

Well, I am a little stumped. After finding the only page that references the rear bumper, not only is the heavy duty internal bracket not referenced, but it doesn't even show the correct license plate bracket that mounts to the panel under the tailgate and behind the bumper.



I may have to call a Dodge service center and get the opinion of a tech, on that bracket and where I find it.

 

Wonder if it came as part of the factory bumper.... and the aftermarket companies are cheaping out?

 

The more I think about it though, the more I realize it has to be in the bumper, or the brackets that I do have would not bolt together in a way that would keep the bumper supported.

The part I linked to from Ebay still seems the most correct, and while it does look different, it seems to be the closest thing I have seen let alone the only thing I can find to order.

The one I have is really badly twisted and bent, and I think that even if I could have it straightened it would be structurally weakened and I don't want to waste a lot of time and money repairing a structural element when I can buy what I think is a new one.

Concur or object?