Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:16:21 -0600
Reply-To: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Buese <tombuese@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Stupid Bumper End Pieces
In-Reply-To: <c2c43a7e0908251259k27c040c3i3d63619c35980cf5@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
I believe the flimsy end caps are there to break rather than the metal
bumper or body. At $10 each to replace, alot cheaper than the $400 I
paid for a nicely chromed aftermarket replacement bumper which was
less than the $550+- that VW charges for an oem bumper?
Better to tear the flimsy end caps off than the whole bumper? I have
gone thru 2-3 in 7 years.
YMMV,
Mr. BZ-black on black, I want my baby back
On Aug 25, 2009, at 1:59 PM, Marc Perdue wrote:
> You know, you might be better off investing in driving
> lessons . . . ;^)
>
> In any event, those endcaps are a piece of cake to install; probably
> take 10 minutes or less . . . One of the easier things one can do to
> enhance the look of their van . . .
>
> Marc
>
> On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 3:52 PM, Rocket J
> Squirrel<camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Well, yeah, my memory of how they attach is certainly dodgy --
>> "missing
>> altogether" is probably more accurate. But I do recall that the fit
>> and
>> affixing method didn't impress me.
>>
>> This one is missing from the front because I probably brushed a
>> rock or
>> something last weekend while exploring local campgrounds. No
>> telling where
>> it is. So if I was gonna get replacements the idea of using Krylon
>> plastic
>> paint to tart them up in some color other than black (van is ivory
>> and
>> black, so I'm thinking hot pink might blend real well) is an
>> attractive one.
>>
>> I've got one rear cap less than three years old with a crack,
>> probably
>> from being brushed against something like a rock, also.
>>
>> The stupid things are still fragile little pieces of crummy
>> plastic, just
>> itchin' to be wiped off again. The way I drive, anyway.
>>
>> So my bumpers were powder-coated black, and it really doesn't look
>> half-bad with end caps missing.
>>
>> hot pink end caps . . . no end caps on black bumpers . . . hot pink
>> end
>> caps . . . no end caps on black bumpers . . .
>>
>> How's a girl to decide?
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>> Bend, OR
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8/25/2009 11:16 AM Kim Brennan wrote:
>>
>>> #1, they aren't just snap on. I'm pretty sure there is a nut (13
>>> mm) to
>>> attach them to the sheet metal bumper, and a screw to attach them
>>> to the
>>> body of the vanagon.
>>> #2 Krylon makes a nice paint for plastics. You can get it spray
>>> cans,
>>> and color them however you want.
>>>
>>> On Aug 25, 2009, at 12:01 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>
>>>> My 84 has sheet metal bumpers fore and aft. These take stupid
>>>> snap-on
>>>> plastic ends, which after a few years fade to charcoal gray and
>>>> look
>>>> cheesy.
>>>>
>>>> One has gone missing. I reckon my options are;
>>>>
>>>> A) to ignore it
>>>> B) to order another stupid plastic snap-on plastic end that will
>>>> fade to
>>>> charcoal gray and look cheesy.
>>>> C) ...any other ideas that don't involve buying a new bumper or
>>>> welding?
>>>> These appear to be in working order and I've never used them to
>>>> bump
>>>> anything out of the way.
>>>>
>>>> I'm leaning toward A). It's very inexpensive.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>>>> Bend, OR
>>>> KG6RCR
>>>
>>>
>>
|