3 Simple Steps to Install Your Front and Rear Bumpers

You may not have replaced any part of your Ford F-series pickup before, or you may have just done a modest repair like replacing the side mirror.

However, after a memorable off-road adventure on some rugged terrain, you may realize your bumper needs a desperate fix.

You may be wondering whether you can get a good-quality, fitting aftermarket replacement. One that’s affordable, and you can install yourself.

Today, we're going to show you the practical steps you can take to install your vehicle's front and rear bumper.

The process will be a breeze if you follow the steps below.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Assessment
Step 2: Remove the Old Bumper

Start With the Front Bumper
Take Out the Rear Bumper

Step 3: Install the New Bumper

Installing the Front Bumper
Install the Rear Bumper

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Buy a New Bumper or Repair the Damaged One?
What is the Cost of a New Bumper?
Are There Other Costs I Should Consider When Replacing a Bumper

Step 1: Assessment

To proceed, you’ll need the following tools:

Expert Tip: As you budget for the tools, consider the time it’ll take to replace the bumper. Two hours should be adequate, depending on your speed and whether you'll have someone to help you.

In some cases, changing the bumper can take less than 30 minutes.

Did you know? A typical OEM bumper weighs about 25 pounds for a Chevrolet Silverado, 50 for a RAM pickup, and 75 for a Ford F-15?

Also, consider several factors such as vehicle type and bumper quality. That’s because you’ll need to understand the cost of bumper replacement. The price range can be between $500 and $3,000.

Step 2: Remove the Old Bumper

Start With the Front Bumper

Ranch Hand FBD031BLR Legend Front Bumper 2003-2005 Dodge Ram 2500-3500

1. Take out the middle plastic piece (which is usually at the bumper’s front). You’ll then find the bolts that hold the bumper in place.

   Pro-Tip: Sometimes the bolts won’t come off unless you remove the grille and the lower air dam first

2. After you've removed the middle plastic piece, you'll find 8 to 9 nuts that hold the bumper onto the vehicle's chassis. Dislodge these using the 18mm socket.

   If you find the area behind the bumper unreachable, you can use a 4-inch socket extension.

   For the bolts, use a breaker bar to help loosen them. Then, use your ratchet to take them out.

3. Disconnect the wiring conduit from the chassis. To do this, pull the wires out gently.
4. Remove the fog light connections by disconnecting the wiring plug. Press the tab, then gently pull the wiring plug out.
5. Remove the front bumper.

Take Out the Rear Bumper

HammerHead 600-56-0591 Rear Bumper Ford F250-450 with Sensors 2017-2018

To remove the rear bumper:

1. Remove your license plate.
2. Crawl under the vehicle and remove the trailer plug.
3. Dislodge the spare tire lock.
4. Disconnect the backup sensor. Also, depending on your car, you may have some Christmas tree plugs which hold the harness against the bumper. You should detach these plugs and take out the harness.
5. Take off the bumper cover by pushing it down, then gently pulling it upwards and outwards
6. Unfasten the three bolts that hold the bumper to either side of the receiver hitch.
7. Finally remove the bumper.

Pro Tip: Some bumpers come with two wings. Pop these off. For some Ford F-150s, the bumper wings are held in place by five bolts on either side

Step 3: Install the New Bumper

Aftermarket bumpers come in a variety of styles and brands. First, get acquainted with some non-negotiable features of aftermarket bumpers to make a good choice.

For instance, if you have a Chevrolet Silverado, you might consider getting the Dodge Ram 2500/3500 bumper.

FLOG Industries, FISD-D2535-1018F Dodge Ram 2500/3500 front bumper 2010-2018

Once you’ve picked the right choice, installing your front and rear bumpers is essentially a reversal of the above steps.

Begin with the Front Bumper

1. Place the bumper mounting pads in front of your car and ensure that the new bumper aligns well.
2. Fasten the bumper with nuts and bolts.
3. Reconnect the wiring plug for the fog light connection.

You can see this in action in the video below:

Install the Rear Bumper

To install the rear bumper:

1. Take out the bumper support bracket and the bolts attached to it.
2. Install the trailer plug, the license plate lights, and the spare tire lock onto the bumper.

   Note: Depending on your vehicle, you may have to install the trailer plug after the new bumper has been mounted)

3. Secure your bumper onto the frame using nuts and bolts. Ensure that the bumper fits onto the frame. Where possible, ask for help.

   Don’t fully fasten the bolts until you’re sure that the bumper aligns well with the vehicle.

4. Fasten all the bolts.

The video below details the process of replacing a Ford F-150’s rear bumper.

Appearance is everything to a vehicle. So ensure that you get a rear bumper that is sleek, stylish, and sturdy.

Royal Truck Accessories have a wide variety of rear bumpers you can choose from.

For instance, for your Ford F-150, you may want to check out this HammerHead Rear Bumper that goes for the price of an average men's suit.

HammerHead 600-56-0576 Rear Bumper Jeep TJ Flush Mount 1997-2006

If you want style, durability, and functionality, you can also buy a Chevrolet Silverado rear bumper:

FLOG Industries, FISD-C2535-2020+R Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 Rear Bumper 2020+

Remember: Our experts at Royal Truck Accessories are ready to help you identify a bumper that boosts your vehicle's operation and performance.

For additional information, give us a call or send an email through our Contact Page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Buy a New Bumper or Repair the Damaged One?

It depends.

For financial reasons, you may want to consider repairing your factory bumper instead of paying for a new one.

However, should any of the following happen, consider getting a new bumper:

• The paint is damaged or significantly scraped off: If your bumper has multiple scratches that will require repainting, achieving a uniform color may be challenging.

  
  A new bumper would be the wisest option here.

• The bumper is cracked or splintered: You may opt for a fiberglass repair kit to fix the damage. However, a bumper that’s already suffered a crack usually has structural weakness.
• The hooks on the bumper are damaged: It’s almost impossible to repair bumper hooks. Without these hooks, bumpers may easily fall off.

What is the Cost of a New Bumper?

The cost varies, depending on your vehicle type. A new bumper costs between $400 and $2,000.

Are There Other Costs I Should Consider When Replacing a Bumper

Yes.

You should consider incurring repainting costs. You may do it yourself. However, painting a bumper is not easy. The difficulty is in ensuring the color doesn’t have non-uniform shades.

Yet you can still try to reduce painting costs by sanding and filling.

Prepping your new bumper this way saves you up to $400 compared to outsourcing this to a car body shop.