What about this for protecting my rear?? (intentional title ;) )

J

jonv8944s

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Location
Chicago, IL
http://www.autosportcatalog.com/hit...r:adType=pla&gclid=CNmku9Xzna4CFYvRKgodtg9zLg

I saw the above today when I was driving to work, and I was like 'oh shit, thats what i need' to use with the hitch system I am installing on the wifes FX50. I think that provides even MORE protection from 'bumper tags' then just a tow hook.

What are peoples thoughts? I am not married to this exact version, and if you know of a better one (perhaps cheaper) that would be greatly appeciated.

Thanks!

Jon

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 AM ----------

I think I like this one better:
http://www.autosportcatalog.com/hitch-and-side-steps/heavy-duty-hitch-step.cfm
 
Those look great on trucks but im not so sure with the curvy lines of a FX. Those would definitely be function over form in my opinion. I'm using a bumper bully (http://www.bumperbully.com/) and whip it out after i park. It literally takes an extra 10 seconds to open the truck, pull out the BB and set it in place. IMO it works well in protecting the rear bumper and is not so much of an eye sore since you can store it away while driving. One thing though - if someone does impact you hard, the BB occasionally leaves some black marks on your bumper. You can easily and effortlessly buff it out with your fingers though so its no big deal.
 
Interesting. I am not particularly a fan though. First if your car is dirty (and ours will be) and someone 'bumps you' they just grinded that sand into your paint. also it wont stop violent 'impacts' into your bumper, so your STILL going to get spider webbing if someone asshole really puts it to you with say a 1-2mph bump (not just a light tap). The bar i am talking about will at least send that force into the chassis, which will easily handle it, and no impact/damage to the paint.

I notice that you can get spider webbing from paint from an impact and not even see a paint stuff, so thats why I am interested in protecting it more fully. even if you absorb the impact into yoru bully pad, I dont think the impact will allow your bumper to go unscathed. So yup, I dont think its 'pretty' but I was wondering which is the lesser of two evils. A trailer hitch sticking out or one of those?

Thanks!

Jon

---------- Post added at 12:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 AM ----------

Here is a unit that provides even more utilitiy, but of course, I do not think it looks all that great, but it actually absorbs the impact, which is kind of cool:

http://www.sparebumper.com/
 
I mean no offense to you in anyway.

Personally, I think it is gawdy. I would not want it on my car all the time and it is a waste of time to get out and put it on when I am parking. Could you imagine driving around with that on all the time? It is like the wheel protectors that attaches to the lugs but covers the whole wheel!

I love the picture on their website too. Tell me the bumper guard is not photoshopped in on the Beamer!
 
Get one with huge spikes pointing backwards. Thatll teach them tappers :)
 
Or put a big ass trailer hitch. Those are fast to remove if need be and that will screw their bumper up majorly.
 
Don't really like it but it gets the job done ....and I don't always have it on there ..depends on where I park.
 
lol. I thought about the big spike thing, but then worried if it creates more risk/ potential injury to others then its worth. When I lived in North Carolina, this was never a concern or issue for me, but living in the City of Chicago these last 6 years has opened my eyes to just how little people can care about other peoples things.

I am going to stick with a trailer hitch type attachment, be it the 'step/bumper guard' or a 'normal' trailer hitch. I dont actually like the looks of that 'impact' based bumper guard, but I do like its functional advantages.

Maybe I'll just use the hitch ball/arm that comes with the hitch kit and stop trying to over think it? I think the wife would prefer the step/bumper guard thing over the trailer hitch, I just wish I could see what it looks like on the car first.

wonder if there is a local shop that sells those in/around chicagoland?
 
Thinking of getting one of these for nights out in town.. I always park it myself when we go for dinner as I don't trust the valet guys..

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Galaxy S2 on
 
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I'm shocked that people bumping into each other while parking is such an issue as to justify some of these monstrosities. I park on the street all the time and to my knowledge have never been hit like this. I've certainly never hit anyone either... Are the parking spots outlined (with paint) in Chicago?
 
tchuck said:
I'm shocked that people bumping into each other while parking is such an issue as to justify some of these monstrosities. I park on the street all the time and to my knowledge have never been hit like this. I've certainly never hit anyone either... Are the parking spots outlined (with paint) in Chicago?
Click to expand...

I don't have much experience with city of Chicago, but ann arbor is bad. Once I was just sipping some coffee people patching. An old lady (this was a large spot) backed into the spot until she hit the car behind her then braked (it hit decently hard --- idling). Then she idled forward until she hit the car in front of her then braked. Did that twice more back and front. Each time the car behind and in front shook as if you pushed them really hard so it was ridiculously noticeable.

When I lived in an apartment I had a carport parking spot (this was with a mustang cobra). One day I look and the car that typically parts in front of me in the carport has two holes in his bumper. I look at my bumper with a IL license plate at the time and see it's a perfect match from me. I'm like wtf, I never did that! At least once every week when that person parked he would continue going until he would hit my front bumper and then turn off his car (and he had a small car!) Not like there was a lack of space either. After a few months, his front bumper was torn up from hitting my plate and screws. So I didn't even bother saying anything because my license plate was just bent and I didn't care about that. That guy was not even that old maybe late 30s early 40s. I think once I noticed my tires moved a little from him bumping into me from his parking job. He's not retarded or anything and actually nice guy just doesn't care apparently.

People don't care about cars like we do. Not even close. To them it's a way of getting from point A to point B. If it does that, they are happy with or without a bumper.
 
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That's crazy. The old lady story sounds like something you'd see in a National Lampoons movie.

There is no real car culture here in Portland either - hardly anyone even washes their rides regularly, but we do have our parking spots painted on the street which apparently has a big "impact"....ba-dum.
 
city parking... I've squeezed into spaces that only have 3 inches to spare on each side... thank goodness for a backup cam.

I've seen plenty of people use bump the front of my car, but the front plate takes most of the beating. As for the rear... its rarely hit. Sucks... but what can you do
 
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