Bumper Question

[nacradriver]

Sorry if this has already been covered...

I have a 1989 Westy GL with the front bumper that wraps around on the doors to the wheel wells.. I am contemplating upgrading them to Go Westy steel bumpers as they are looking pretty ratty....

In taking off the door part of the bumper I am assuming there were be a hole or two to deal with... Has anyone here gone down this road and if so what you have done. Fill the holes with grommets, add some running lights... etc...?

As an alternative I am also thinking of taking them off and repainting.. is this an exercise in futility.. that is will they look ratty again or worse in a year or two?

Thanks
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Güdrun -1989 Westfalia - 2013 - 2018
Petra - 1985 Vanagon - 1985 to 1991
Zisa - 1974 VW Van "Bus" - 1974 to 1985

[IoWesty]

I repaired my fiberglass bumpers with two part epoxy and fiberglass mesh, followed by spraying with Raptor Liner (or any other bedliner).

[rmcd]

There are holes in the door skins that are used to hold the cladding to the door. Other than that .. all the rest are oem holes. Nothing really needing fixing.
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VW LT40 build. Like a Vanagon but 30% larger in every direction and 40% slower even in metric.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749359&highlight=

[Steve M.]

As mentioned the bumper is fiberglass.
If cracked or crunched you can repair fairly easy...the same spot you could repair a thousand times if you kept crunching it that much!
It's nothing to sand down and repaint it vs. spending $$$.
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[kamzcab86]

I wouldn't mind replacing mine with something beefier, but none on the market appeal to me... I want a set that resemble the fiberglass versions (like GW and a couple others), but with rounded corners!

Anyway, pulled the bumpers off my '90 and my dad did a resto job on them, fiberglass repair and paint. Two or so years later, they still look pretty good (although, I do use a bra on mine for road tripping, which helps a bunch).
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~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[Multiman mv]

This Samba member is doing some pretty cool stuff. Maybe he could fab a bumper that looks more like stock. The one he has on his site looks very rugged.

http://www.allterrainoverland.com