Cutting bumper for hitch

[jsmith21]

So my runner is one of the few that came without a hitch, and therefore doesn't have the cut out in the back bumper for one. I managed to acquire an oem hitch through a forum member, for free! So now I need to get to hacking on my bumper. My question is, what is the best method to do this. I don't want to F**k up my bumper and make it look bad, I want it to look as close to factory as possible. So should i use a dremel, tin snips, really sharp x-acto, ... any other suggestions? Also if someone with a 06-09 could take a pic up close of the cut out in their bumper, it would be greatly appreciated. I tried to take one of one I saw at the store but the lady walked out as I was doing so and got all worried I was messing with her car. Whatever. Any help/advice is appreciated

 

[NJshadow93]

So my runner is one of the few that came without a hitch, and therefore doesn't have the cut out in the back bumper for one. I managed to acquire an oem hitch through a forum member, for free! So now I need to get to hacking on my bumper. My question is, what is the best method to do this. I don't want to F**k up my bumper and make it look bad, I want it to look as close to factory as possible. So should i use a dremel, tin snips, really sharp x-acto, ... any other suggestions? Also if someone with a 06-09 could take a pic up close of the cut out in their bumper, it would be greatly appreciated. I tried to take one of one I saw at the store but the lady walked out as I was doing so and got all worried I was messing with her car. Whatever. Any help/advice is appreciated

 

[kevinpt]

i can take a picture of my v6 hitch in the AM

 

[jsmith21]

i can take a picture of my v6 hitch in the AM

Ever get a pic? Plan on tackling this tomorrow.

 

[kevinpt]

Ever get a pic? Plan on tackling this tomorrow.

crap i forgot. if i dont post by 1pm tomorrow let me know and i can walk out and get a photo

 

[kevinpt]

Ever get a pic? Plan on tackling this tomorrow.

 

[jsmith21]

Thanks that helps a ton. The bumper took all of 5 minutes to take off I'm just cleaning everything up and experimenting with the best way to cut it.

 

[kevinpt]

Thanks that helps a ton. The bumper took all of 5 minutes to take off I'm just cleaning everything up and experimenting with the best way to cut it.

post up some pictures of how it came out

 

[jsmith21]

Finished it up. Wound up using a dremel...kind of hard to control but I think it looks decent. Since it's a dark color you can only tell it's not perfect if you get right up close. Also the hole isn't perfectly center but again it's not super noticeable. I'm pleased with how it came out. I'll likely get a steel bumper in a few years anyway.

 

[kevinpt]

Finished it up. Wound up using a dremel...kind of hard to control but I think it looks decent. Since it's a dark color you can only tell it's not perfect if you get right up close. Also the hole isn't perfectly center but again it's not super noticeable. I'm pleased with how it came out. I'll likely get a steel bumper in a few years anyway.

not bad. i dont think i could do any better

 

[jsmith21]

Thanks, I actually took it off and trimmed it up a little more. Still not perfect but I'm afraid if I keep messing with it I'll wind up really screwing it up haha. You really can't tell unless you're right up on it.

 

[Nathana92]

Thanks, I actually took it off and trimmed it up a little more. Still not perfect but I'm afraid if I keep messing with it I'll wind up really screwing it up haha. You really can't tell unless you're right up on it.

You could put some weatherstripping material around the edge of the cut to smooth out the look if you wanted.

 

[jsmith21]

You could put some weatherstripping material around the edge of the cut to smooth out the look if you wanted.

Good idea, might have to do that. It was way harder to be precise with a dremel than I had imagined haha.

 

[grave]

bumping this to ask for some photos... i have a V8 weight distributing hitch i need to install, can anyone post up some photos of their V8 bumpers with the tow hitch? thanks!

 

[Fern]

bumping this to ask for some photos... i have a V8 weight distributing hitch i need to install, can anyone post up some photos of their V8 bumpers with the tow hitch? thanks!

https://i.imgur.com/MkfD9ke.jpg

Looks like the cut out is the same for V6. Just hangs lower.