Rusting Hefty Fabworks Dual Swingout Rear Bumper

[dahorst]

Unfortunately, this winter my rear bumper started rusting...a lot!

I'm not quite sure why, but my guess is that the cold temperature we experience up here (-40 degrees Celsius sometimes) cause microcracks in the powder coat. Water gets underneath the coating, steel starts rusting and coating starts to flake off. The water jug holder is definitely the worst. I used a flapper wheel to remove the rust on the bumper and a power washer on the jug holder. I then did a light coat of flat black paint, which blends in seamlessly and some JB Weld as a filler (instead of bondo). Once it sets, i'll sand it smooth and paint with Rustoleum Textured Black (which according to Hefty matches perfectly with their powder coat).

Any of you experience serious rusting of your bumpers? I almost wonder if the the flat textured powder coat is more susceptible because my front bumper has zero sign of rust and it is has more of a gloss finish.

 

[KiruxaT4R]

Ah the Canadian Winters just love to destroy things, between rust, rockchips and shitty roads...(I'm 50/50 Edmonton/Fort Mac)...I got no real contribution to the thread otherwise lol. Good luck with the fix!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

That's weird, I thought powdercoating was flexible enough to move with metal expansion?

 

[dahorst]

That's weird, I thought powdercoating was flexible enough to move with metal expansion?

To be honest, I think there were some manufacturing shortfalls. Some areas I could see no cracking at all...its almost as if they powder coated over rusty or oily metal.

 

[On Point]

they should stand behind their product. you obviously have enough pictures that show there is an issue with their finish work. I would continue hounding them until it was resolved.

 

[DesertCanyons]

To be honest, I think there were some manufacturing shortfalls. Some areas I could see no cracking at all...its almost as if they powder coated over rusty or oily metal.

You definitely have some rust happening there. Rust Happens.

It doesn't get that cold here in So Cal that we need to use road salts or gravel. Isn't some of this rust due to road salts?
Looking at your prep work I can't see how much you ground, sanded or primed. I think you need to remove all of the loose paint and rust. I see edges of paint next to the bodywork that you can not get off if it's still on the car. You may need to take the bumper off so you can do some aggressive scraping, grinding and sanding. Once all of the loose paint, rust, oils and salts are removed, then primer and paint. Good luck.

 

[Jono.ful]

they should stand behind their product. you obviously have enough pictures that show there is an issue with their finish work. I would continue hounding them until it was resolved.

shipping from Northern Alberta to Colorado Springs to have it repaired and back would cost nearly as much as the bumper itself did when it was new. best bet is to do the best job you can to repair the rust yourself, as he has done.

It doesn't get that cold here in So Cal that we need to use road salts or gravel. Isn't some of this rust due to road salts?

it gets cold enough here in the winter that they generally don't use salt, since it isn't effective below a certain temp.

 

[dahorst]

You definitely have some rust happening there. Rust Happens.

It doesn't get that cold here in So Cal that we need to use road salts or gravel. Isn't some of this rust due to road salts?
Looking at your prep work I can't see how much you ground, sanded or primed. I think you need to remove all of the loose paint and rust. I see edges of paint next to the bodywork that you can not get off if it's still on the car. You may need to take the bumper off so you can do some aggressive scraping, grinding and sanding. Once all of the loose paint, rust, oils and salts are removed, then primer and paint. Good luck.

I'm not going to go crazy...just touch up the bad spots and monitor. The flat paint blends in absolutely seamlessly so frequent touchups will be no big deal until it becomes unmanageable.

We live in a very dry climate so this rust is extremely odd. Not much salt use here, more sand because of the cold.

 

[Taco04]

Might also want to try some POR 15 I use this on one of my other trucks that has a replacement bumper and the stuff is tough.

 

[dahorst]

Done. Lets see how it holds up!

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

Looks like you did a nice job refinishing it. Hope it holds up for you!

 

[Jono.ful]

any updates?

sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm on the precipice of ordering a hefty rear




:yo:

 

[asaid]

Any updates

any updates?

sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm on the precipice of ordering a hefty rear

:yo:

same thing here, would love to hear an update since I am seriously considering hefty

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2011 4Runner limited- Shoreline Blue
Icon stage 2 (Tubular)
Cooper AT3 265/70/17
Fuel Wheels (17x8.5)

 

[Jono.ful]

same thing here, would love to hear an update since I am seriously considering hefty

Be prepared for a ridiculous wait, ordered mine Mar 19 and still nothing. Can't even get an answer from them about a new eta as "12-16 weeks" has long since passed

 

[wfo9]

Be prepared for a ridiculous wait, ordered mine Mar 19 and still nothing. Can't even get an answer from them about a new eta as "12-16 weeks" has long since passed

That is ridiculous....A couple of weeks... even a few months. But 6 months is just silly.

 

[cheeser]

The powder coating for my hefty skids has held up well so far via a partial winter here in CO...haven't noticed any rust / chips so far.

I haven't been too thrilled with the wait time either via my skid or sliders especially when one has to pay the full amount up front. I can understand putting down a decent size amount so I have a good incentive to not walk away, but full price plus waiting seem to be a bit too much.

 

[Jono.ful]

That is ridiculous....A couple of weeks... even a few months. But 6 months is just silly.

Especially considering Addicted Offroad said they'd be able to turn my front bumper around in 2-3 weeks