Captain22

I bought a Lariat because I wanted full time 4WD. However, I wanted an FX4 for the looks. So, I am in the process of changing the aesthetics - FX4 front and rear lights, check. I will either paint or replace the grill. For the bumper, I can powder coat mine, but was curious - The painted bumpers on the FX4, are they covers over the same bumper as on my Lariat or are they a completely different bumper? I like the unpainted 20 inch wheels that I have.

JimFX4

It is the same bumper- just painted. FYI- the painted bumpers are more of a pain than they are worth. I had an 08 FX4 with the charcoal on the lower half. My bumper had rust (blistering) within three years. I took it to a body shop and they said that they could fix it but that it would most likely return. That is what convinced me to get the chrome bumpers with my 11 Lariat. You see 15-20 year old trucks with claen to mild rust on their chrome bumpers. Check outr the trucks with painted bumpers and you see a great deal of rusted bumpers. I wonder if they even prime them before painting. The chrome on the bumpers seems,to me, to provide better corrosion resistance. I have noticed the corrosion probably to a great extentg on the GM products which seem to have more painted bumpers than Ford models.

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

Only ever had painted bumpers on all my vehicles. I've had little to no rust on them, only from rock chips. I suppose it would depend on driving habits, and just the area you live in. I have 2 big chips on my front bumper now, and 1 huge one on the rear(was there when I bought it). When I fix them I'm gonna be sure to add flex to the clear, won't fix the rock chip problem but it will help be a little more resistant.

HCFX2013

I've ALWAYS wondered this. Is the HD bumper a cover or is it an actual bumper?

Watt-maker

If you get new bumpers or paint the ones you have already, wrap them in 3M clear bra and don't forget to coat the back sides with something like POR 15.

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

Haha nice^^^POR 15!! I just did the underside and firewall of a '70 camaro with that stuff last week.

If its a new ford bumper, it will be E-coated. As long as that stays un scratched it will not rust. E-coat is the best corrosion resistant coating. But like I said...as long as it is unharmed.

ousuxndallas

Exactly. It boggles my mind anyone would want painted bumpers on a pickup truck. They'll last, what, 2-3 years before looking like crap? Chrome bumpers will last decades.

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

I'm not saying your wrong...but in my experience the opposite has been true. If you search on here "rust on chrome bumpers" there are a lot of people with rusting chrome bumpers on '11's and '12's.

And it depends on the truck for me...if there is a lot of chrome going on, it looks good. If everything is painted that looks good too. But that's just my opinion.

ousuxndallas

Interesting point. My experience with chrome bumpers is from Chevrolet. My Silverado is 13 years old and has zero rust on the chrome bumpers.

I will research this. Could change my mind.

If so, maybe it's better to get a painted bumper and Line-X it.

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

Well I'm not trying to change your mind! Haha! Just trying to share some experience.

I found this thread. Where some people had rust on their chrome...some of it polished out, but some peoples were an actual rust spot. IMHO its a defect in the chroming process.


https://www.f150forum.com/f38/bumper-rust-148449/