Toyota 4Runner Owner Asks, "Who Needs A Snowplow When You Have A Perfectly Good Front Bumper?" Those Who Don't Mind Wasting $1,000 On a Bad Idea But Willing to DIY Fix Their Mistake For A Few Dollars

A social media post from a Toyota 4Runner owner is a good example of the mistaken belief of many car owners that their vehicle can handle a few inches of snow as they go ahead and "snowplow through," not realizing how much damage they could be doing to their car.

It Happened Next Door

Last week, a neighbor of mine did just that with his brand new Chevy Express Cargo Van, which he uses as a work vehicle for his business. After a snowfall of just under 3 inches, the local snowplow had gone down our street, throwing another three inches or so, creating a tiny snowbank in front of our driveways. My neighbor decided to nose through it and onto the cleared road.

Big mistake.

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Even that small amount of snow and the cold temperature conditions were enough to snap the spoiler, leaving the remnants hanging just short of dragging on the road. A quick check online for replacement parts and he is looking in the neighborhood of $200 (not including labor); however, if the bumper is found to be damaged as well, it easily becomes $1,000 or more (including labor).

This begs the question: Are car bumper covers or other related accessories just cosmetic? If so, why not just skip their replacement and save money?

The Importance of Your Car's Bumper Components

While bumper covers and other related components do enhance a car's appearance, they also serve functional purposes. Modern bumper parts are designed to:

1. Absorb minor impacts: They work with the bumper structure beneath to reduce damage in low-speed collisions.
2. Protect components: Bumper covers help shield essential parts like the headlights, grille, and engine components from debris, scrapes, and minor impacts.
3. Aerodynamics: Many bumper covers and spoilers are shaped to improve airflow around the vehicle, contributing to better fuel efficiency.
4. Mounting points: They often serve as a place to mount lights, sensors, and license plates.

So, while they are partly cosmetic, your car's bumper components play an important role in protecting your vehicle and enhancing its performance. Therefore, they should be replaced or repaired when damaged.

The Genius MacGyver Fix That Will Save You A Lot Of Money

Suppose you decide to seek advice about repairing a broken bumper or other non-metal body-related components on your car. In that case, many will advise you to skip trying to make what will very likely turn into an unsightly repair and go ahead and buy a new part and/or have the body shop take care of it for you.

Which is sound and practical advice.

Repairs of "plastic" car components often fail due to the glue used or its application process failing to provide a permanent fix. It isn't easy to make a DIY repair look professional without much experience repairing car body parts or possessing the proper tools.

However, if your car is old, you might decide it is not worth the cost of a new spoiler or other part. As it turns out, there is an alternative plastic repair technique that bypasses glue failures and can provide you with a permanent and professional repair using only a minimum of inexpensive tools, many of which you probably already own.

Intelligent Plastic Repairing Technique That Will Make You Level 100 Master

Courtesy of a recent Creation Holic YouTube channel, an impressive plastic repair demonstration is provided that is MacGyver-esque and would be fun to try.

The only tools and supplies you will need include:

1. A boxcutter and other basic hand tools
2. A small length of PVC pipe
3. An inexpensive hot air gun like those found at Harbor Freight
4. Adhesive tape
5. Discarded size "C" or "D" alkaline battery
6. Electrical wire
7. Large alligator clip and three metal washers
8. A rechargeable power tool battery
9. Several small brad nails
10. Sandpaper
11. Plastic filler, primer, and paint

Follow along with this short video to witness the genius of this DIY repair, which practically anyone can do to either repair a new car or cosmetically improve an older model.

Please Note: I highly recommend practicing this on some scrap automotive body parts that you can get free from a body shop before trying it on your car.

Related article: Car Engine Repair Hacks You Want to Avoid

Also, Please Note: The video is a "YouTube" limited viewership video that can be seen here.

For more about DIY car repairs you can do, here are two for your consideration when things happen to your car:

1. Simple DIY Replacement of a Broken Side View Mirror
2. Consumer Reports Used Car Fixes: DIY Fix for a Dented Bumper
3. Why Some Owners Should Not Try DIY Repairs and Mods Humor

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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