A little mistake between the gas and brake
and the Jeep lurched into a wall.
The resulting collision left quite an impression
that I wanted to fix before fall.

I didn't quite make the fix before fall, but I suppose technically I could go until fall ends to mark that as a total failure. The dings on the ends of the bumpers were from other drivers colliding with the front of our car, not the other way around. While popped-out of its place, that foglamp still works...for now...

I've done some looking into replacement bumpers, and it doesn't look like too much work to remove the old and install the new. A few dozen screws and bolts, a little aligning care and mounting the lights (or replacing them if they're differently sized). The time-cropped videos one can find on YouTube and such seem to indicate a moderate pace by an individual with moderate screwdriver and wrench skills can get it done in a short number of hours. That's each, front and rear; of course I'd do both so they'd match.

I've been trying to find some of the "first upgrade" standard dual-tube bumpers (you know you've seen them on other Jeeps). Searching for these has reminded me that the Internet is a horrible place to try to find something new locally. That is, searching for "Jeep bumper" results in a lot of on-line stores and auto sales and general repair shops and general automotive part stores. There's not much that stands out as local, auto sales aside, and when you give into a chain that you know has a local outlet, nothing seems to indicate that one could go in to purchase such a bumper and leave with it; few of them seem to have "available in store" kind of searches, even if they do offer the kinds of bumpers I'm seeking.

Ordering online seems the only route. I'd really hoped to make sure that the powdercoat or paint or whatever it might have would be a similar muted black covering our running boards have. I might just have to go with "matte black is matte black," even if it isn't the same. Surely over a short period of time with lots of grime and weather, like the upcoming winter might provide, will dull any shine or brilliance the new bumpers have and give that dusty look that the running boards have earned.

The last bastion of hope for shopping locally is the same dealership where we purchased the Jeep. They sold us the running boards, and offer other dressing-up, such as the bumpers. They'll even install the bumper for us. Sadly, this costs about double what purchasing the bumper on-line costs, even factoring in the extra shipping required for such heavy and large items.

I really do need to do this before it gets cold for real. Working in an un-heated detached garage is brutal, especially when you have to open the door in order to have the space necessary for such a large job. This is a tough part of the country to do winter auto repairs at home.