I removed the rear bumper, and there were 4 secret bolts.

[Icuff4cash]

Well today I removed the rear bumper cover had some cracks and the chrome strips were butt ugly and pealing. I removed the bolts and wing support brackets and the bumper would not come off. The manual only shows 4. I tuged with a crowbar and zip. Went to utube and there was the video and the secret bolts. Inside the bumper there's holes mine had rubber plugs next to the trailer hitch you need a deep deep 1/2 or 10 mil to remove them. Once off bumper slid off like it was ment to. So anyone taking off your cover check all those holes and my side skirts had 2 bolts straight up into the floor were the foot lockers are.
Tired long day good night.

 

[Icuff4cash]

Thinking of a steel bumper and swing away tire mount

I was looking on www.gowesty.com
This company turns vw bus into campers and 4x4 overland campers. After researching the measurements there inches of each other. No one makes aftermarket parts in this area for Aerostar. So I'm looking to build a better vw camper out of my Aerostar and here's a photo of the vw steel replacement bumper. Like ford vw used fiberglass covers and the aftermarket companies make steel bolt ins. With the steel bumper you can mount rear tire cooler or bike carriers. Just an idea.

 

[Icuff4cash]

Part 2

Tire holder

 

[Icuff4cash]

U tube on how to install swing away mount

https://youtu.be/JAP_IGheWPw
I don't know if the utube posting will work. This is just an idea I have about removed the fiberglass bumpers and replaced them with steel.


https://youtu.be/DtXgcIlek1M

 

[Adam_tinkerer]

I've thought about modifying an explorer or ranger rear bumper, and the later 90s ranger front. On the extended vans, those hidden bolts are usually studs, though on mine a couple threaded out.

 

[Icuff4cash]

Your correct

The fiberglass bumper has studs but when I removed the nuts the studs unscrewed. Now the manual only shows 4 but mine had 4 extra bolts next to the trailer hitch. Now my rear side skirts also had 2 bolts straight up into the floor next to the rear jack boxes. What I like about the vw bumper there's stuff made to outfit your van. Your the first guy to make a comment 130 viewers were interested in my ideas. I got to replace my transfer case it's full of stress cracks and there leaking. I'm losing about 1 1/2 quarts in 2 months. Once that's done its bumper time. If not the vw I found a site that sells truck stuff from dock to bumper buffers. For about$100.00 I can buy a big rig box trailer bumper. The Aerostar bumper would measure out 4x4 with no flashing and they sell a 4x4 bumper with oasha punch treads on the top rail it's a foot to long so trimming is needed. The bumper is hot dipped and has a 50,000 pound strength.

 

[Josh P]

I'd like a bumper made from steel box tubing. I'd move the receiver from under the van into the bumper. Diamond plate on the top and chrome on the rest.

 

[Icuff4cash]

Are you saying square like 4x4 or a pipe. I can post the link with the tractor trailer bumper that's 4x4 square with the punched running board pattern for $100.00 if you like. They have all kinds of dodads like dock bumpers ect. Can you imagine bolting those rubber bumping stops to your bumper. Talk about a push bar. And the people who tap your bumper would be very sorry

 

[Josh P]

When I drove a truck I used the trailer bumper to recover everything from 1 ton trucks to other semi trucks. I'd say 50k strength rating is conservative. It would make a nice bumper but the frame would be the weak link.