GMT-800: This ugly bumper gap! Options? Ideas?

[Martinjmpr]

OK, I knew when I went from a Toyota to a GM product, that there might be some differences in fit and finish, and most of the time, I'm fine with it (and to be fair, the GM stuff isn't as bad as I thought it was, and the Toyota stuff isn't as great as reputation sometimes makes it out to be.)
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Still, there's one thing that just annoys the crap out of me on almost all GMT-800 SUVs (Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon). It's this ugly "bumper gap". Here are a couple of close-up shots of mine:
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Driver's side: Not terrible, I suppose, but still not great:
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Passenger side: Yeah, this just looks awful to me:
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Normally, I'd be inclined to think that maybe the PO bumped into something, but I noticed that almost every GMT800 SUV I've seen has this same problem. Here are some photos I swiped off the Intertubes:
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So I figure either everybody who owns a Suburban/Tahoe is a terrible driver who bumps into things at random, or else this is just an example of sloppy fit and finish by GM.
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Question for the group, what to do about this? Can the bumper cover be "straightened?" Just live with it? (not a big deal but it's still ugly to me.)
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Aftermarket front bumper? The only option I'm aware of is Ranch Hand and that's WAY too much bumper for me.
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Anyone else bugged by this or am I the only one?

 

[Ramblejam]

The huge gap in those photos above is not normal...

The street truck crowd likes to modify the bumper brackets and shim the bumper up closer to the grille. A minor parking lot hit will usually require an new grille and parking lights after the mod.

Bingo!

These GMT-800 trucks were designed when GM was still focused on a work market; although not the most aesthetically pleasing, the positioning was done purposefully, and will keep a small impact from causing $$$ damage.

This was changed with GMT-900. Of course, you don't need to look very hard to find post after post on forums of people complaining that these bumpers aren't build like the old ones!

 

[Martinjmpr]

I'm assuming it didn't leave the factory that way, but that whatever fasteners hold the upper portion of the bumper cap in place have loosened or slipped enough to cause the 'droopage' that all GMT800's seem to have.

The 900's of course don't have a true bumper at all merely a "bumper cover" made of plastic (my '07 4runner had the same setup.)

 

[Burb One]

in each corner of the bumper there is a curved support piece holding the bumper to the chassis/subframe. I've taken a BFHammer and knocked it many times (IE bent it) to the position I like so they are equal. This piece is supposed to give in an accident to not cause other damage.

 

[rayra]

Your passenger side bumper bracket or bumper is obviously bent. The driver side alignment doesn't get much tighter.

There is a pickup bumper trim that covers that gap, but it's a big piece of black plastic. You could chase your tail painting it white, then worry about that paint degrading instead.


eta rockauto.com has the left and right front bumber mounts for $50 ea and the outer end support bars are $15ea. $130 & shipping and some bracket mods to lift your bumper a tad higher will leave you with a smaller gap. And the aforementioned greater risk of other parts damage when you bumper strikes something.


/my wife's Tahoe is bent repeatedly, I've given up trying to fix it. And my sub is black, the gap doesn't really show.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Anyone else here running an aftermarket bumper? The only one I know of is Ranch Hand.

 

[Burb One]

Anyone else here running an aftermarket bumper? The only one I know of is Ranch Hand.

I've been looking at aftermarket front bumpers and other than some custom builds that a few local shops sell because they've done a few of them, the only one I've found south of $1500 is the Ranchhand.

 

[Bushcoat]

lots of side bumper adjustment on the 800s. loosen the three 15mm head bolts on the outer braces(one to bumper,2 to mount), get someone to pull up on the bumper and tighten the bolts.
its embarassing how some of the bumper and panel alignments are leaving the factory, the 900s arent any better.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Anyone else here running an aftermarket bumper? The only one I know of is Ranch Hand.

The guy that built my bumpers/sliders is on Broadway in Littleton. He can build you as much bumper as you want. And while I haven't paid too much attention to the cost of Ranch Hands (I think they are ugly) I think his price is comparable.

https://www.facebook.com/First-Choice-Fabrication-150470918375712/

Owner of the shop has a HUGE lifted 'Burb and is a Chevy guy.

While he has somewhat of a "template" for his bumpers, you can give him specific things you want incorporated into the bumper. He'll fix up that gap no problem.

 

[Martinjmpr]

The guy that built my bumpers/sliders is on Broadway in Littleton. He can build you as much bumper as you want. And while I haven't paid too much attention to the cost of Ranch Hands (I think they are ugly) I think his price is comparable.

https://www.facebook.com/First-Choice-Fabrication-150470918375712/

Owner of the shop has a HUGE lifted 'Burb and is a Chevy guy.

While he has somewhat of a "template" for his bumpers, you can give him specific things you want incorporated into the bumper. He'll fix up that gap no problem.

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Thanks for the link, that's awesome. I'm in Englewood 11 blocks West of Broadway so this is very local to me!

 

[HenryJ]

I really like the RanchHand:

I did lots of looking and the price is really unbeatable. Mine was $916 delivered
Made in Texas. Sturdy. Good fit. I have had mine since 9/2014

 

[1stDeuce]

Ditto on loosening the bolts at the frame end of the outer bumper bracket, lift up, re-tighten. It's all adjustable. Some schmo just didn't take the time to set it properly.

As for aftermarket bumpers, I have an ARB on my 2500. It's pretty huge... Would have looked better scaled to 90%. So ARB is too big, Ranch Hand is a pretty heavy bumper for a 1500... But that one above does look pretty good. Unfortunately, not a lot of choices for GMT800 trucks that aren't stupid huge or stupid heavy... Hmmm... More market opportunity...

 

[Martinjmpr]

I really like the RanchHand:

I did lots of looking and the price is really unbeatable. Mine was $916 delivered
Made in Texas. Sturdy. Good fit. I have had mine since 9/2014

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Actually, your build thread was the one that first made me aware of Ranch Hand. And I do like it. One odd thing, though: On their fitment guide, they show the bumper you have (the Bullnose) as fitting the Avalanche only. They do not show it as fitting the 'Burb. Anyone know why this is? My understanding is that with the exception of the arrangement of the grille and the lights, the 'Burb and Avalanche are identical vehicles back to the C-pillar.
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Reason I'm asking is that I like the look of your bumper (I believe it's called the bullnose?) much better than the bumper and wraparound brush guard that they list as being the only one that will fit the Suburban/Tahoe.
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At their reasonable prices I'm half inclined to just get one and figure out how to make it fit. Can't be that difficult, the chassis of both trucks are virtually identical.

 

[justcuz]

Agree with the above comment, however the Avalanche uses a Suburban frame.
I wonder if they modified the frame horns for the Avalanche or just built different brackets for the 03-07 Silverado front clip and bumper to fit the Suburban frame horns.

 

[justcuz]

I've always wondered what an Avalanche would look like with the 99-02 front clip. I also prefer the Avalanche without the body cladding.