If I recall correctly the whole thing has to come off as a unit. Depending on your damage you could shorten the stock into a stubby. There's a few vendors making end caps for cheap.

 

Look at the replacement and see where the bolts are to remove the coverfrom the frame. I had problems with the "nuts" in the plastic wanting to spin when I separated mine.
It is easy to remove the frame and cover as one piece since its just the 4 nuts on each side plus light wiring if equipped. The plastic air dam is also pretty simple to remove to get access.

 

Look at the replacement and see where the bolts are to remove the coverfrom the frame. I had problems with the "nuts" in the plastic wanting to spin when I separated mine. It is easy to remove the frame and cover as one piece since its just the 4 nuts on each side plus light wiring if equipped. The plastic air dam is also pretty simple to remove to get access.

^^^^ this right here. It would be easier just to unbolt the bumper from the frame. 8 bolts and you're done.

 

I guess I misread... But, it really is pretty easy to swap the entire bumper out if it came with everything. I'm just curious why not just switch the entire thing out?

 

Thanks for the replies. I got the four bolts off that hold the cover to the frame but you can't get the cover around the tow hooks. Looks like the whole thing has to come off. On another topic: What moron engineer designed those plastic rivet-screws that hold the air dam on?

 

Delete

 

Interesting... I know the rear bumper has no tow hook but I removed my rear bumper cover after messing it backing into a tree! 30 minutes off with the old and on with the new and that included swapping the Sahara color insert. As mentioned, no tow hooks like the front but trailer pkg. offered no problems.

Would think there would be a way to replace w/o tow hooks causing trouble, but some design engineers not always thinking replacement!

Good luck

 

Interesting... I know the rear bumper has no tow hook but I removed my rear bumper cover after messing it backing into a tree! 30 minutes off with the old and on with the new and that included swapping the Sahara color insert. As mentioned, no tow hooks like the front but trailer pkg. offered no problems.

Would think there would be a way to replace w/o tow hooks causing trouble, but some design engineers not always thinking replacement!

Good luck

You're talking apples and oranges. The rear bumper is nothing more than hollow plastic. The front bumper is a steel bar with a plastic cover.

 

I read somewhere that someone had removed to cover without removing the steel bumper but it would be hard. I just had mine off a couple weeks ago to replace the front tow hooks with a set I painted so I had to remove the bumper anyway & its only 8 nuts to unbolt the entire bumper. Once its off to get the cover off its 4 nuts.

Rick

 

I can't get the 4 nuts to loosen. is it counter clockwise ? Or clock wise. I applied wd 40 and going to use a cheater bar. 🙃 hoping I don't round the nut...

 

The 4 nuts come off counter-clockwise. Use a 6 point socket to keep from rounding. You'll still have to remove the steel bumper to get the soft bumper off of the steel one. Just went through this with a crap replacement cover where I not only had to grind out the holes for the crush cans to fit but had to grind out the holes in the steel bumper to fit the new cover's molded in nuts.