New Bumper Color

['08 F350 FX4]

First the bad news........got hit by a Honda Ridgeline this morning at a traffic light. The good news is that it was more of a hard bump than a hit and the only "damage" I took was a couple of scratches to the painted part of my bumper and the trailer wiring bracket under the bumper was folded under.

I have thought about changing my bumper colors ever since I bought the truck new ('08 F350 CC FX4). I have the FX4 painted gray bumpers and have thought about having them redone in Oxford White to match the rest of the truck. Couple of questions for you guys who know a whole lot more about this than I do:

1) Are the original bumpers painted or powder coated?
2) What is the difference between painting and powder coating?
3) Given the location and the rocks (actually sand and small gravel) Colorado likes to put on its roads during the winter would powder coating be a better choice?
4) What do you think about going with the "all white" look (see attached pic below)? I was thinking about still leaving the factory fender flares gray just to have some slight color variation on the truck and to match the standard FX4 grill insert.

Thanks in advance for your help and opinions.

[jrod80]

I personally like the all white better than the gray bumpers and flares (minus the white mirror covers). I just think it looks clean and works with chrome or black wheels. Powder is baked on so it will be much tougher than paint. I would assume stock bumper is painted. If you can get someone to match the powder that would be a better choice to hold up to rock chips. White is not necessarily easy to match though.

I've actually been thinking about powdercoating my bumpers to change the look of the truck and getting a XL grill to paint to match the truck. I'm not sure on color...thinking maybe black or silver like the truck color. Wish I knew photoshop so I could see what it would look like.

I had painted bumpers on my last truck and they looked like hell after one Utah winter so don't think I will go that route.

[benjamin24]

Yea deff. go powdercoat if you're gonna do it. I love the exterior of the KR trucks but don't care for the interior color. I would've still bought one in spite of the interior but have seen a few with the bumpers chipped to hell, so I went with the chrome.

[f250 fx4 kid]

yea my gray bumper looks like you shot it with liek 3,000 shots from a bb gun

[Jesse@MBRP]

Could always have it color matched with Line-X. They do an awesome job now days with the color matching.

[gottabadf250]

I like the all white look!

Here is my 06



I do, however, have the shotgun patterned front bumper.

[ZeroOne]

Originally Posted by Jesse@MBRP

Could always have it color matched with Line-X. They do an awesome job now days with the color matching.

I'd be worried about that on a front bumper. Those bugs like to glue themselves bad enough on a smooth, flat surface. You'd have to scrub the hell out of line-x to get them out.

['08 F350 FX4]

Thank you for all the replies. I am going to try to check out prices to have both the front and rear bumpers powder coated white. I want to make the change, but I'll admit I'm nervous about not liking it after I spend the money. I also wonder what the big Job 3 front airdam will look like hanging beneath a white bumper.

[oakley_xc]

That is what my truck looks like. I went from a Lariet to FX4, So my stock bumpers were chrome. Had them blasted, primed, & painted. Looks great but has already started to chip. If you can get powdercoat to match thats what I would do.

[Lifesgud2]

I will tell you that I had my bumper painted by a so called professional body shop, and it flaked off after 4 months. Needless to say I was not very happy. Make sure the dealer or good local body shop paints it, or powdercoats.