Rear bumper protection

[egale]

Yesterday I put a little gash in the rear bumper while loading bicycles onto the hitch mounted bike rack! It's the first mark on the vehicle and I will probably take it to the shop to be fixed. So, I just ordered a rear bumper protector which looks like it will protect the top of the bumber but the gash is on the front of the bumper.

Is there any product that will cover the bumper when I have the bike rack attached to prevent similar damage in the future?

[philipa_240sx]

Is there any product that will cover the bumper when I have the bike rack attached to prevent similar damage in the future?

You can purchase and install a clear paint protection film. Xpel, 3m Paint Protection Film, etc. Do a google search and you should find all sorts of vendors.

[egale]

I installed the bumper protector yesterday. It was actually easy to do, covers up most of the scratches and dings and covers about half of the gash.

I looked at those films and while they may be great protection, I can see them being very frustrating to apply. I know try to get the bubbles out of a screen protector for a cell phone is difficult so I can only imagine what it would be like to do the same for a big bumper. I would need to get someone to install it and it starts to get expensive.

I tried looking around for a pad that would be used only for when I have bikes on the rack but there doesn't seem to be anything around commercially. Maybe I should invent something?

[Nick 568]

I just have one of those big thick moving blankets in the trunk of my Rogue, and it's situated in there so that when loading something in, I can just unfold a flap of it over my bumper. Cheap, but effective. :P
You may want something thicker for the bikes though...maybe some sort of thick foam pad? Either tie it to the bikes, or attach it to the bumper somehow when you've got the bikes on the rack.
You'd want to make sure that if you do put something like that directly over the bumper that your bumper is clean and free of dirt to avoid scratching the clear coat when it shifts around. (Maybe even use some sort of glue to glue a felt-like material to the backside of it?)

[kerrton]

Just a note on the clear film installation - it is much easier than your example of a screen protector because you spray the surface of the bumper with soapy water first, slap the film on reasonably well, then because you have a layer of soapy water between the film and the paint you can spend lots of time "sliding" it around and getting it perfectly positioned. Once it's precisely where you need it, then you squeegy out the water/soap solution starting from the center and working outward. It is definately posible to get annoying bubbles, I agree, but the project is doable on a relatively flat surface like the vertical face of your bumper, and worst case scenario it gets messed up, you can always peel it off and be on your way.

But, If you are looking for protection from large objects like bikes etc. then maybe the clear film isn't the best choice, it's meant to prevent scratches and rock chips, it will get really chewed up ina hurry if bikes are contacting it, unlike the thick hard black plastic bumper protetor that you installed - this is heavy duty and meant to take lots of abuse and and still stay in tact. Honestly if it was me I'd probably do something like Nice 568 and his blanket idea when loading bikes, and maybe give the clear film a try to cut down on the little surface scratches and nicks.

[Elton Noway]

Just a note on the clear film installation - it is much easier than your example of a screen protector because you spray the surface of the bumper with soapy water first, slap the film on reasonably well, then because you have a layer of soapy water between the film and the paint you can spend lots of time "sliding" it around and getting it perfectly positioned. Once it's precisely where you need it, then you squeegy out the water/soap solution starting from the center and working outward. It is definately posible to get annoying bubbles,

Kerrton is right... in fact... if you get one of the pre-cut kits its even easier. I posted a rather lengthy thread on paint protection film (I had the entire front end of my Rogue wrapped.) In the thread are a links to a couple videos showing film being installed.

post5463231.html

I was going to suggest a kit... but I don't see one specifically for that back bumper... just one for the luggage / cargo area. That said, one of the companies that sell the front end kits might have a pattern for the rear end. My installer had patterns that would have allowed him to wrap the entire car so the patterns are out there. You just need to find someone who will cut the pattern and send/sell it to you. Here's a link to one of the companies that sell kits.

http://www.xpel.com/products/paint_prot ... model=5569

[natan435]

I found much less expensive product on ebay: Nissan Rogue 2008 2009 2010 Full Kit Clear Bra
Item number: 130457248470

[natan435]

Is the front on 2010 and 2011 very different?

[Pescakl1]

Is the front on 2010 and 2011 very different?

Yes.