<< I think perhaps you're giving too much of the blame for your bumper woes to your neighbors.  If you could really attribute it to parking by feel, you'd need as many front bumpers as you do rears, but as you well know, rear bumpers outsell front ones about five to one.>>

Dear Mr. Wolzphoto,

I do not recall writing that my neighbor was bashing my rear bumper. IIRC, I said something like "... YOU subject YOUR Vanagon and/or Westy to San Francisco's daily Braille parking ritual."

The biggest culprit is the careless Vanagon driver who forgets how long his vehicle is. You are more likely going to be forced to park in tight parralel parking space in an urban setting versus a rural setting.

I also have a theory that the front bumper, by virtue of it's greater arch and reinforced understruture, is better able to survive an impact. There's nothing under the rear bumBBBer.

Of course MY rear bumper is perfect  --   I replaced it last year.

BenT