I had the exact same damage on mine and I work in a restoration garage. IIRC I cut open along the main crease of damage, used a heavy pry bar through the front oval hole and pulled it close to straight, then seam welded it back shut. No more than an hours work on mine (the repair itself excluding removing the bumper etc). Yours looks a bit more twisted but pretty much the only thing that damage will affect is how your bumper sits. There really is no need to pay hundred of dollars to sort it out and we only charge the equivalent of $43 hourly. I'm guessing a lot of places only want to do it the 100% correct and perfect way or not at all. I'd be more than happy to have those kind of jobs come into our place, much easier than our regular work.

 

That's exactly what it is. I had the same experience with my GTI. It's a 20 year old track car, and it sure as hell doesn't need to be cosmetically perfect at this point.

 

I think you are right about shops only wanting to do it 100% correct. I'm sure they are worried about the liability. I'm going to try a couple shops off the beaten path and if no success, I might try your method.

I stuck my crowbar in that oval hole last night and I could get the metal to move some, but that alone wouldn't work. Though I wonder if a come-a-long and a tree would be able to pull it without sliding the jeep sideways...I'm sure it would if I made a cut or two in the metal.

 

Try it and see if it works or slides. If it slides, you can either load up the Cherokee with weight (or people) or secure the opposite front wheel to something stationary.