Hit a deer on the way to church last night. Thankfully, didn't hurt: the grill. hood, headlight. Just the bumper. Seems like a good time to switch from the flimzy, OEM to a ranch hand, or maybe a knock off ranch hand type..........Any advice, or a supplier?
Ranch hand "type" bumbers
- Thread starter Bigfoot
- Start date
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I like the Ranch hand products.
callmefence
Keyboard cowboy
Got my eye on a new bumper to
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Bigfoot
Well-known member
The guy I would consider my body work man advised against one. He said it'll lead more structural damage in the next wreck. the el cheapo OEM stuff is designed to fail. The well built bumper transfers the energy to the frame. I still want one.
J+ Cattle
Well-known member
It would be a good addition especially if you drive an aluminum body truck
I've hit quite a few deer over the years, including one at 55ish front and center with one of those RH bumper deals - only thing it hurt was my license plate. Also used that particular truck to persuade some fairly heavy bulls to go where they didn't want to go.
D2Cat
Well-known member
I've heard the comment about the heavy bumpers can cause more damage with bending the frame. If you hit something hard enough to bend the frame, how much damage would be done to the body and components with a light bumper?
I've got a RH on a 3/4 ton and hit a couple of deer doing 50-55 mph. I did notice some hair near the front license plate area. I think one would have to hit a water buffalo square on to bend the frame!!
I've got a RH on a 3/4 ton and hit a couple of deer doing 50-55 mph. I did notice some hair near the front license plate area. I think one would have to hit a water buffalo square on to bend the frame!!
Mr FarmS agrees with your body man. They will bent your frame before they will do anything else. They may look neat not the best option. He used to own a body shop knows a thing or do about that stuff.
Heck your old enough to know better and still do what you want. If it makes you happy buy one.
greybeard
Well-known member
An RH type bumper might result in the airbags not deploying in low energy collisions and often that is a good thing. An expended airbag is EXPENSIVE and cost as much (or more) to fix as the front end damage.
(Not getting in to whether the sheet metal saving RH bumper is more important than the life saving airbag)
I had to replace the left front headlight assy on a nearly new silverado (new enough there were no aftermarket/3rd party replacement parts out yet)
Over $300 at the dealership for just the dinky plastic headlight assy.
A RH bumper would have prevented the damage.
(Not getting in to whether the sheet metal saving RH bumper is more important than the life saving airbag)
I had to replace the left front headlight assy on a nearly new silverado (new enough there were no aftermarket/3rd party replacement parts out yet)
Over $300 at the dealership for just the dinky plastic headlight assy.
A RH bumper would have prevented the damage.
Ranch Hand, Tough Country, several others. Depends on what style you want. They are all about the same quality. They all need to be sand blasted and get a good paint job before you ever put them on a truck.
I do not run grill guards any more for the reason they cause more damage than prevent it. I do think a good full replacement saves from small stuff like deer bumping a cow or gate or some thing. When you tear them up it wasn't going to matter at that point what you had.
I do not run grill guards any more for the reason they cause more damage than prevent it. I do think a good full replacement saves from small stuff like deer bumping a cow or gate or some thing. When you tear them up it wasn't going to matter at that point what you had.
chaded
Well-known member
My goodness, it must be a chevy if the frame is getting bent after hitting a deer.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Now we understand why Chevy hates deer. They warped her Chevy
Hahaha
kentuckyguy
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This one would be handy for the left wing activist that block the roads
faster horses
Well-known member
We run aluminum bumpers on our 1 tons. They've kept us from damage and they don't weigh a ton. We have a HERD aluminum bumper on our current pickup. We have had Truck Defender and one other kind years ago. Can't remember what it was.
I can't see the grille guards hurting anything more than the front clip in a collision. They basically bolt onto the front bumper, worst they would do is fold it up and smash the front clip.
Now the full blown fabricated replacement bumpers are a different story, they would surely do some damage to the frame horns in a collision.
Same goes for receiver hitches, leave them in and you're now transferring all that force straight into the frame if you get rear ended.
Now the full blown fabricated replacement bumpers are a different story, they would surely do some damage to the frame horns in a collision.
Same goes for receiver hitches, leave them in and you're now transferring all that force straight into the frame if you get rear ended.
SmokinM
Well-known member
I am getting ready to buy one for my truck and think i am going to give these guys a try.
They look good.
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Bigfoot
Well-known member
They look good to me.
midTN_Brangusman
Well-known member
BF check eBay, I have bought three the last few years for half price due to paint defects. I haven't been able to find a blemish on any of them.
