I've heard the cheater bar theory and insurance companies totaling them too. Sounds like a bunch of BS since my wife has hit a 1,000 lb cow with my ranch hand before.

Of course that's what I used to think, but I had a 99 with a Ranch Hand full replacement bumper and had a lady shoot out across the front of me from behind a truck. I was about to T-bone her car when I saw the little kids not strapped in the back seat and staring out the window at me. I jerked the wheel hard to the right (direction she was going to minimize damage). It moved my bumper over about 3" - 4". Dented the front of the driver side quarter panel and the hood a little and caused a small coolant leak. When I dropped it off at the body shop, the guy there told me about the cheater bar thing and how the insurance would total it because Ford had released the tolerances of frame movement and this would be out of spec. I asked what's the worst that would happen if the bend is in front of the wheels, I end up with a crooked bumper? My local Ford dealer even said to bring it to them and they would straighten the frame because the damage wasn't that bad.

The truck had 100,000 miles on it and I bought it new for around $28k. The insurance called and said it was totaled and offered me $23k and change and let me take off all my aftermarket stuff (except the front bumper) so I took the money and ran.

I was doing about 40 - 45 mph when it happened. I'll have to see if I can find any pics.

 

What was the damage with the ranchand vs cow? Ive always wanted to know accidents invovlin a ranchhand or simliar bumper. I have a Top Gun from replacement

 

Top Gun makes good stuff too. As far as impact resistance, I think RH/TG are on the same par.

 

Not sure about the RH but I had a Rhino Brush guard on my 99 F-350 DRW 7.3L and had a minivan slam on its brakes in front of me in a 55 mph zone for no reason other than to stop at a Green light (still don't understand that one). I rear ended at about 30- 35 mph cause those trucks do not stop on a dime like a minivan will. I ended up shoveing the rear bumper of the minivan over top of the rear axle almost, destroyed the whole rear of the minivan. When I backed my truck off it, I had a couple small dents in the hood, a cracked headlight and a dent about the size of a 1/2 dollar in my brush guard and one small dent in my bumper. No frame damage at all, and alot of scratched paint. Total cost of repairs was about $50 for a new headlight. Not sure if you would call that luck or what have you, but after that it thouroughly convinced me that I am alot safer in my tuck than most other vehicles on the road. If I hadn't sold the brush guard with the truck I would have it installed on my current truck.

Same truck had a front tire blow out at 70 mph. Although it shot me about 300 yards of the side of the highway, because as hard as I tried to contol it you don't have much choice other than the direction the truck pulls you in. Finally came to rest in the thick brush along the freeway, but I must say that although the steering was hard to control the truck was extremally stable! No damage other than haveing to replace a front tire. Will never own anything but a F-350! I love them, and those are my two testiments of how in a small car or smaller truck it could have been a bad day. I know I went a little off subject, but in my book when you are talking about a crash, the F-350 will come out on top with minimal damage. Don't have picks of the 1st crash, but I put up a picture of the tire. and where i went off the road, to show what I ment when I said the truck was still stable.

 

Posting to subscribe. I've had the similar qualms you guys have had and currently have the RH Brush guard on my truck. It's saved me from minor parking lot stuff that was not my fault (both times it hit on the wings of the guard and didn't do any damage except powdercoat).

-rockstate

 

She swerved and only hit the back end of the cow. Spun it around and knocked it down in the road. They were able to get it back up at first, but steaks were prepared the following afternoon.

I lost some powder coating off the bumper that I touched up with some paint so it wouldn't rust.

 

Thats amazing that you didnt bend the frame. Since after all she swerved and didnt hit the cow in the middle of the bumper so both frame rails would absorb the impact instead of one frame rail

 

I think it's probably basic physics. 8,000# truck vs. 1,000# car. Truck has momentum, cow has 4 very small points of contact with the ground (low resistance). Down here those types of bumpers are often called cattle guards. Both for the reason my wife used it for, and for being able to nudge them out of the way when they're standing in front of the truck and won't move since honking at them has the wrong effect.

 

The deer scenario falls under "comprehensive" instead of collision.

It's a good idea to have a full bumper grill up front because when you're on the road and you hit a deer, you can still get to your destination. If you don't have the added protection, she will push the grill into the radiator leaving you stranded sometimes with a trailer in tow.

 

lol thats a good way to put it. I still want to see what one of those bumpers will do when in a accident with a car.

 

ok i have been keeping up with this post since it started and no pictures so i did a little search and found a video on youtube with an older F250 that has a guard on it after it t-bones a jeep its kinda long and not much but if you just fast forward to the 2 minute mark you can see the front of the truck

YouTube - ‪Fatal Jeep Wrangler vs Ford Pickup T Bone Accident Graham WA‬‏

 

That's just a brush guard, not a full replacement as is being discussed in this thread. That jeep got nailed pretty good, the truck had to been going a solid 40+. Looks like the Ford held up pretty well, and protected the occupant(s).

 

oh ok i was not sure just thought it was interesting

 

Personally, I like the South Texas Outfitters bumpers better than the RH. I looked at them both and did a full replacement front and rear. In fact, the bumpers were delivered before my truck arrived from the factory.

Pap

South Texas Outfitters - San Antonio's Premier Truck Accessory & Top Drive Manufacturer

 

Nice looking stuff, but their website is a real turn-off, it needs a lot of help!