Looking for a replacement front bumper to add front end protection (deer strikes) to my 2008 F450. Reason I'm considering full front end protection for the F450 is the fact Ford designed the front end of the super duties with no protection for the radiators. I can't afford to be disabled with a 14,000 pd 5th wheel in the middle of nowhere due to a deer strike. So - I ordered a Ranch Hand with winch mount however it came damaged to the point I had to send it back to Ranch Hand. I tried a second time and received the second one with damage as well. Ranch Hand does not do a very good job at packaging their product thus both times damaged was experienced during shipping. To top it off, Ranch Hand has terrible customer service. Couldn't get the salesman or store manager to call me back on multiple occasions. Additionally the product looked like a high school welding experiment gone bad - the welds were horrible looking, worst I've seen in years. Thus I had it refunded (mind you it was ordered March 2015 and finally just had it refunded two weeks back). I'm not looking for a long winded debate on whether front end protection should even be considered - simply looking for a good product at a reasonable price that offers full front end protection. If you have any suggestions please provide them.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Agree (I'm a former "race car" welder) --- Ranch Hand's welding quality has dramatically decreased over the years. We had a truck in the shop recently and I couldn't believe how poor the welds looked -- pretty trashy to put it mildly.

 

check out Buck Stop products. They look a lot better than anything Ranch Hand offers, but they cost a bit more.

 

I checked Buck Stop - close to $3000.00 for their steel bumper with winch mount and color match. The Ranch Hand was $1600.00.

Thanks,

Chris

 

I've been considering a Fab Fours Super Duty Premium Front Bumper with full guard but am concerned with the 3/16" material. Doesn't seem very think...anyone have this bumper who can provide some insight?

Thanks,

Chris

 

I did see a Road Armor front and a Fab Fours rear bumper both looked great with nice welds too.
I really like the Buck Stop though.

 

The 3/16" material is plenty thick and is also pretty typical for anything outside the frame rails/winch mount on these types of bumpers. I had an ARB on my old truck and it was extremely well made with beautiful welds and carefully considered design. It had 1/4" steel between the frame rails for the winch mount capable of holding a 16.5k winch and 3/16" steel outside the frame rails. I also liked the large, relatively heavy wall tubing that the grill guard was made of and how it was integrated with the rest of the bumper. I think that I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $1600-$1800 for the ARB about 6 years ago. I haven't priced one recently.

 

I keep on forgetting about ARB products, from what I hear they make some of the best bumpers. Also ya 3/16 steel is fine for the outer shell of a bumper.