Ok its time to start updating the trucks front end, as my doors are coming off a 2008MY truck, so I figure hey why not update the nose a bit right??

well here is my conundrum that I would like input on (yes I understand that all answersd will be subjective and I'm cool with that) but I am looking at off road/ranch hand type bumpers (I use the truck as a truck if meant to be used, for work) and I do want some protection from low speed impacts, looks are second on the list (of course I really care more about functionality) and want to know what bumpers out there have you guys have had/have on your trucks and the experiences with them.

Also I would like to know would it be better to wait on the bumper until after my front end conversion? is there any bumpers that are better then others? any I really should just run from and why? will bumpers for 2008+ trucks (fromt and rear) bolt right on a E99 frame or will I need to modify things?


I am sure more questions will come up later...

 

I would think do the front end conversion first. What year front end do you want? Then get the bumper that is made for that year model. I don't know if say a 08 bumper would bolt right up to the 99 but it's easier to modify the mount brackets then it is to modify the wrong year bumper to fit the front end profile.

 

I just put some Trailready bumpers on my 2013, fit & finish are excellent. I ordered them with unfinished/raw steel and had them powder coated locally so I could have them the same color as the truck.

 

Had a ranch hand on my '01. I always thought it was kind of ugly, it was on the truck when I bought it. Ugly as it was, it was functional. I considered finding a stock bumper to replace it until I hit a deer at 50-55mph. A little blood on the bumper, but the deer was ripped in half. Literally. Poor girl was in a sprint and the upright on the bumper caught the front of her hind quarter. I decided to keep the ranch hand at that point.

 

I'm thinking of getting a Truck Defender aluminum bumper. Seems like a decent bumper, light(only weighs 120lbs for entire unit), no rust, and not overly expensive like other aluminum bumpers. You can get them in polished, raw aluminum, or black powdercoat.

 

My main question is "is it functional?" I would rather the bumper be functional and looks second to function

im not really concerned about looks, but more the function of it doing the job of protecting the front end in the event of a wild deer hit or a person needing there car pushed or hitting the truck

 

I looked at some of the testimonials on Truck Defender's website and there was a picture of a guy that hit three head of cattle with his. The bumper was dented in but there was no visible damage to the truck. I'm sure there was some damage underneath since on of the cattle went under the truck but it was drivable.

I think most of your bumper/guard combos will take a hit and protect the truck. I would not worry one bit from a Ranch Hand, Fab Four, Buck Stop or one of the other major brands.

The only combo I've looked at that was more for looks(IMO)was the one from Trail FX, it was a Ranch Hand type combo but it was made out of much lighter steel and I don't think it would take a hit very well and still protect the bumper. The salesman even said it was more for show than anything.

 

ok, so Ranch Hand, Fab Four, Buck Stop are the ones I should look at? as I said I am wanting to get one for functionality over the looks, and be able to survive events like hitting a deer or what ever might come my way

 

If you can deal with the extra weight those are some good choices. If you want aluminum to save weight and eliminate rust Ali Arc and Herd are proven designs.

 

its a truck so weignt again isn't a concern as its already less fuel efficient then a brick...

as for the aluminum designs will they hold up to deer and not so great drivers that might hit the truck or cause crashes? granted I understand the bumper wont with stand a 40 mile hit but I am talking up to 10 miles or less

 

A good aluminum bumper will take a hit just as good as a steel unit, maybe even a little better since Aluminum flexes a little more than steel. Only downside is if you bend an aluminum bumper it will be harder to fix than steel because once bent aluminum has a tendency to crack if you try to straighten it. You almost have to cut the bad part out and weld in a new one.

Go over to Ali Arc and Herd's website and read some of the stories and look at the pictures. There are numerous guys who have hit deer at 60mph and the only damage sustained might be a bent bar on the bumper or maybe a broken gill or headlight if part of the animal got through the bars. Most of the testimonials are from semi's but the smaller bumpers are built just as good, just downsized for pickups.

My comment about the heavy weight of steel was more related to the added stress it adds to the front end components of the truck.

I was wrong about the guy that hit the cattle with his truck defender bumper. Here is the picture



This guy had two cows go under the truck, one off each side and one over the top. Front clip is trashed but the truck was leaking no fluids and he drove it home. Clip also said he was pulling a stock trailer behind him and the cow that went over the hood hit the front of his trailer(which means it cleared the cab of the truck).This is a pretty extreme example of an animal impact since an adult cow will weigh anywhere from 1100-2000lbs and they will be as tall as the trucks hood.

You need to know that the bumper will not totally eliminate the chances of damage to your truck. you could still get some damage depending on how the animal hits you and where it goes after impact, but the damage will be far less than if you didn't have the bumper.

Big thing I was told is to hit the animal square in the middle of the bumper because that's where the most protection is. I know from experience that trying to avoid an impact and clipping a deer at the corner can cause the animal to be flipped around and have it slam into the side of the fender.

 

I am aware that the bumper will not stop damage, my goal is to lessen the damage caused in the event (its turning to deer season now) of an animal strike or vehicle strike

 

It will pay for itself if you have one with steel mesh that prevents some type of piercing debris from simultaneously taking out your radiator, trans cooler, intercooler and a/c condensor

 

ok, a new question now that I am able to go forward with the process is will a 2008+ ranch hand (or similar, but I think I will go ranch hand) bolt directly to the E99 frame or will I have to modify things???