I am trying to find push bars that come up to hood height. At least as tall as the grille. What I have been finding are either bull bars (far too short), or bars that only go to the bottom of the grille. Also, what I have been seeing are too wide, just inside the headlights. I want them a bit more narrow. I don't want a brush guard or anything over/around my headlights. I would like stainless but black is okay. I need them to be thick and strong enough to be used. I don't want them for decoration but would like them to look nice.

Any ideas? If you could post a pic and a link where to get them I would appreciate that. Thanks.

 

You my friend, are looking for the holy grail of Bull Bars. By and large, what is on the market right now as far as bolt on items that look good yet retain the stock bumper are only efficient at looking good and mounting extra lights. In the strength category all of the ones I have seen can only protect you in impacts involving your garden variety tree squirels and maybe the occasional chihaua. Hit anything larger than that and your front end is gonna be damaged. As far as middle of the road stuff goes that is both somewhat stong and still retains the stock bumper, I would have to say the grill guards made by WARN. They often have a heavy duty center section and the outer headlight hoops are reinforced with brackets that bolt to the outer edge of the bumper. Stay away from no-name brands and don't buy something unless you can put your hands on it yourself first. You can tell by holding it if it is made from good quality, thick steel, or some cheap tinny junk.

If you want something that is gonna really protect the front end, you need to step up to a full front replacement bumper w/integrated grill guard. If you would like to know a few different brands of these, I can dig up the sites for a bunch of different good ones.

 

My 08 F350 crew cab 4X4 all I could find that was beefey was a go rhino big tex,outside diameter of the tube is 1 13/16" it fit well and was a 45 minute install.

 

Maybe something like this?:
http://www.4by4connection.com/forsupduttjm.html

 

I have the Warn unit on mine. I found it thru the local Craigslist for a $100. It's part of a system they have. So you don't have to have the "brush guard" pieces that go out around the headlights. In fact it'll be cheaper without them. I took some time to mount it, but that was probably just me and making sure it wouldn't fall off. It mounts to the three holes that the tow loops bolt to on the frame, then the tow loops bolt to those. Then there is an upper mount above the bumper that bolts to the top part of the bumper mount and again braced against the frame.

Best part is you can get this with a winch mount, or a light mount, or a receiver for a trailer hitch built into the unit.

Expect to pay a few bucks for this new. Mine was black and with the reciever, push bar and brush guard pieces would have been around $700.

Mine was called the Trans4mer Grille guard.

 

I agree. A cheap bolt on bull nose that retains the factroy bumper will not be properly mounted to the frame for heavy duty use. If you don't like the grill guard look and want to stick with the bull nose check here. http://www.ranchhand.com/products.as...end%20Bullnose

 

Kind of like this but without the bars that come out the sides. Just the verticle sections.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/30/s...dually-diesel/

I don't want to spend thousands for the entire bumper set up and like I said, really don't need, want or like the look of the things around the headlights. A bull bar would be okay if it was tall enough and strong enough. The one in a link above looked good but wouldn't want the whole bumper unless I could get it cheaper. $1,100 is a bit steep for me. I won't be doing any off roading and plowing over trees.

 

Go Rhino makes this one
http://www.autoanything.com/grille-g...A2507A0A0.aspx

 

That looks pretty close to what I am looking for. Wonder how strong it actually is. Did a google on it, Whitney has a good pic. The mounting points look kind of thin. Would it flex back into the grille/hood? Don't plan on hitting anything but will be pushing things once in a while, like steel containers, my sprint car, etc. Do these mount where the tow loops are? In other words, you have to also give up the loops unless you get a whole bumper set up, right?

 

According to this picture, the tow hooks are still used. I think it is the one Storm has.

 

Don't the tow hooks mount to the frame? If your only clamped to the bumper how strong do you expect it to be?

I think the regular bolt on would be fine in the beginning for pushing a car. If you start doing it on a regular basis, do it for several years, or start pushing the car up ramps, then I'd be worried. $450 for the clamp on type or $900 for the replacement bumper with bull nose. It's your call depending upon usage.

 

Yeah, true. 900 isn't that bad really. Actually, that would be my absolute max. I wouldn't buy anything that didn't frame mount in some fashion. Like I said, I need to be able to use it, not for looks. While that is important too. I don't want some monstrosity hanging off the front of my truck, just because. Ya know?

 

around here the front end replacement bumpers are going for 699. made off the exact same platform as the ranchhand just without the name, which is all you are paying for with ranchhand now. I have the front end replacement on my old dodge and we have three grill guards on our trucks here.


but look at the bullnose/baja bumpers from these guys they are about as close as youll get with it going to the hood, if still not what you like you could get a full frontend replace and just cut the tubing off around the headlights.

I dont know about their online price they seem a bit high cause I see them cheaper at a truck accessory stores all the time but that might not help you too much.


http://www.t3truckequipment.com/Front%20Ends.htm

 

I'm enjoying the Ranch Hand on my truck (not Super Duty).

ARB makes one that might be of interest. I know it's a full bumper replacement but here ya go anyway..

http://arbusa.com/ford.php?num=2#image


-rockstate