Thanks to Beachcruiser for the great deal on the bumper :D

Put it on Saturday night, after thoroughly regretting welding my ranchhand on. Had a little pop while torching and got nailed on the eyelid by a chunk of molten metal. Yes I was wearing protective eye wear, hit me on the eyebrow bounced off hit the inner lens of the glasses and back towards my eye. Luckily i closed it in time. Put HIDs on the 07 and ordered my 03+ fogs and the 6000k H10 hid conversion kit.

From this

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00664-1.jpg

To this

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00027.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00028.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00029.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00030.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00031.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00032.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/IMAGE_00026.jpg


Now I need to decide whether or not to get some clear corners for the front. And I need to do something about the mirrors, tow or at least turn signal ones.

Looks awesome...

I dig the side by side of both trucks....

I think the GMC looks better with that style front bumper. Plus the lights are cool too...HID's make a world of difference.

Gonna have to dissagree......i like the chevy better....the way the guard follows the lines of the headlights.

Nice job! - Looks great!

Thanks. The chevy would have been a GMC, no one wanted to dealer trade any 07 classic duramaxes to our dealer.

I will get some new pics as soon as I get the fogs and hids installed.

which bumper do you like better?

which bumper do you like better?

Good question.

Sheer Strength : Ranchhand takes it. Much less likely to deform in the event of an accident. The Frontier is just a shell of Diamond plate and square tubing with the brushgaurd portion being the strongest part. The Ranchhand has the 4 inch pipe all the way through. The Ranchhand is alos constructed of heavier metal.

Mounting : The Ranchhand has a slight edge, but they are both lackluster IMO. They use the factory bumper mounting points which are outriggers of thin metal off the frame. The ranchhand bolts to the top of the boxed framerail and that is a strong place. The bottom mount is to an outrigger off the frame that will flex if you push things with the bumper. Both mounts are solid plate welded to the bumper. The Frontiers upper mount uses a bracket attached to an outrigger of thin metal on the middle of the frame. The lower mount uses the towhook bolt on the outside of the frame, a very strong point.

When installing the both bumpers I modified the brackets to cancel out the weak spots. The ranchhand had plate welded to the main support going to the tow hook bolt to keep it from bending back(Like what the Frontier comes with). On the Frontier I bent an 8 inch piece of flat bar and drilled holes in the top of the bumper on each side to tie it in to the top of the frame.

Asthetics : Frontier takes it IMO. Sticks out about 6-8 inches less than the RH. Uprights are angled and dont come up as high. Everyone and their mother has a RH and I wanted a diffrent look.

Tow points : The RH did not have provisions to access the tow hooks on my truck. It was an early bumper, the newer ones do. I installed the receiver on it but, as heavy as the truck is, it wouldn't have shocked me to rip the whole front bumper off with a good tug.

The Frontier has holes to get to the tow hooks. A good side pull and I could see destroying an expensive tow strap on a sharp edge tho.

The Frontier is also MUCH lighter. probably 70 - 100 lbs lighter. A little easier on the frontend.

Anything I forgot? Any questions?

Does anyone know if a frontier full replacement that came off of a 2001 Chevy 2500HD fit on a 2001 GMC 3500HD? I called frontier, and they said they didn't make a full replacement for that year on the GMC, but I'm looking at pictures of a 2002 GMC 25000HD with one on it. What kind of truck did Beachcruiser take this full replacement off of? I found a local guy selling his for $390, and am going to jump all over it if for my Dad if it fits.

Does anyone know if a frontier full replacement that came off of a 2001 Chevy 2500HD fit on a 2001 GMC 3500HD? I called frontier, and they said they didn't make a full replacement for that year on the GMC, but I'm looking at pictures of a 2002 GMC 25000HD with one on it. What kind of truck did Beachcruiser take this full replacement off of? I found a local guy selling his for $390, and am going to jump all over it if for my Dad if it fits.

Should, the bottom of the grill wont line up perfectly but the mounts should.

if you wanted to just go lighter you could have just gotten the summit series ranch hand they look just like that frontier

Should, the bottom of the grill wont line up perfectly but the mounts should.


That's what I thought as well, but thought I would check. Does anyone have any first hand experience?

nice

Gonna have to dissagree......i like the chevy better....the way the guard follows the lines of the headlights.


Me too! :D

if you wanted to just go lighter you could have just gotten the summit series ranch hand they look just like that frontier

Ranchhand has been overdone around here. Trying something different :cool:

Got a few more ideas I might try :D

Took some better quality pictures :cool: I got my 03+ GMC fogs installed and went with 6000k HIDs in them as well. Pics are MUCH higher quality. Got bored and threw in a picture of my subs :D

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00028.jpg


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00033.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00035.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00036.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00037.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h29/dag4566/DSC00041.jpg

Nice looking bumpers, and I really like seeing the mesquite trees in the background.

I miss South Texas.

Damn good looking bumper man.....kinda wishing i woulda kept it and retrofit it to my chevy. haha naa im glad someone got some use out of it. If you run across a Frontier for a chevy let me know.

Nice looking bumpers, and I really like seeing the mesquite trees in the background.

I miss South Texas.

Thanks, I love living here most of the time :D

Damn good looking bumper man.....kinda wishing i woulda kept it and retrofit it to my chevy. haha naa im glad someone got some use out of it. If you run across a Frontier for a chevy let me know.

Will do.

Yeah its been nice in the hillcountry too...hasn't broke 100 all summer.

is their a place to mount a winch on the bumper of to cut in a reciver hitch?

is their a place to mount a winch on the bumper of to cut in a reciver hitch?

No. They do sell a bolt in hitch to go where the factory tow hook goes. It comes out under the bumper where the tow hook would, not in the center.

Those bumpers are alright looking but I don't think I would trade a Ranchhand for one :o:


I don't know if its been said or not but the reason for the Ranchhand sticking out so far is to keep it away from the grill. I have seen many "close fitting" grille guards and full replacements get bent into the grill in a collision (or by hitting a deer).

I have seen many "close fitting" grille guards and full replacements get bent into the grill in a collision (or by hitting a deer).

What about hitting HUMANS?????? :nutkick: kidding

What about hitting HUMANS?????? :nutkick: kidding

How many gypsies could it take out? :clap:

How many gypsies could it take out? :clap:

VERY NICEEEEE!!!!!!

I am trying to decide between these two bumpers on my 2004 GMC. So dag4566, what was the main reason you switched from the RH to the Frontier Gear?

I am trying to decide between these two bumpers on my 2004 GMC. So dag4566, what was the main reason you switched from the RH to the Frontier Gear?


Looks :cool:

If you plan on hitting something go RH. The Frontier is nowhere near as strong.

You never plan on hitting something. Believe me, check my thread on searching for a replacement bumper. Great info on the Frontier. Thanks.

Good pics and reviews, thanks!

very nice

so would the frontier bumper give more clearance for tires and is it much stronger then the stock bumper?

so would the frontier bumper give more clearance for tires and is it much stronger then the stock bumper?

Yes, and trimming or spacing it forward is an easy option. I think it is way stronger than the stocker and provides more protection for the grill and fog lights.

ive been looking for an HD bumper and all the other ones cost like $2k and stick out alot and imho i dont think they look good unless the truck is lifted or has some bigger tires but the frontiers look nice and does'nt stick out far and it looks real good on these trucks. has anyone had some rust forming on them or anyone put them to the test? i already have a grill guard on my truck but it looks like this would be stronger.