I'm thinking about getting one but not sure yet.

It is between Ranch Hand, Frontier Gear and a local company here in town called Take 3.

I like my 01-02 HD front end and am not sure if I really want to cover it up.

I would even consider a used one to save money and just repaint it if it needed it.

Hi..

I like the looks of add on front bumpers... That being said I will NEVER place one on any truck I own....

Why?? Because they can hurt you! I am a paramedic. I go to bad accidents almost every day and have for almost 18 years. In the last 10 years I have seen people walk away from accidents that 20 years ago would have killed them... The main reasons are improved safety of the trucks. Airbags, seatbelts and CRUMPLE ZONES have played a important part in reducing injuries and deaths...

When you place an addon bumper on these trucks you have removed the CRUMPLE ZONE! All the work of the safety engineers has been tossed out the window and your health is now at risk. When you hit something the energy that would have been absorbed by the Crumple Zone is now transmited to the frame of the truck and in turn into your body. You hit the airbag and hopefully your wearing a seatbelt or you will probably break both legs when your body "submarines" under the bag. ( The increase in BAD open fractures of legs has really increased since airbags, people don't think they have to wear seatbelts) I have heard, don't have the proof for ya, that there has also been a increase of bad back injuries when Ranch hand type of bumpers are involved...

Just another thing to think about...
Steve

More weight would be one consideration on the front end replacement. Not sure how much more though.

Hi..

I like the looks of add on front bumpers... That being said I will NEVER place one on any truck I own....

Why?? Because they can hurt you! I am a paramedic. I go to bad accidents almost every day and have for almost 18 years. In the last 10 years I have seen people walk away from accidents that 20 years ago would have killed them... The main reasons are improved safety of the trucks. Airbags, seatbelts and CRUMPLE ZONES have played a important part in reducing injuries and deaths...

When you place an addon bumper on these trucks you have removed the CRUMPLE ZONE! All the work of the safety engineers has been tossed out the window and your health is now at risk. When you hit something the energy that would have been absorbed by the Crumple Zone is now transmited to the frame of the truck and in turn into your body. You hit the airbag and hopefully your wearing a seatbelt or you will probably break both legs when your body "submarines" under the bag. ( The increase in BAD open fractures of legs has really increased since airbags, people don't think they have to wear seatbelts) I have heard, don't have the proof for ya, that there has also been a increase of bad back injuries when Ranch hand type of bumpers are involved...

Just another thing to think about...
Steve

That also depends where you live. One of the reasons for such solid bumpers is a possible impact with animals like deer and others. With a big bumper up front the vehicle damage is much smaller, you may not even notice it. Otherwise the deer might fly right through your window...

I have had one on every one of my trucks, and absolutley love them. I personally think that they are one of the best investments you can make for your truck. They do cost a lot, but they are worth it. In may case, it saved both my Dad's and my life. He fell asleep at the wheel and we went off of an overpass that was at least 30ft. high. We hit the bottom and then bounced almost to the top of the other side. All of the poilce officers and paramedics we talked to said that if we didn't have the full replacement, we would both be dead. The dash didn't move an inch, and we both climbed right out of the truck. My Dad had a few cuts from the steering wheel and I had a fracutured back, but we are both in perfect health now. The airbags didn't go off, but if they would have, we would have been worse off according to the ivestigator. I would much rather have a back that is perfectly fine today, than be dead. It also saves a buch of damage from all of the deer that we hit out in the Hill Country. Well worth the money. Sorry for the long paragraph, just wanted to get my point across. Here are some pics of what we jumped off, my grill gaurd after the wreck, and the inside cab. By the way we were going 65mph when we went off of the edge.

Where were you when that happened? I've never seen an overpass without guard rails on them. Oh, and glad to hear you're both OK.

It happened between Junction, TX and Kerrville, TX on I-10. I'm from Kerrville, so we were about 20 minutes from being to the house. It happened about a yearand a half ago, so its been a while. It had rails just before the bridge, we just happened to be inside of the rails, and had no time to get back over before the big jump.

Damn that’s look bad, IIRC those bumpers run about 300lbs. I would get one.

i have a buckstop and i feel the same way, love it, i looked at ranchhand but the dealer never returned my call so i went with what i have.
its about 300 pounds as well.

i recomend it and you can sell your factory bumper for a couple hundred to help out on the cost.

I have a Ranchhand Bull nose. I like it. I also installed a Ranchhand rear to match.

Good produce at a good price.


Mark

I'm sorry, you are asking for Pro's and Con's.

Pro's

More durable than factory
Looks cool
Provides a mount for lights

Con's

Not factory
Makes the truck longer (an issue if you are trying to put in a garage. Been there, doing that)
Costs


Hope this helps


Bottom line: If you like them get one.


Mark

codythom, you make a very good point. What most of us with replacement bumpers are trying to accomplish is not to put ourselves more in harm's way, but rather to be prepared for possible impacts. I agree that today's engineering advancements with "crumple zones" can help reduce the deadliness of major head-on type senerios, but I think it also allows auto makers to get away with using weaker, less costly materials that don't hold up in the more common types of collisions such as hitting deer. This is driving up insurance rates for everyone!

Furthermore, just a minor collision with a deer where the factory bumper caves in could leave you stranded with all your tranny fluid sitting on the pavement.

Where I live, the odds are far greater to hit a a dozen deer than get in a head-on crash... so having a replacement bumper is a major PRO as far as I'm concerned.

Just my 2 cents...

-AJ

I'm hoping to have one on the truck before the next trip down the ALCAN, especially if it's winter again. Our route takes us through a loooong stretch of provincial park. It took us 2 days to get through it, driving for 12+ hours a day. I lost count of the number of moose we say, along with wolf, caribou, fox, and various other animals.

it makes a good spot to mount a winch too.

not that i have one yet but i will soon.

ChevyHDGert, if you haven't already done so, consider a Tough Country product. Made just south of you in El Campo, though you can get them from dealers. When I got mine, I researched a good dozen brands before settling on Tough Country. They do have a website.

Whatever you get, have it Line-X'd before installing. Never have to worry about paint, rust, etc.

I bought mine for looks ( www.offroadtechinc.com). I realized another benefit when I was driving through Utah at 3:00 am and mowed over a mule deer at 45 mph with no ill effects. The winch comes in handy also.

I look forward to having ours built. I think that the crumple zone will still function with one given a large enough impact. I just don't need my truck to be totaled out because of some damn bear/deer/etc.

I second the ToughCountry vote ! www.toughcountry.com