Who's go em???


I peeled my stocker off in an accident and looking to upgrade. I don't want a bumper made of 4" pipe like Ranchhand and others. My last winch bumper was made of structural iron and I was continuously fighting rust. Granted it was before powder paint but I like the bent metal ones better.


Seriously looking at www.buckstop.biz (http://www.buckstop.biz). Decent price and looks to fit good. I saw ski1's pics of his Road Armor...not bad but no brushguard. Trailready is like Road Armor priced a little high. I like Warn's but nothing for '03 GMC. Runels?? (spelling) didn't turn me on.


Any other bent metal bumpers????

Here's a link to a truck with the Road Armor bumper: http://mct.truckmoxie.com/showownerpic.ten?u=4132&n=115120&album=1


That thing is awsome!








Kevin

Here is mine with just the Warn mount.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/763_cd_changer_pic1.JPG

IMHO the Road Armor is a little too much.. The Buckstop looks great, the Warn is my personal favorite:


http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-systems/images/459/Chevy-HD-bumper.jpg

The buckstop looks good. I'm in the market for something after having tagged a deer last night. I don't like those vertical blades though which is why I do like hte road armor even though it it a little over the top...

Jeli,


brusk guard is optional. nice thing is, you can design whatever you want and request differet size material ( 1", 2" tube)








what is too much about the road armor ? price ? the stealth series have a very clean look








http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/541_head_on2.jpg Edited by: ski1

Road armor is involved in a a lawsuit with Trailready.


Big long story about stolen designs and bankrupcy and all sorts of Soap oprah junk.


Personally I would wait until it is all worked out before I dropped a dime with either of them.





FYI.

Here's the buckstop on an '03 Silverado. I like the idea that they actually take your headlight angles into consideration. Most others just ignore this for the 03/04's.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/9ZD_buckstop.jpg

Jeli,


brusk guard is optional. nice thing is, you can design whatever you want and request differet size material ( 1", 2" tube)








what is too much about the road armor ? price ? the stealth series have a very clean look








http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/541_head_on2.jpg








That thing is awsome! I would love to have one of those on my truck, but the price is way more than I can justify (or afford...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Unhappy.gif).








Maybe one day.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Up.gif








Kevin

I would go with a tough country deluxe front end replacement or a ranch hand. Here is the tough country web site.


http://www.toughcountry.com/products/deluxe_front_end.htm

That buckstop looks good, I like the fact that the bars don't wrap around the fenders like most do. Doesn't look like it sticks out too far from the grill like others do as well.

Being that Buckstop is about ten miles from my house, for those of you interested I would be willing to make a field trip and check out there operation and product. I am considering Reunel without the monkey bar set because I want SS. but none the less Buckstop also caught my eye.

Let me know. Los Lobos

http://www.ranchhand.com
The Ranch Hand complete front bumper replacement also will accept a winch.

For those with bumpers and no winch, what winch will you install? Edited by: TxDoc

I would go with a tough country deluxe front end replacement or a ranch hand. Here is the tough country web site.


http://www.toughcountry.com/products/deluxe_front_end.htm





It's nice but I'm still leaning towards the buckstop for my '03 Chev. Will probably be ordering it later today, just have to talk to the mgr. where the repairs will be done to make sure he's on side with it.

I have Ranch Hand bumpers front and back. The main reason I liked their setup was the fact that a portable winch can be used front or back and can be removed when not needed. Although both bumpers were pretty strong from the factory I opted to weld some 1/2" 2x2 bar along the bottom and sides of the bumber to reinforce the diamond plate. I think the Road Armor bumpers are beautiful but when you add the optional grill guard and fog light openings they get pricey. I was able to get a front and back bumper for about what a RA front costs, and I'm not afraid to use mine.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I don't like the fact the Buckstop sides leave the inner fender liners exposed. Looks tacky. The Tough Country is my second choice. Still waiting to see if they can do something about the tow loops. I can't believe you can get them painted under the straps and sooner or later they will rust after swinging back and for.

OK don't laugh to bad. All of these bumpers are a bit pricey. I have both a good fab shop and powder paint company my work deals with sooooo I spent a night and a couple beers and mocked up a bumper in cardboard. The corners will be more rounded and the bottom will have a lip at a 45, (ran out of cardboard). What do you think? I figure $700 tops. The gap at the top will be filled in like on a Tough Country.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/725_P1010064.1.jpg

I don't think that cardboard will be strong enough!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif My one complaint with most of these is the winch is completly hidden. No problem if you just have the winch on there for the cool factor. But, if you actually use the winch you'll need to be able to see the cable spool on, so you can keep it from getting tangled, or you'll end up replacing the cable on a very regular basis.

Switch to the synthetic Plasma Rope and your birdnesting/tangling problems will be gone and you will be safer in the event of a line failure, also easier to handle and lighter weight. No tools needed if a line breaks and you have to make an emergency repair.

jeli, we the cut out for the fog lights fit for the gmc's? I would be intrested if you could make the 03-04 gmc fog lights work with it.


patrick

Ordered a Buckstop today. I think it works best for the 03/04 Chevy's and their headlights. Also gets rid of the rectangular fog lights which I think softens things up a bit...not so angular. Can't wait to get it in! (~4wks) Buckstop has 55w 6" Pella's for it for I think $80. Does that sound right? Trying to keep the costs down so stayed away from the PIAA's.


My insurance is paying for everything up to what a GM bumper and insall would cost and then I pay the extra out of pocket. I would never have justified this otherwise but when opportunity comes knocking... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

silvermax I like your seteup. How much did it run you and does it simply bolt on to the frame rails or does it come w/ reinforcement plates like the full replacement winch bumpers do? Do bad they don't 'contour' them anymore, it would look even better if they lowered the top bar a couple inches and maybe positioned the vertical rails to follow the edge of the grille line. Any close up pics? Also what winch are you running?

It ran me around 300 bucks if I remeber right,its rated for a 15000 pound winch but I had a HS9500i that I had laying around so I used it and threw a snatch block in the toolbox just in case,havent needed it yet and have been stuck pretty good. I can take some close ups if you want them. Thanks for the compliment.

Please do take some close ups. Can you email the pictures to me at y2kboti@yahoo.com $300 isn't bad at all? How easy is it to remove or would the bolt be to hard to get to? Also is ther a place to mount a set of lights on your setup?

Go to www.warn.com (http://www.warn.com) and their transformer kit,I had to remove the fron bumper/grill to drill the frame,so it would be fairly hard to get the top braces off quick but not to bad. Going to be a busy rest of the week,I'll try to snap some later if I get the chance.

dont want to seem as pushing road armor, just wanted to add on the pricing side. i do not know for sure, but would imagine the buckstop and the ranch hand to be in the $700 - $1000 range. the road armor as seen in my post with the dual PIAA light cutouts was $990. not cheap, but by no means way out there. fully gusseted on the interior also.


at least that cardboard affords the same protection as stock ! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Here is mine with just the Warn mount.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/763_cd_changer_pic1.JPG


I just returned one of these. My off road buddy really likes Warn winches but recommends staying away from their mounts. I agree. The one I got was improperly fabricated with bars too short, holes in the wrong place, and no lock washers. BTW, the instructions were a piecs of c@#p!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif I spent 5 hours trying to install it before I gave up and pulled it all off to return.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

Dead eye you may have gotten one for a 2500LD,there is a differance,I like mine but it did take a few hrs to install but its sturdy it's rated for a 15000lb winch.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/3AZ_IMG_0178_1.jpg

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/D89_IMG_0005.jpg

rickles if you remove the front chrome facia is the winch box black or chrome?

neither its that same old grey . that stainless is warns dressup kit to cover the ugly winch tray but it sure does make a differance......

Silvermax did you get a chance to snap those pictures?

Anyone running or have pictures on the Warn hidden mount on an '03 or '04 GMC HD?

neither its that same old grey . that stainless is warns dressup kit to cover the ugly winch tray but it sure does make a differance......


interesting, when I ordered the one I later returned, the clerk said they did not make a stainless one for GMC . . . http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

Geesh how did I miss this thread???http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif


Check my signature for link to pics of my winch and Trans4mer mount.

i think i had one of the first ones that warn released...bout 6 months ago....

Rickles....


First one what?