I am looking for some stories on how well some of these have withstood wrecks. I am mainly interested in the Buckstop but am open to other suggestions as well. I checked buckstop's website and read the stories but I am a little more likely to believe stories of real owners other than what it says on the website where they are trying to sell the things. My biggest concern in North Carolina is people who don't know how to drive but I was back home in Oregon in October and just avoided 3 seperate herds of deer, one big bull elk, and a group of angus cows that had "escaped" through an open gate. The more stories I can get the better my chance of selling the idea to my wife :help: . Thanks.

Haven't hit anything yet but proved it again this morning people don't want to get hit by the big bumper they tend to get out the way):h :muahaha:

I haven't hit anything with mine yet, but I have had a couple of close calls with deer. They are like rats with antlers in the more rural areas around here. After carrying the OEM bumper around with one hand to put it in the basement when I put my Buckstop on, I would not depend on that piece of tin-foil to stop anything. Plus the Buckstop looks way cooler.:ro)

My custom 1/2" steel bumper (copy of Reunel, but heavier) has been on 3 D/A's, has about 150,000 miles on it, is powder coated, has no bends or dents, and has approximately the following hit record: 2 bucks, 3 or 4 does, a couple of smaller deer identity unknown, and a burro (Mexico, he lived after a glancing blow). Also has pushed over small trees, and the 1500 Warn winch it holds has pulled it trough rivers in Guatemala, out of sand in Mexico, and pulled out trees and bushes in the USA. Weakest point is the mounting areas to the frame which is beefed with 1/2" plate. 3 trucks, not dents in any truck. Back bumper is also 1/2" channel - kills anything that hits me in the rear. Only way to go.

Get one! I have told this story before and showed pics, but this thing saved my life, and so I really believe in these things.

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. It also saves a buch of damage from all of the deer that we hit out in the Hill Country. Well worth the money. Here are some pics of what we jumped off and my grill gaurd after the wreck. By the way we were going 65mph when we went off of the edge. That grill gaurd was taken off of that truck after the wreck, and a few pieces that were bent at the bottom were replaced, and now it is on one of our work trucks.

Get one! I have told this story before and showed pics, but this thing saved my life, and so I really believe in these things.

That looks like it was a nasty one. I'm glad you were both alright. I have tried selling my wife on the added safety especially now that my favorite passenger is our daughter but she thinks I just want it cause it looks awesome. It does but they really seem to add safety and save money compared to replacing those expensive pieces that will get damaged in a wreck with a car or 4 legged critters.

Get one! I have told this story before and showed pics, but this thing saved my life, and so I really believe in these things.

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. It also saves a buch of damage from all of the deer that we hit out in the Hill Country. Well worth the money. Here are some pics of what we jumped off and my grill gaurd after the wreck. By the way we were going 65mph when we went off of the edge. That grill gaurd was taken off of that truck after the wreck, and a few pieces that were bent at the bottom were replaced, and now it is on one of our work trucks.


Ouch!

I have hit deer and a P/U (pile up) with mine and the truck survived. My wife calls it the "Tank".

That crash is F-in' unreal! CRAZY! Would've made an awesome video. Glad your alright though.

i rear ended a chevy malibu at 55MPH and it didnt damage my truck at all. But the malibu was a difernt story. but who cares about that a$$ it was his fault. hehe

i rear ended a chevy malibu at 55MPH and it didnt damage my truck at all. But the malibu was a difernt story. but who cares about that a$$ it was his fault. hehe

I gotta hear the rest of this story... how did you rear end someone and have it be their fault?

Could you paint a full-replacement? My dad has front and back full-replacement bumpers, Frontier Gear I believe, in the backyard and was wondering if they can be colormatched to my truck. It's already powdercoated black.

blump

To the top! I need to know guys...:help2:
Could you paint a full-replacement? My dad has front and back full-replacement bumpers, Frontier Gear I believe, in the backyard and was wondering if they can be colormatched to my truck. It's already powdercoated black.

that was one heck of a wreck,glad to see your ok,must been a big jump to go up that wall

You guys done Bo and Luke proud:ro) YeeeeHaaa! I woulda paid to see that.:)
Seriously though, Glad to hear you are ok. I am trying to convince my wife to let me spend some money on buckbars also.

I gotta hear the rest of this story... how did you rear end someone and have it be their fault?

Well it was just a stupid day on the guys fault.

I was going threw Dallas on 635 (a living hell hole) in the middle of rush hour with my girl, well we are in the HOV lane doing 55MPH and the regular lanes of 635 are dead stopped rush hour traffic, well this guy decided he wants to get into the hov lane. so he crosses the double white line, and he only has one person in the car so he cant be in the hov lane. so he decided he needs to go back to the regular dead stopped traffic. the problem was he cut me off to get in the HOV lane then he stopped in the HOV lane. so i just plowed straight into him. the funny thing was i just pushed him. i really didn't even feel the hit. i didn't even stop for 50 feet or so. no damage to my truck and a lot to his. it went to court and they found the guy at fault.

Thats the story

Chicken and BUMPlins!
Could you paint a full-replacement? My dad has front and back full-replacement bumpers, Frontier Gear I believe, in the backyard and was wondering if they can be colormatched to my truck. It's already powdercoated black.

So...???? Anybody?

Could you paint a full-replacement? My dad has front and back full-replacement bumpers, Frontier Gear I believe, in the backyard and was wondering if they can be colormatched to my truck. It's already powdercoated black.


Yes, you can paint a full replacement. I had one on my old work truck that was color matched to my fender flares. It really made the truck stand out.

You guys done Bo and Luke proud:ro) YeeeeHaaa! I woulda paid to see that.:)
Seriously though, Glad to hear you are ok. I am trying to convince my wife to let me spend some money on buckbars also.

We always get the Dukes of Hazard comments. It was quite a ride, but I don't think that I would want to do it again. At least I got a new truck out of it.

Chicken and BUMPlins!


So...???? Anybody?

removing (blasting) the powder coat off first would be my choice. then an acid etching primer and your matched paint. i have a replacement from road armor, the stealth series. I had mine paint matched and so far so good after 2+ years.

good luck

How much do you think would be a good price to remove the powdercoat off the two bumpers? It would be "sand-blasting", right? There's this shop near where I live that does sand blasting. They're located right next to a truck shop where they sell tons of front-end replacements.

if you get the powder coat heated back in the oven,hotter then they put on with,then it will just crack off,then you can do a lite sand blast and a 2-part epoxy prime and paint it any color you want[i'd repowder coat again i'f it was mine] had good luck on my snow plow trucks

I would have the shop take care off that stuff. I have no experience and no knowledge of that kind of stuff. One time I used a plunger to pop a dent.:rolleyes:

removing (blasting) the powder coat off first would be my choice. then an acid etching primer and your matched paint. i have a replacement from road armor, the stealth series. I had mine paint matched and so far so good after 2+ years.

good luck


That is funny. I have always heard that powdercoating is actually an excellent primer (after roughing it up, I assume).

That is funny. I have always heard that powdercoating is actually an excellent primer (after roughing it up, I assume).

i tried this once on a set of step bars, maybe it was the process used or the heat from baking the paint, but within 6 months I had flakes of paint coming off and the poweder coat chipping in places as well. i was not happy. The guy that did my bumper mentioned it was better to go back to bare metal on parts like this if possible, mileage may vary.

That is funny. I have always heard that powdercoating is actually an excellent primer (after roughing it up, I assume).

If you use single stage paint and do not bake but use hardner.

nwallis-
I have Ranchhands on 3 different trucks. Two are untouched-one has met up w/a 4pt buck and 1000lb Hereford heifer. Ranchhand won both encounters. No damage to the vehicle or anyone inside. The deer scampered away. The heifer went to slaughter.....Should be enuff to defeat any goofball on Yadkin Rd or the All American highway:ro)
Tho the Buckstop pix are pretty impressive, I gotta admit. Wow!!!!!
All are pretty spendy, but it really is cheap insurance.

Mike

Thanks for all the help guys but I have one more question. I had to trim the plastic crap on the front of the pickup to make room for my 285's so they wouldn't rub. Do all the front ends out there fit the same as stock? I don't want to have to get one and have to cut it just to put it on. Which ones will I need to go with if any? Sure wish they would talk about that on their websites.

I have owned ranchhand and Teitjen's. See garage for both. Both of them will give you more room for tires because the sides of the bumper don't come down as far as the stock bumper. In my garage, all of the pics are with 285 BFG A/Ts on stock rims with the t-bars turned.

Thanks for the help smucowboy I guess now I have no more excuses not to get one except cash. Thank goodness for credit cards!:ro)

Could you paint a full-replacement? My dad has front and back full-replacement bumpers, Frontier Gear I believe, in the backyard and was wondering if they can be colormatched to my truck. It's already powdercoated black.

Yes, you can paint it. You may want to consider Line-X instead, though.

Bill