Best grill gaurd ?

[Tom Trujillo]

Grill Guard

I just installed my RanchHand guard last weekend. Got it new on Ebay for less than $300. There is a guy there that is constantly selling them. Anyway, it looks great and I can't imagine anything other than a hummer surviving an encounter with this one. On the negative side, there is no place to mount lights.

 

[jwdeeming]

I just installed a Ranchhand replacement bumper, for use as a deer strainer and winch mount. It's well made and fits the form of the truck well. For style, they even mimicked the honeycomb pattern of the Dodge grill. It sticks out farther forward than I expected, so it will look a little goofy until I get a 2 inch level kit and larger-than-stock tires.



Next chunk of change will be the Milemarker hydraulic winch... .



JimD

 

[gitchesum]

Re: Grill Guard

Originally posted by tjtrujillo

I just installed my RanchHand guard last weekend. Got it new on Ebay for less than $300. There is a guy there that is constantly selling them. Anyway, it looks great and I can't imagine anything other than a hummer surviving an encounter with this one. On the negative side, there is no place to mount lights.

I'm not sure if they still design them the same but here is how I mounted the lights on my old 94. Those are the GE 4522 airplane landing lights there

 

[lgibson]

I have a TJM bumper/brushguard. It is light, made from alum. It is a two piece design so it is very strong, because of where the two pieces bolt together. I bought it back in 98' and at that time there was not very many choices. I was looking for something stronger and that would hold a wench and driving lights. The front of these trucks are heavy enough so I did not want a steel one. Also I just seen a movie preview, can't remember the name, but there was a jap. truck with one on and the truck ramed into the side of a large car. The truck ended up flipping over the car before coming to a rest. The car had about 16 inch depression and the bumper survived with only scratches. This was not an ad for the bumpers, only a movie. I have been in a rock slide in Alaska, and I hit a boulder about the size of a beach ball. Only have a small dent, I thought for sure the bumper was toast. Anyway check out their website at www.tjmproducts.com.au/us/usa_t1_bars.html

There is a picture or one on a dodge.

 

[lgibson]

One more thing TJM is an Airbag Compatible bull bar also.

 

[JohnE]

Forums can be great! I've been hemming & hawing on a deer screener myself.



I had a winter encounter with a chrome deer in a super market parking lot. It removed a nice chunk from the grill wrap. That got me first thinking of something better.



I now live in massive (whitetail) deer country as well as clouds of insect land. I decided to get a deer guard and a bug screen hanger. The Ranch Hand appears to be the best I've seen to date.



thanks



John

<small>post #200, too</font>

 

[Des]

If there is a guy in ebay selling Ranchhand bumper/grill guard replacments for that cheap you had better jump on it while you can. Ranchhand does not like dealers selling their product at cut throat discounts. A friend of mine was a dealer and sold me a bumper replacement at cost. He did it for several friends and family members. Ranchhand told him if he did this again he would no longer be a dealer.



Get a stout bumper if you want a replacement. You would be suprised at the amount of punishment the front of a truck takes. Even in the local grocery store parking lot. I have several nicks and marks in mine from people who got a little to close in the parking lots. I've knocked down more deer with mine than I can count in central and south texas and it has never moved or bent.

 

[RichB59]

Thanks for all the input. I ended up getting a genuine grill gaurd out of Cal. This is a one pice welded unit and appears to be very strong. We shall see truck is back from body shop and we are going on a long trip up to Montana ,Idaho and Oregon. Hopefully no more encounters with animals. Has anybody used those deer warning whistles? I got them and mounted them on the grille gaurd I really don't have much faith in them but for $5 bucks?



Rich

 

[Texas Diesel]

http://www.lonestartruckequipment.com/wildwest.html



They have grill guards and complete front end replacements. You can still raise the hood because of the channel for your hand.

The front end replacement retails for around $599 and $60 to install.

 

[tntway]

richb59

i've got a great deer warning device. a little more expensive tho'.

$250 from jc. whitney. Hadley Bullies!! LOL

 

[Bugman]

My truck is starting to go back together and the shop said they were getting a Manik grille guard. He said it was as tough as the Ranch Hand I had, but the welds were hidden and it was more streamlined.



Any thoughts? I liked my Ranch Hand and never heard of 'Manik"



Thanks,



Bugman.

 

[EFielding]

Any of you folks looked at road armor bumpers? These things look STOUT.



I THINK that this is what the "explorer" put on his truck.



www.roadarmor.com