New front bumper

[Chris Smith]

Last night my front bumper on my '01 Sport met the trailer hitch of a chevy truck. My first quote was $1200, and that's just the bumper and all related pieces. I'm lucky nothing else was hurt. I think I'll take the check from insurance (about $700 after deductable) and buy an aftermarket bumper. I've about decided on Ranch Hand Bullnose, $659 locally installed. I like the looks of Road Armor bumpers, but can't justify the price, and it still doesn't get me a front receiver like the ranch hand. I like the looks of the bullnose, and it's in stock.



Does anyone have any other recommendations for a bumper that will fit the look of my Sport model? Is the price I'm getting for the Bullnose fair?



Probably won't get an insurance check until next week, but I want to take care of it quickly.

 

[fj40charles]

Might want to check with Brown Welding in New Braunfauels. They've been making Ranch Hand style bumpers since early 1970's before Ranch Hand was around.



Magnum Trailer in Austin sell them. You can get a better price if you deal directly with Brown. I can get the phone number if you're interested.



Charles

 

[Chris Smith]

Thanks

I'll go by Magnum and take a look at them (and if I like them, contact Brown directly)



Any clues where near Austin I could get powder coating done? Whatever I get I want to paint it white to match the truck...

 

[FF1381]

hey charles, could you email that number for Brown... thanks

 

[BIG BOB]

Chris,



You might want to consider the bumper like I have on my White Obsession



You can purchase this bumper with a receiver or winch mount for about $1,000 and that includes your choice of powder coating or paint the same color as your truck.

 

[FF1381]

well i would love to, but i would have to donate a kidney to do it

 

[fj40charles]

Here is the phone number for Brown Welding



800-625-8712



They're open M-F. Closed Saturday. If you need to buy it on a Saturday, make arrangements to have someone from Brown call Magnum and they (Magnum) will sell it at a good price. They must have some agreement because this is how I purchased my rear bumper since I couldn' t pickup M-Friday.



Hope this helps. .



Charles

 

[Chris Smith]

Bob

Bob, nice bumper! But a little too massive for what I'm looking for.



So far the Ranch Hand Bull Nose and Tough Country 'Apache' are on my short list (they look almost the same, the bull nose now has the single hoop across the grill, not shown on their web site). I've requested a quote from Tough Country on the Apache with receiver, fog light cutouts (for factory lights) and tow hook loops. Hopefully I'll get to Magnum today to look at the Brown bumpers.

 

[jthomp2]

I just had that ranch hand bull-bar bumper put on my dodge 3 weeks ago. really like it. It was from the "Ranch Hand Store" here in Dallas. Price 650. 00 plus installation and taxes. I noticed that the Dodge bumper had slightly different bar structure than the Ford and Chevy bumpers. That is where the Bull bar goes and Lights mount. They only had Ford and Chevy pictures in the brochure. Only had Chevy (really liked it the best -slightly different) on display in showroom. So when they pulled my bumper out of box to be installed I was there making sure I liked the Dodge design. I also liked some similar bumpers out of Australia and Denver Off Road out of Colorado. BUT they are expensive!! 1200 to 2000 $$ depending on options.

Oh yeah one more thing; I have been told these big frontend replacements with grill guard would hurt fuel economy- 1- 1. 5mpg. Can't prove that by me - I got the best fuel economy ever in the last 3 weeks. Maybe a little more Hi-way driving than usual but still some city and 80mph+ all with air conditioner going the whole time. 19. 4mpg. I have never driven a complete tank full of Hi-way driving (in 48kmiles) so don't know the full potential. I was actual quite concerned about losing fuel econ. before buying this bumper.

 

[Chris Smith]

Bumpers

Here's what i've found.



Brown has a bull bar very similar to Ranch Hand Bull Nose, much cheaper ($575 at magnum, and they are usually pricey).



Ranch Hand at Central Texas Customs quoted the best price on Ranch Hand Bull Nose, less than $600, but he didn't look closely at the price so it could have been a mis-quote.



Tough Country is my favorite so far. The pipe curves nicely around the sides, rather than having a flat piece of diamond tread on the sides. The receiver is optional, as are fog light mounts that fit the factory lamps. The other brands use aftermarket lights mounted in the grill guard. These options take the price up. Base model (Apache) is $590, receiver adds $65, fog light mounts add $129 (but I think worth it). They'll also powder coat it white for me (another $150)



I'll make a trip to Brown before deciding to discuss what other custom options they can do...

 

[gitchesum]

In case your interested, I have Brown's stuff on all 4 sides of my truck. I have pics on my website in my signature below.

 

[jthomp2]

about that rear bumper - Gitchesum how much does it cost and do they offer a 8" drop in that style? Also just wondered if Brown has any connection with Body Guard products? your running board looks EXACTLY like thiers! I have the 3/4 ton version of your running board but mine is Body Guard. All I have left to replace (factory wise) is the rear bumper and my make over will be complete. About the 8" drop - Ranch Hand says that 1 model of rear bumpers they make will clear the Dodge factory hitch. I would like to leave it in place.

 

[danglin5]

just got quote for a ranch hand replacement front bumper

for my truck.

1250 put on.

here in ala.

is this correct?

or can i go another route?

 

[gitchesum]

If I'm not mistaken, they did offer an 8" drop at the time I bought mine. I paid dealer pricing for mine through the dealer I bought the truck from so I'm not sure what the retail price would be. I believe it was somewhere in the 450 to 500 range.



I like the fact that the bumper replaces the factory hitch. The hitch rating on my bumper is well over the factory hitch ratings.



Besides, you can always sell the factory hitch to anyone with a Dodge ram and recoup some of your money spent on the rear bumper.

 

[Chris Smith]

Price in Alabama

$1250 for a Ranch Hand seems high to me, but then I've been pricing the Bull Nose model. Seems like the full size replacement should be in the $800-1000 range. Maybe that's just in Texas, since we have so many local manufacturers that they have to compete with. I know there are several of the full brush guard replacements in the $700-$800 range locally, and at least 2 other brands beside Ranch Hand, Tough Country, and Brown.



You can buy direct from Tough Country, even with a couple hundred in shipping it might be cheaper. They're at www.toughcountry.com. They responded to my email price request within 1 day.