Recommendations on grille guards or full replacement bumpers

[Avila]

Hello everyone!
I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations on grille guards or replacement bumpers which provide excellent protection against deer strikes. I know there are many different styles and products out there and
I am curious what you all would recommend.
Thank you in advance!

 

[Topzide]

One thing to watch out for would be that it may protect from a "deer" hit but may cause frame damage from a vehicle collision! The factory bumpers are made to aid in crumpling to reduce the force on the passengers. Can't offer any help on the guards but wanted to pass on the info. Good luck on the hunt for protection.

 

[slowmover]

Was looking at Ali Arc aluminum full replacement bumpers just last night. 80-lbs versus maybe 180-lbs for steel.

 

[Ozymandias]

Aluminess is also a good product.
I also support Aluminum in general because of the weight and corrosion resistance.

 

[GSP7]

Id do a light weight tube type welded like dune buggy style, or 'football helmet face mask' style if I wanted deer guard. I hate those "tank" type bumpers that weigh more than the truck , LOL !

 

[Avila]

One thing to watch out for would be that it may protect from a "deer" hit but may cause frame damage from a vehicle collision! The factory bumpers are made to aid in crumpling to reduce the force on the passengers. Can't offer any help on the guards but wanted to pass on the info. Good luck on the hunt for protection.

This makes sense. Thank you for the info!

I will look into an aluminum option. Thank you everyone!

 

[BarryG]

On my 01 I had a Denver Off Road bumper. It was aluminum 1/2 and 3/8 inch thick.. It took a 60mph hit of a deer center of bumper and suffered no damage at all (nor did the truck). Another aluminum one that comes to mind is Buckstop you can get theirs in aluminum and they have several different styles. On my 17 I had an ARB. While it was steel it was not crazy heavy maybe 150ish lbs. I really liked it though it was never put to the test of a deer strike but I think it would have held up pretty well.

 

[slowmover]

https://herd.com/product/aerolt-plus-2-post-truck-guard-for-dodge-2500-3500-aero-lt-02-2-post/

 

[CVR222NV]

I have a steel Buckstop bumper with a Warn 16,500 lb winch. Because of the additional weight I had a spring shop upgrade my coils. So keep that in mind.

We have the same Buckstop bumper/winch setup on a ranch truck which hit a mature Mule Deer buck at highway speed (probably 75 mph+) and it cut the deer in half with no damage to the bumper or truck. Same truck and bumper while my brother was driving it and some idiot on a 4 wheeler hit the truck coming around a blind corner at 45 mph. He hit the bumper which deflected the 4 wheeler into the driver front tire which tore off the wheel and spindle. No damage to the bumper or front of the truck. Years ago I had a 4WD Chevy 3/4 ton Surburban that hit a doe on I15 just before Cedar City and the deer's head could be seen imprinted in the grill. That hit took out the radiator and disabled the truck. I don't use my truck as a daily driver so not really worried about frontal impact accidents. I'm a fan of heavy duty bumbers!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

check out Fusion bumpers.

 

[Avila]

I have a steel Buckstop bumper with a Warn 16,500 lb winch. Because of the additional weight I had a spring shop upgrade my coils. So keep that in mind.

We have the same Buckstop bumper/winch setup on a ranch truck which hit a mature Mule Deer buck at highway speed (probably 75 mph+) and it cut the deer in half with no damage to the bumper or truck. Same truck and bumper while my brother was driving it and some idiot on a 4 wheeler hit the truck coming around a blind corner at 45 mph. He hit the bumper which deflected the 4 wheeler into the driver front tire which tore off the wheel and spindle. No damage to the bumper or front of the truck. Years ago I had a 4WD Chevy 3/4 ton Surburban that hit a doe on I15 just before Cedar City and the deer's head could be seen imprinted in the grill. That hit took out the radiator and disabled the truck. I don't use my truck as a daily driver so not really worried about frontal impact accidents. I'm a fan of heavy duty bumbers!

Thank you for this information! The biggest driving factor of getting some sort of front end protection is to prevent my pickup from being disabled while towing our 5th wheel in the middle of nowhere. I will look into Buckstop as well.

check out Fusion bumpers.
View attachment 138705

I haven’t heard of Fusion Bumpers prior to your post. I will give them a look as well. Thank you.

 

[GSP7]

chrome it !

 

[Wiredawg]

Deleted Made for 5500

View attachment 138710

 

[PerryEX]

On my 01 I had a Denver Off Road bumper. It was aluminum 1/2 and 3/8 inch thick.. It took a 60mph hit of a deer center of bumper and suffered no damage at all (nor did the truck). Another aluminum one that comes to mind is Buckstop you can get theirs in aluminum and they have several different styles. On my 17 I had an ARB. While it was steel it was not crazy heavy maybe 150ish lbs. I really liked it though it was never put to the test of a deer strike but I think it would have held up pretty well.

We're looking to get ARB bumper as well. The new '17 project is in the shop for the mounting of the tis wheels and new tires and we'll do the front end mods next week.

 

[GSP7]

We're looking to get ARB bumper as well. The new '17 project is in the shop for the mounting of the tis wheels and new tires and we'll do the front end mods next week.

tis wheels?
https://4wheelonline.com/tis-544b-black-wheels.324597.0

$10k for one rim ?

 

[PerryEX]

tis wheels?
https://4wheelonline.com/tis-544b-black-wheels.324597.0

$10k for one rim ?

That's not the amount I shelled out. Maybe their prices are not yet updated, or the website is undergoing some maintenance.