2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Your thoughts on Road Armor Bumpers

[icman95]

Unfortunately I've done things backwards here, but so it goes. After some research comparing designs and prices among different vendors, I ordered a Road Armor front bumper for my truck. Now, after having placed the order, I'm asking for advice.



I've been searching the web (TDR and everywhere else) and found some HORRIBLE customer service stories about the company. People are saying they still like the bumper, but have had trouble getting the company to answer the phones, give tracking information for shipments, etc. Also many, many posts say they had to wait months beyond the expected shipping time and just got story after story from Road Armor as to why. Some even cancelled their orders and got refunds. That being said, almost all of these negative posts were 2009 and older. I have found very little in recent years and the one or two that I did find were really positive. So maybe the company shaped up and is running things right now, maybe not.



Anyone have any recent experience with Road Armor? I'm talking within the last 2 years. I guess it's a bit too late for me as they already have my money, but hopefully it will work out ok. I got an email on Sat saying it was shipped, but I wonder if it is possible to ship on a weekend. Also, no tracking info, but that could be because I ordered it through a dealer who then sent the order to the factory. Maybe that slows down the tracking number info.



Thanks

 

[KBurgoyne]

just from poking around it looks like theres better stuff out there for a lot less money.

 

[icman95]

I got a pleasant surprise with this yesterday. I didn't buy it directly from Road Armor. After shopping around I found the best price for the bumper and shipping from truckaddons.com so I bought it through them. It was important to look around because shipping the thing is no small task as it weighs 320 pounds. Saved about $200 by going with this place. The combined price was less than even what it said on their own website.



I was told that Road Armor builds them as they're ordered so it would be 2-3 weeks before I saw it. Truck Add Ons sent me an email saying it was shipped early last week, so I was very surprised. I didn't get any tracking info or ETA, so I tried twice to get it from them and no one at Truck Add Ons could tell me. I wanted to know because it wasn't going to my house. I sent it to a body shop doing work on my truck and I wanted to warn them it was coming. Yesterday I called Road Armor directly and they told me it was delivered this past Friday with no problem. Wow! About 2 weeks earlier than I had expected. Nice! Kudos to Road Armor for quick turn around. Can't wait to get up to the body shop to see it in person. Maybe today after work.

 

[SierraRam]

Check out Iron Cross bumpers, I think they look better for $100's less than RA.

 

[icman95]

Hadn't heard of Iron Cross bumpers until you mentioned it. Just checked out their stuff. This is where the differences in personal preferences come in. Their version that would be equal to the Road Armor I got has a grill guard that I don't like. To each his own. I looked for dealers who sell the ICs and found one that ships for free, though I can't figure out how they can afford it. Their price with free shipping is about $600 less than what I paid, but I still like the look of the RA better. Here's my big question-are we comparing apples to apples? I couldn't find anywhere on IC's site that gave specs on their bumpers. Metal thickness, weight of the whole unit, etc. Maybe they're the same, but who knows. If not, that might explain the difference in price.



Anyway, thanks for the info. Always nice to learn new things.

 

[BigDaddy]

Road Armor had an upper level management change back in 2002/2003 and the company was all the better for it.



I still love my RA bumpers today as much as I did when they first arrived

 

[icman95]

Hey BD,



Did you have a problem with the extra weight over the front springs? I didn't think of it at the time, but the one I got is 320 pounds. I'm replacing the springs with new ones, but didn't think of this being an issue until after I ordered the springs. I got stock springs as replacements, but now I'm not sure if that was the right thing to do. I don't think it will be too much trouble, but just thought I'd ask.

 

[LVJUNIOR]

I have had problems with the factory brackets bending when winching heavy objects. Road Armors response was to buy more of their crappy brackets at full retail. For the price of this thing I would have at least expected a discount on new brackets. I told the Road Armor rep I would build my own since theirs were obviously insufficient

 

[KB0OU]

I have a home brew bumper that wieghs about the same, just watch your ball joints, they get pretty stressed anyway with that heavy chunk of Cummins up there.

 

[icman95]

KB-Thanks. Good info. Must have been some job to make a bumper like that on your own.



LVJ-I'm a little surprised that the brackets bent while winching, though I'm not putting a winch in yet, if at all. One step at a time. What was it you were winching that was able to bend 1/4" plate steel?

 

[LVJUNIOR]

KB-Thanks. Good info. Must have been some job to make a bumper like that on your own.



LVJ-I'm a little surprised that the brackets bent while winching, though I'm not putting a winch in yet, if at all. One step at a time. What was it you were winching that was able to bend 1/4" plate steel?

The first time I bent them I was pulling an oak tree that had fallen across the road. The second time I bent them I was trying to pull Chevy trailblazer out of the snow. They are 1/4" thick metal but the bumper is basically a 300 pound vertical cantilever putting stress on the flat tab portion. You really need gussets to go all the way to the end of the bracket.

 

[KBrennan]

I like my Buck Stop. Massive and if anyone wants to steel the winch they need to pull the pumper off to get to it. Anyone willing to go through that much can have it.