F350 Grille/Bumper Guard
- Thread starter eyemgh
- Start date
eyemgh
Well-known member
Mine is a 7.3 gasser. If I swap it out though, might as well go a little bigger.
eyemgh
Well-known member
If I keep the bumper, I’ll keep the winch as is. I’d only upgrade if a went to something like a Buckstop. I’m highly conflicted on that though. I like the clean install and lower weight of the factory option, but I’d like protection to improve continued driveability in the event of an animal strike. The Ranch Hand that attaches in 4 spots isn’t compatible because it uses holes the winch use. Everything else I‘ve found attached in two low spots and seem to be more for show. As I said…conflicted. First world problems! ?
BritKLR
Kapitis Indagatoris
Suggestion. Find your local RH dealer and checkout how they actually mount to a F350. It maybe something as simple as fabbing a new bracket, spacer or longer G8 bolts. I would agree the more attachment points you have the stronger the guard. The original RH grill guards were designed to keep cattle (1600 to 2400 lbs)from leaning on and crushing the grill on farm trucks. My RH's (the one on the front of our Tiger has bounced more then a couple deers/bucks off while traveling in remote areas.) have survived a number of white tail and elk scraps. Wouldn't have a truck in the mountains without one. The Toyota hit is considered a normal week in the mountains.......the sad part is I saw that young moose every morning as we went for our morning hike.......sad......Goodluck.
eyemgh
Well-known member
Sorry to hear that.
I called Ranch Hand and they said they didn't support it at this time. I'll have to find a dealer and see if I can figure out a work around.
Explorerinil
Observer
If looks are not your concern get the ranch hand with the full guard and screen, I had one on my 06 ram, they are very very strong.
1stDeuce
Explorer
Ranch Hand isn't interested in using your truck as a mule to design a bumper that IS compatible, are they? It never hurts to ask...
FWIW, the amount of "protection" that you get from any bumper or guard will only go so far, but it seems like the good ones do a decent job of preventing damage to the grill and headlights in a light strike, and simply keep the cooling package intact in a harder strike. Ideally, the guard will fold before the frame rails, and my experience with the RH guards is that they do a good job of protecting the truck in all respects. We have them on our fire dept trucks and ambulances, and we've thumped a few deer with almost no damage to the guards or trucks... Cow, moose or elk at 70mph = you probably need a new truck no matter what bumper you're running. White tail at 25mph should mean you wash the poo off when you get home and it's all good.
I would call RH again and ask if they would be interested in developing a mount for the winch trucks, and offer your truck as a mule if it can be done locally. They should be able to get the models through SEMA and make mounts, and you or a local dealer would do the fitup and document any differences between the CAD models and your actual truck... (Usually not an issue these days, but you never know...)
Or go with a new bumper if that suits you better.
Good Luck!!
FWIW, the amount of "protection" that you get from any bumper or guard will only go so far, but it seems like the good ones do a decent job of preventing damage to the grill and headlights in a light strike, and simply keep the cooling package intact in a harder strike. Ideally, the guard will fold before the frame rails, and my experience with the RH guards is that they do a good job of protecting the truck in all respects. We have them on our fire dept trucks and ambulances, and we've thumped a few deer with almost no damage to the guards or trucks... Cow, moose or elk at 70mph = you probably need a new truck no matter what bumper you're running. White tail at 25mph should mean you wash the poo off when you get home and it's all good.
I would call RH again and ask if they would be interested in developing a mount for the winch trucks, and offer your truck as a mule if it can be done locally. They should be able to get the models through SEMA and make mounts, and you or a local dealer would do the fitup and document any differences between the CAD models and your actual truck... (Usually not an issue these days, but you never know...)
Or go with a new bumper if that suits you better.
Good Luck!!
eyemgh
Well-known member
Ranch Hand isn't interested in using your truck as a mule to design a bumper that IS compatible, are they? It never hurts to ask...
FWIW, the amount of "protection" that you get from any bumper or guard will only go so far, but it seems like the good ones do a decent job of preventing damage to the grill and headlights in a light strike, and simply keep the cooling package intact in a harder strike. Ideally, the guard will fold before the frame rails, and my experience with the RH guards is that they do a good job of protecting the truck in all respects. We have them on our fire dept trucks and ambulances, and we've thumped a few deer with almost no damage to the guards or trucks... Cow, moose or elk at 70mph = you probably need a new truck no matter what bumper you're running. White tail at 25mph should mean you wash the poo off when you get home and it's all good.
I would call RH again and ask if they would be interested in developing a mount for the winch trucks, and offer your truck as a mule if it can be done locally. They should be able to get the models through SEMA and make mounts, and you or a local dealer would do the fitup and document any differences between the CAD models and your actual truck... (Usually not an issue these days, but you never know...)
Or go with a new bumper if that suits you better.
Good Luck!!
I‘ve already discussed it with them. They said it isn’t a popular enough option to justify the engineering and another SKU, but that could change.
My main objective is to be able to be road worthy still in the event of a strike.