I like the second one if I had to choose either one.

 

i believe they are a pic of the same truck just differant angles.

 

I like the replacement bumper, but truck needs to be beefier for it to look good, I would say go with the guard

 

Well i will be purchasing a 4 inch lift kit + 35 nitto grapplers and a headache rack cause my atv sits dangerously close to the rear window. I think that might help with the beefier look!!

 

I like the full replacement bumper! dont think a gloss black would look good, possibly a flat color :smileup: and if there is plans to lift and throw some meatier tires on there i would shell out the few extra pennies for the full bumper! i think it looks better then having chrome behind the grill guard! maybe you can get it paint color matched to you truck?

 

With those mods, I would do the replacement bumper then

 

I say you look into a buck stop bumper such as:
http://www.buckstop.biz/dodge03_outback.html

 

I like the look of the replacement bumper :smileup:

 

Bumper Replacement FTW!

I'll be debating this same thing in a few weeks when I get my leveling kit and Terra Grapples put on.

 

I got the replacement bumper installed today, ill post some pics later!! Looks great but i do need the back bumper which is on order.

 

Awesome :smileup: I would hurry up with those pics, we're no the most patient people

 

they look cool but the guy who put my brush guard on said if you get into an accident they cause more damage than good

 

whered you find that grill guard & bumper for the ram? the pic lol

 

I know you already got it... but all steel replacement bumpers weigh a ton and will diminish your load carrying capacity, not to mention weight down your front end. Worth considering.

 

With the bumper you can not worry if you hit something, the guard... I have seen those fold up on the truck when hit.

 

The grill guard doesn't protect the bottom corners of your (cheap and flimsy) factory bumper. I *just* smashed the sh*t out of the front drivers corner of my factory bumper (my own fault, hit something at like 4 mph but the mass of the truck caused the bumper to fold up and into the driver's side tire) and there's no way a grill guard would have helped. A bumper replacement would have been unscathed in my case. Also, the replacement bumpers sit up a bit higher from the ground, which would give a little more clearance for your front approach to obstacles. I drive 75% highway with a lot of deer, so for me, the little bit of extra cash on a full HD bumper replacement is a no-brainer. It's not about "if" I hit a deer, it's about "when".

There's a few companies I found that make replacement 4th gen Ram 1500 bumpers:
http://www.goindustries.com/home/go1/smartlist_777
http://peacemakerbumpers.com/Dodge_Front_Replacements.html
http://www.frontier-gear.com/html/DodgeFBR/DodgeFBRGallery.html
http://www.topgunproducts.com/products/front-bumper-replacements/front-bumpers/

I also talked to the service rep from Iron Cross Automotive (I have their HD side steps), and he said in early 2012 they will have a full bumper replacement for the 4th gen Ram.
http://ironcrossautomotive.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=74

Personally, I wanted an Iron Bull Bumpers "Shredder" or "Enforcer" bumper, but I think the weight will be too much on the front end unless I get air supports like they use for snowplow blades.

*edit* Iron Bull doesn't list prices on their website, but I got the following email from Cameron Alu @ Iron Bull about my 2011 Ram 1500. I just may pick one up now:

"Hello, (the bumpers weigh) 180 to 260 lbs. , the bigger the bars the heavier it is ,,,the Enforcer is a 400 dollar ad on to the front base bumper and the Carnage is a 600 dollar ad on and the Shredder is a 700 dollar ad on ,,,,,,,,,,now i will tell you about the front base bumper , it will be all made of Deer Splitting 3/16th plate steel and will come ready to install with our black shield paint , all the winch hook ups , the D rings are welded inside and out , also it will have 4 , five inch light hole buckets with a tab so you can install extra lights ,,,,,,,,,,,the normal cost is 1600 plus 350 shipping in the USA but until this Saturday our sale makes the cost 1200 with only 200 dollars in shipping cost in the USA to go right to your House or Business address Plus No Tax in the Continental USA so during our Anniversary sale the front base bumper is only 1400 with shipping and then you ad the cost of the bar that you like and it will take 3 weeks or less to be made and shipped because we make 40 to 50 bumpers a week ,,,,,,,,,,,, thanks and let me know if we can help outfit your truck ,,,,,,,,,,

Cameron Alu
V.P Sales & Marketing
Iron Bull Bumpers
602-400-3868"

 

FWIW: The problem is that the bumper is part of your impact absorbing crumple zone. If you replace it with an indestructable steel one, all of that kinetic energy from an impact is going to go into your frame. Granted your frame has crimps in it to help it crumple as well, but all the energy the bumper would otherwise have dissipated is now going straight into the passengers.

I'm honestly surprised that replacement bumpers are not DOT regulated. I mean there is no airbag testing, etc, etc.

 

OK, FWIW I did a BUNCH of research on other forums on the Iron Bull bumpers in my post above. From pics I've seen and user reports in other forums, they seem to look nice, but the welding is crap and there's hardly any reinforcement on the inside. Several owners indicated they felt that Iron Bull uses the spray-on liner material to cover up the crappy workmanship.

*edit* Someone PM'd me for sources on complaints:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/969900-ironbull-bumper.html
http://www.*****************/forum/exterior/54965-installed-iron-bull-rear-bumper-my-lmm.html


Soooooo, in light of that, I just bought myself a Tough Country Deluxe bumper this morning for my '11 Ram 1500 ST. Had to special order it. Cost me $1400 and change, installed, out the door. Ordered it from Shawn at Lignit Tire in Beulah, ND (yeah, I know...I'm in Canada. Driving 8 or 9 hours round trip to the US would actually cost me LESS than international shipping and brokerage). It's not listed on Tough Country's website yet because they just finished R&D on it last month, but the part # is DFR1122D if you contact your local Tough Country dealer.

Here's a link to their website with a lot of pics:
http://www.toughcountry.com/new/sear...luxe_dodge.php

I got mine just with the receiver tube and shackle mounts, as I want to mount my winch (ENGO E9500) in a cradle so I can take it off when I'm tootin' around town and won't need it. I also had mine coated with bedliner, as I do a lot of highway and gravel roads (60 miles round trip 5 days a a week) and want to keep it from getting pitted and rusty.

I was also a little worried about front-end sag with a 200 lb bumper and 100 lb winch + cradle on the front end, so I also picked up some Timbren SES Suspension Helpers for the front which should eliminate any sag when the front end is loaded up.

http://www.timbren.com/timbren-appli...s/DF15004B.pdf

It's gonna take a few weeks for my bumper to get built, so in the meantime, I plan on having some Bilstien 5100's installed while I wait.

Pics when it's installed.

 

I'm gonna resurrect this thread. What was the finished product on your guys trucks? Never got any pictures in this thread. I'm in the same boat now, and looking hard for a replacement bumper in the 1k dollar range.

 

I found this thread searching for deer protection options for my recently ordered 1500 Laramie Crew cab in Western Brown.

I am in the same boat, where I drive, its not IF I hit a deer, its when (most around here average hitting an animal every other year).

This thread opened my eyes, as I have always ran a Westin HDX grill guard. I thought I was fully protected. Good thing I didn't hit anything with it!

Any input. I am looking at Fab Four replacement bumper, as I have a Custom Truck store not far that I will be buying my canopy from.

I know the steel bumpers are heavy. I don't want to do any more mods than I have to . I am getting the 4 corners air suspension, but not sure if there is an adjustment in them that would compensate for the increased front end weight.