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How do people feel about the new AEV bumpers?

Madison18 said:
I agree the Ranch Hand likely would give better protection but it just plain looks awful on these trucks. That is what is making this such a difficult decision for me.
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I agree. Ranchhand bumpers look awful on any truck that is not square.

Aev is going to, someday, release the Mack daddy bar for their bumper as seen in some of their pics. But, for now, it’s just the low tube.

I can’t comment on how robust it will be, as I haven’t installed one
 
Madison18 said:
This is an older thread but I have a functional question for you guys who have the AEV front bumper. Where I live here in Mississippi, the whitetail deer has become the roadkill of choice. The last thing I want to do is tear up the front end of my new 2022 Laramie by hitting one at 60mph. Its not if, but when. Do you think the AEV bumper will hold up to an impact like that or should I be looking at a Ranch Hand style bumper? I really like the looks of the AEV and I want to add a winch. @ramblinChet, @Desertfox73
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I would say the bumper should hold up pretty well, depending on the size of the deer and speed of impact. The bumper is very strong.

One thing you should know is that at a certain point the AEV bumper is designed to give before the frame does - which preserves the frame but sacrifices the bumper. That's a good thing in my book since I'd rather have bumper damage than frame damage.

At the end of the day, the force of impact has to go somewhere and something has to give. You just have to choose what you'd rather break.

I don't know if a Ranch Hand bumper would do the same as the AEV. If not, it's worth considering how happy you'd be if the bumper went undamaged but you had a bent frame.
 
Rockcrawlerdude said:
I agree. Ranchhand bumpers look awful on any truck that is not square.

Aev is going to, someday, release the Mack daddy bar for their bumper as seen in some of their pics. But, for now, it’s just the low tube.

I can’t comment on how robust it will be, as I haven’t installed one
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I talked to AEV yesterday and their vendor who supplies the full grill went bankrupt. They're actively pursuing a new supplier who can meet their specifications.
 
Madison18 said:
I talked to AEV yesterday and their vendor who supplies the full grill went bankrupt. They're actively pursuing a new supplier who can meet their specifications.
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Dang that stinks for them logistically. I was never interested in the full big tube thing but some people are, I’m sure.
 
Desertfox73 said:
I would say the bumper should hold up pretty well, depending on the size of the deer and speed of impact. The bumper is very strong.

One thing you should know is that at a certain point the AEV bumper is designed to give before the frame does - which preserves the frame but sacrifices the bumper. That's a good thing in my book since I'd rather have bumper damage than frame damage.

At the end of the day, the force of impact has to go somewhere and something has to give. You just have to choose what you'd rather break.

I don't know if a Ranch Hand bumper would do the same as the AEV. If not, it's worth considering how happy you'd be if the bumper went undamaged but you had a bent frame.
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Very good points. I'd like a situation where the bumper bends enough to absorb the impact without frame or major body damage. Not sure if that's a realistic expectation. Several Ford, Chevy and Ram trucks with factory bumpers have hit deer recently and all sustained significant damage to bumpers, grills, lights, quarter panels and radiators. My Ram sits high enough that a well built bumper should be able to push the deer under the truck and reduce the damage to the front end. The AEV looks like it weighs almost as much as the Ranch Hand. With that much metal, I'm hoping for the best......
 
Rockcrawlerdude said:
@Madison18 may I ask how many deer you’ve hit in your lifetime?

I’ve hit zero alive ones. I’ve hit a carcass. I drive the best I can and try not to worry about things I can’t control. I sleep amazingly well.
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I've only hit one, alive, with my jeep wrangler. Missed the first one and the second jumped into the side. Thankfully, it hit my aftermarket steps and went under the rear tire, resulting in no damage to the jeep, but a very dead animal.
 
I find the Expedition One bumper is one of the nicer looking options for these trucks personally. The bullbar is also welded, so I'd suspect it would be a bit stronger for any head on collisions with wildlife.

That said, I would only look at one of these aftermarket options if you're more concerned with keeping your vehicle on the road after a hard impact, rather than actually "protecting" anything. While possible that it will keep the grill safe, it's also just as likely that it would pivot into the hood or cause additional issues. I think the major benefit from these bumpers is that they protect your rad, fan and such. At least in a way that you can get a bit further down the road which is important to people out west more than back east.

YMMV and aftermarket bumpers have a bunch of other benefits and additional drawbacks, but if you like the look of your front end I'd leave it alone unless you're concerned with being stranded after a wildlife impact.
 
I like the bumper, but I want it in chrome. Sorry, I’m probably a party one one, but I think it would look sweet chromed. Like you see on rescue vehicles.
 
Jsboening said:
I like the bumper, but I want it in chrome. Sorry, I’m probably a party one one, but I think it would look sweet chromed. Like you see on rescue vehicles.
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I prefer the chrome as well, but either of those big bumpers would be alot of chrome. I'm okay with the matte black. I think it will look good with the chrome grill and white truck.Ram Front View.jpg
 
ramblinChet said:
Sorry I am late to the party - working late again, lol.

I hit a full size deer in Virginia while driving my Jeep TJ, lifted on 35s. Just a cheap steel front bumper, no guard. Flattened that poor thing out and the only change in my bumper was some deer hair.

When I was having my Prospector built I strongly considered having the AEV Brush Guard added since I too was mildly concerned about hitting a deer. After walking the parking lot and examining other Prospectors and paying specific attention to the height of the front bumper I decided that if my Jeep flattened a deer I could probably do the same with an elk in the RAM with the AEV bumper.

Part of my job is performing risk analysis so on a scale of 1-5 with one being low and five high, for most folks there is a low probability they will ever hit a deer. Now if they do hit a deer what will be the severity of the impact on their vehicle. Once again 1-5...with a stock bumper maybe two or three, with the AEV and no brushguard, a one. So, low probability and minor impact if it does in fact happen...no real worries on my end.
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Thanks for the comments - I was looking for an opinion as to the AEV bumper's ability to withstand an impact and I think you summarized it well. Where I live in Mississippi, when the river rises in the spring, like it is now, the deer leave the swamps and cross the highway that I travel to and from work every day, mostly at daylight and dusk. I had three close encounters in my 2017 Ram and already one in my 2022. I somehow avoided a direct hit. I won't always be so lucky. 4 members of my team have already hit deer in March and the river will be high through May, every year. Just looking to avoid catastrophic damage. I know the Ranch Hand bumpers hold up, as I've seen the evidence. However, I hate the way it looks on the truck. The AEV adds to the appearance, rather than taking away, which is why I'm interested in them. I expect a direct front impact might leave damage to the bumper and grill, but a glancing blow with the AEV may have little to no damage. And you're right - as high as the truck sits, it may just push the deer under the truck, which would be the best outcome. I'm going to order one and we'll see how it does.
 
Those AEV bumpers sure are nice. Good to know they are engineered by engineers!

Any idea if they are compatible with the factory sway bar, or must you use the AEV sway bar?
 
gimmie11s said:
Those AEV bumpers sure are nice. Good to know they are engineered by engineers!

Any idea if they are compatible with the factory sway bar, or must you use the AEV sway bar?
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They’re compatible with the factory sway bar for sure. I put my bumper on when my suspension was stock.
 
ramblinChet said:
You will be perfectly fine - the AEV in manufactured using boron steel and it very strong. Their system is truly engineered, by actual engineers, to safely operate the Warn 16.5 winch should you ever decide to mount one. I lived on the gulf coast for many years and the deer are a bit thinner as compared to some other areas - the big fatties would overheat, lol. You will love your bumper - it is truly a professional piece of equipment. And the corners are modular so if you hit a pole or something and tweak it, you only need to replace the corner. Good luck and post some pics!
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Bumper showed up yesterday. Now to find the time to put it on!
 

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Opened all the boxes to inspect the bumper. Everything was packaged very well and is recognizable with the written directions. I'm waiting on a new Warn winch to deliver before I begin installation. I plan to video and post the bumper removal and new install, along with pictures. I was surprised the tow hook bezel is injection molded plastic, but it looks really good, so we'll see how it works.
 

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Madison18 said:
Opened all the boxes to inspect the bumper. Everything was packaged very well and is recognizable with the written directions. I'm waiting on a new Warn winch to deliver before I begin installation. I plan to video and post the bumper removal and new install, along with pictures. I was surprised the tow hook bezel is injection molded plastic, but it looks really god, so we'll see how it works.
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The instructions are well written and everything makes so much sense. The push/star washers to hold the bolts in place while you work is a nice touch.

You can install it by yourself other than having a helper to lift the center section onto the truck, it’s heavy with a winch fitted.
 
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