Advice on Front Grill Guard / Front Bumper

[MI RAM]

Good Morning,

I just picked up a 2022 RAM 2500 4x4 Laramie CCSB Cummins. One of the main reasons was to take it out West each year for a 7-10 day hunting trip with my two adult sons and pull a 29' toy hauler. While out there this year my boys drove to meet me at a hunting camp. After the hunt they left camp, drove about 100 miles, and hit a deer with their car. It took out the entire front end, had to be towed, and then I had to pick them up and drop them off at the airport which was about eight hours out of my way. After that I thought... what in the hell would I do if "I" hit a deer while towing my toy hauler on the way there,??? If it took out my grill/radiator (like their car) our trip would be a mess at best.

So, I am now considering adding some sort of front grill guard or front bumper to minimize the damage to my truck in the event of a deer/truck accident. At least minimize the damage to the truck to the point where I can still continue on with my trip without interruption, and drive home.

I would prefer to ADD something to the existing bumper without removing it preferably. I can see me removing it for the rest of the year. But it needs to protect the radiator. I have a lot of chrome on my truck and would prefer that the grill doesn't ruin the look, which is why I can see me pulling it off every year.

I'm curious what others have done who are looking for the same/similar protections against car/deer accidents? Any pics of what you'v installed would be very helpful and much appreciated.

I thank you all in advance!

 

[MtnRider]

Nothing you can "add on" is going to protect you in a direct hit, (depending on where you hit it). Your better off slowing down and adding some good lighting. The only thing that can really protect you are those huge, heavy duty ranch hand style replacement bumpers

For what little time you are in deer country adding a huge bumper to try and prevent damage seems like a lot of work for little return.
.

 

[Poolmonkey]

Tube/DOM prerunner type bumpers are few nowadays but offer the best smackdown on critters, within reason IMO.
This hit a deer hard enough to rip and twist her up with no damage to the truck except for a couple lights, hit a small cow at a much lower speed and knocked it off the road but didn’t hurt anything…cow or truck.
Yep..we were stuck here, took some work getting out.

 

[UglyViking]

There seems to be a pretty narrow window that you're going to hit a deer/elk head on that a grille guard alone would actually protect it. If it's even a little off camber it's likely going to bend the guard into all the items you're attempting to keep protected. While there are a few options that tie into 4 locations on the front of the bumper, I highly doubt most would take a direct hit at any speed. I'd look at options used for gov work, such as police departments, as they will likely be the most strong. That said, police cruisers have those mounts for things like lights and horns primarily, and they add some ability to low speed hit another vehicle to box it in, so I doubt even they will do much at speed.

Even full replacement bumpers are likely going to cause a lot of headache. I'm sure that a full replacement bumper will most likely let you drive away from a hit, at least in terms of protecting the rad and such, it has to transfer the force somewhere, and since you're removing all the parts that are designed to give, you're likely to experience frame bending, twisting, etc. You'll probably be able to drive at least to "safety", but the truck will surely end up in the shop, possibly awaiting the frame to be pulled or replaced, if not totaled.

Just keep all that in mind as you consider your options.

 

[DammitDave]

 

[McHenry2500]

I've had a SteelCraft Brush Guard on my 2500 for about 2 years now and it's probably the best protection for the money. Not as big/heavy as a full replacement bumper but still stout enough that if I were to hit a deer or something similar it would protect the engine and mechanical parts on the front end. I assume if this ever happens my guard will be destroyed but, it'll have served it's purpose and I'd gladly go buy another. Around here (central Texas) hitting a deer is a "when" not an "if".

 

[MI RAM]

Nothing you can "add on" is going to protect you in a direct hit, (depending on where you hit it). Your better off slowing down and adding some good lighting. The only thing that can really protect you are those huge, heavy duty ranch hand style replacement bumpers

For what little time you are in deer country adding a huge bumper to try and prevent damage seems like a lot of work for little return.
.

Well, personally I think it's worth it. If I were to hit a deer that took out my radiator while on my way out West for a hunting trip it would ruin my entire trip. I'm pulling a 29' toyhauler with a SXS in it, and an ATV on my Diamondback HD bed cover. There's no way I could continue on for the trip. I/we save/plan all year for this one week, and don't want to chance it. I watched a buck run out in front of my hunnting buddy's RV, that he just missed, while on our way to pick up the kids. Plus I drive Up North Michigan a lot and it has it's fair share of deer also.

I will continue looking. Thank you for responding.

 

[MI RAM]

Tube/DOM prerunner type bumpers are few nowadays but offer the best smackdown on critters, within reason IMO.
This hit a deer hard enough to rip and twist her up with no damage to the truck except for a couple lights, hit a small cow at a much lower speed and knocked it off the road but didn’t hurt anything…cow or truck.
Yep..we were stuck here, took some work getting out.
View attachment 47930

It looks like yours came in very handy. Nice! Thank you for responding.

 

[MI RAM]

I've had a SteelCraft Brush Guard on my 2500 for about 2 years now and it's probably the best protection for the money. Not as big/heavy as a full replacement bumper but still stout enough that if I were to hit a deer or something similar it would protect the engine and mechanical parts on the front end. I assume if this ever happens my guard will be destroyed but, it'll have served it's purpose and I'd gladly go buy another. Around here (central Texas) hitting a deer is a "when" not an "if". View attachment 47939

I LIKE IT!!! This is worthy of consideration.

Where did you buy it if I can ask???

Thank you for responding!

 

[MI RAM]

I've had a SteelCraft Brush Guard on my 2500 for about 2 years now and it's probably the best protection for the money. Not as big/heavy as a full replacement bumper but still stout enough that if I were to hit a deer or something similar it would protect the engine and mechanical parts on the front end. I assume if this ever happens my guard will be destroyed but, it'll have served it's purpose and I'd gladly go buy another. Around here (central Texas) hitting a deer is a "when" not an "if". View attachment 47939

Quick question (as I'm considering ordering one today for Cyber Monday sale). Did your grill guard affect/interfere with your front safety sensors?

Also, it appears to have an "Iron Cross" label on it. I thought it was made by SteelCraft?


Thank you again!

 

[DammitDave]

The "Iron Cross" guard, the first two pictures was a different post. Which I bought off a wholesaler on ebay out of Kansas City.

 

[McHenry2500]

Quick question (as I'm considering ordering one today for Cyber Monday sale). Did your grill guard affect/interfere with your front safety sensors?

I have the tradesman package, so no front camera or sensors. I do know there is a removable piece for the front camera. A friend has a Steelcraft guard on his Tundra and it does not interfere with the sensors.

I bought mine locally but I know there are places online where you could order it.

I'm of the opinion that any kind of brush guard is an improvement over having nothing on the front of your truck. I know ranch hand and a few other manufacturers make good quality steel guards. I'd say find a good deal and go for it.

 

[AH64ID]

The steelcraft website says it may interfere with safety sensors.

Living in the western deer county I have thought about this often. Nothing really fits my needs (front receiver, camera/sensor compatibility), and after plenty of consideration I’m not too concerned about it. Most deer are shorter than radiator damage, and the front end of a truck is much more robust than a car.

I’ll probably jinx myself, but in all the hundreds of thousands of miles out here in the mountains I’ve only ever had one deer hit me.. yes it hit me, right behind the drivers door. No damage.

Sure would be pissed if I missed an elk season thou.

 

[MI RAM]

The "Iron Cross" guard, the first two pictures was a different post. Which I bought off a wholesaler on ebay out of Kansas City.

Got it. In my haste I thought both posts were yours. My bad!

 

[MI RAM]

The steelcraft website says it may interfere with safety sensors.

Living in the western deer county I have thought about this often. Nothing really fits my needs (front receiver, camera/sensor compatibility), and after plenty of consideration I’m not too concerned about it. Most deer are shorter than radiator damage, and the front end of a truck is much more robust than a car.

I’ll probably jinx myself, but in all the hundreds of thousands of miles out here in the mountains I’ve only ever had one deer hit me.. yes it hit me, right behind the drivers door. No damage.

Sure would be pissed if I missed an elk season thou.

Missing a hunting season would really piss me off too! That is the reason for my concern.

 

[McHenry2500]

The steelcraft website says it may interfere with safety sensors.

Most deer are shorter than radiator damage, and the front end of a truck is much more robust than a car.

Where are the safety sensors on the front located? I could probably go out and look at my guard and get a better idea if it would interfere.

I actually thought the same thing until I crawled underneath the front of my truck to install the guard and noted how vulnerable I felt the front end was.

 

[AH64ID]

Where are the safety sensors on the front located? I could probably go out and look at my guard and get a better idea if it would interfere.

I actually thought the same thing until I crawled underneath the front of my truck to install the guard and noted how vulnerable I felt the front end was.

Sensors are in the plastic center piece and fog light housings.

The most vulnerable thing is the intercooler, and this guard won’t do anything to protect it if an animal goes under the truck, IMO.

 

[McHenry2500]

Sensors are in the plastic center piece and fog light housings.

The most vulnerable thing is the intercooler, and this guard won’t do anything to protect it if an animal goes under the truck, IMO.

Based on info I could find on Google, I can say the guard wouldn't interfere with the sensors.

As for protection against an animal or something going under the truck? I'd say you're probably right. The rounded design of the guard and height of my 4x4 2500 leads me to believe most deer or similar sized animal would roll up under the cab if hit head on.


I still hold to my opinion that having a brush guard or replacement bumper offers better protection than nothing at all.

 

[MI RAM]

Based on info I could find on Google, I can say the guard wouldn't interfere with the sensors.

As for protection against an animal or something going under the truck? I'd say you're probably right. The rounded design of the guard and height of my 4x4 2500 leads me to believe most deer or similar sized animal would roll up under the cab if hit head on.


I still hold to my opinion that having a brush guard or replacement bumper offers better protection than nothing at all.

Thank you.

I agree that it should offer more protection than nothing, especially for the grill/radiator area. After what happened to my boys, and what I saw almost happen to my hunting buddy, I don’t want to return out West for a 7-10 day hunt without one.