Recommend me a bumper

[fred m]

After hitting a deer on the highway and tearing up my V8 Explorer last month, I'm thinking about an aftermarket bumper for my '02 Ranger.

Preventing body damage is one thing, but I am mostly looking for something to protect the radiator/transmission cooler so I can at least drive the truck home after a hit.

I am willing to spend up to $1000. Suggestions? I know that is not terribly expensive as far as bumpers go.

 

[projectRanger93]

Adding a grille guard or another tubular defense wouldn't be an option?

 

[Dirtman]

Have you seen how thin and cheesey the typical "grill guard" is. The only thing those things do is add more shrapnel to send through your radiator.

 

[sgtsandman]

Check out the forum store. There is some option ideas there. Off road bumpers for sure. Might be some grill and brush guards as well. It’s a place to start.

For off road bumpers, Affordable Off Road seems to be the best deal I’ve seen for them.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Make sure that it has a well built grille guard attached... even with the best bumper all you are going to do is break the deers legs as its body rolls over your new bumper and slams into that nice plastic grille and creams your radiator...

AJ

 

[Uncle Gump]

The AOR bumper has a very heavy duty center box 3/16" with replaceable wings of lesser gauge steel. The wings would bend easily but the center box would probably survive a moose crash. I also think the add on bull bar would outlive the moose too. I like mine and have no regrets about the purchase. If you look on their site you will see the only short coming I can find with it. The bottom of the center box leaves probably 3 inches of the bottom radiator and transmission lines pretty much exposed. I plan on extending the skid plate portion further back to cover that area.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

For off road bumpers, Affordable Off Road seems to be the best deal I’ve seen for them.

Dangit

I just start sparking on my rear bumper, I like the one they have.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Dangit

I just start sparking on my rear bumper, I like the one they have.

You talking about this one?

If anyone is looking for a rear bumper... AOR will upgrade to 3/16" steel from the one they have listed on their site. I think it was a $30 upgrade. It is built well IMHO.

 

[Ranger850]

After hitting a deer on the highway and seriously tearing up my V8 Explorer last month, I'm thinking about an aftermarket bumper for my '02 Ranger.

Preventing body damage is one thing, but I am mostly looking for something to protect the radiator/transmission cooler so I can at least drive the truck home after a hit.

I am willing to spend up to $1000. Suggestions? I know that is not terribly expensive as far as bumpers go.

Whatcha gonna do with that wrecked v8 Expo???
I'm looking for a Donor vehicle for a v8 swap.

 

[Dirtman]

You really shouldn't be backing into deer...

Although I have backed into a goat or two.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You talking about this one?

If anyone is looking for a rear bumper... AOR will upgrade to 3/16" steel from the one they have listed on their site. I think it was a $30 upgrade. It is built well IMHO.

Yeah, it isn't supposed to fit mine but I bet it could be made to.

 

[.38spl]

AOR's stuff looks really good. I've built similar bumpers for others, and I can't hardly touch their prices for something comparable.

 

[fred m]

Whatcha gonna do with that wrecked v8 Expo???
I'm looking for a Donor vehicle for a v8 swap.

Drive it.

It’s in the shop now, I should have it back next week.

 

[fred m]

AOR’s bumpers look stout enough at competitive prices. That’s probably the route I’ll go.

Thanks everyone for the ideas

 

[Dirtman]

Best defense against deer is a lift that puts their body at a point where you are going over them instead of vice versa... a deer under the tires does way less damage than a deer over the hood.