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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: Boss .300 winmag on January 14, 2023, 06:36:36 PM

Title: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 14, 2023, 06:36:36 PM: Going to be changing out my front bumper on my 2004 Ram 2500.

Talked to one guy and he said front bumpers are a pain to swap to aftermarket.

Looking at groove something like this.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Born2late on January 14, 2023, 07:17:30 PM: I don’t know why it would be a pain. My dad and I have 4 dodges between us and built are front and rear bumpers. They are heavy so you will need help. My dads 97 is so heavy we just used my forklift to hold it in place.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Born2late on January 14, 2023, 07:20:26 PM: How does the hood release work with the expanded metal blocking access to get your hand under the grill. It looks like the gap is small below it.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Born2late on January 14, 2023, 07:22:33 PM: Also if you have to change a headlight assembly do you have to pull the bumper or will it fit through the opening?I would ask some questions to the factory before buying
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: jrebel on January 14, 2023, 07:27:30 PM: I’m looking to do the same on my 21 dodge and the bumpers I am looking at appear to be easy. The fog light and sensor cutouts are all built in and they are simply a plug and play. Watched a lot of you tube videos and it looks like two guys could swap one in about two hours.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Ghost Hunter on January 14, 2023, 07:32:35 PM: Put my Buckstop on 2005 Ram by myself with the winch bolted in it. Balanced it on a floor jack. Not a big deal. I would recommend an extra set of hands to help balance and line it up. 17 years later I might ask for help today.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 14, 2023, 07:36:18 PM: How does the stock wheel well plastics line up with the aftermarket bumpers?
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Dukalr on January 14, 2023, 07:49:19 PM: I put a Ranch Hand on my 07 Dodge about 7-8 years ago and it wasn’t really a big deal. If I recall it was only a few large bolts through the frame and that was it. Used a block and tackle to suspend it from the ceiling of the garage to line it all up and it worked great. It was pretty heavy otherwise, not sure I would have wanted to do it myself without that setup. Plastic wheel wells fit fine around the bumper. Lights were all plug and play. The hood latch works fine with no restriction. Not sure id own another one without it at this point!
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: follow maggie on January 14, 2023, 08:23:12 PM: Renting an engine hoist for a day makes it a lot easier.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: thinkingman on January 16, 2023, 08:42:49 AM: I mounted one on an F150.
Road Armor Vaquero.
The installation was pretty involved...Had to cut bolts and feed them out through the holes in the frame, remove frame wings....About 200lbs was the advertised weight but honestly I don't think it was that much. My son and I held it in place using the wrong muscles and it lined up perfectly.
I was pretty happy with the bumper engineering and fabrication. It was worth waiting for 3 months on order.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: KFhunter on January 16, 2023, 08:54:51 AM: Quote from: Ghost Hunter on January 14, 2023, 07:32:35 PM
Put my Buckstop on 2005 Ram by myself with the winch bolted in it. Balanced it on a floor jack. Not a big deal. I would recommend an extra set of hands to help balance and line it up. 17 years later I might ask for help today.

Same

Installed the last bolts then used the jack to swing the front of the bumper up and get the front bolts in
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 08:59:43 AM: 2020 ram. Steelcraft like the picture above. I did myself. 400lb. I used chain hoist and ratchet strap on end triangled to corners to adjust pitch n roll. Drove into it and slid in bolts. Little slow but easy. Steel is decent build quality, Im happy. Comes with brackets for fog lights, which I dont need. Receiver in front just in case and good tow pull point or move trlr around from front.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 16, 2023, 09:39:11 AM: Quote from: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 08:59:43 AM
2020 ram. Steelcraft like the picture above. I did myself. 400lb. I used chain hoist and ratchet strap on end triangled to corners to adjust pitch n roll. Drove into it and slid in bolts. Little slow but easy. Steel is decent build quality, Im happy. Comes with brackets for fog lights, which I dont need. Receiver in front just in case and good tow pull point or move trlr around from front.

Are the headlights removable with the bumper on?
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 10:55:31 AM: I dont know for sure but it seems like there is enough room. I had a 2005 and 2006 but never removed lights.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: boneaddict on January 16, 2023, 11:12:17 AM: Might want to look for your airbag sensors. Not sure if that could be an issue?
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: KFhunter on January 16, 2023, 12:19:57 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on January 16, 2023, 11:12:17 AM
Might want to look for your airbag sensors. Not sure if that could be an issue?

Aftermarket bumpers will state if it's airbag compliance, at least ones I was looking at for my Colly
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 16, 2023, 12:53:52 PM: Read the reviews. Look to see if anyone has purchased the one your looking at to see if the installation was a PIA or not on you vehicle
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 03:03:48 PM: Quote from: KFhunter on January 16, 2023, 12:19:57 PM
Quote from: boneaddict on January 16, 2023, 11:12:17 AM
Might want to look for your airbag sensors. Not sure if that could be an issue?

Aftermarket bumpers will state if it's airbag compliance, at least ones I was looking at for my Colly
:yeah: Also to add parking and lane assist and such sensors... I didnt have that stuff. 2005 probably not either.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 16, 2023, 03:55:49 PM: Quote from: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 03:03:48 PM
Quote from: KFhunter on January 16, 2023, 12:19:57 PM
Quote from: boneaddict on January 16, 2023, 11:12:17 AM
Might want to look for your airbag sensors. Not sure if that could be an issue?

Aftermarket bumpers will state if it's airbag compliance, at least ones I was looking at for my Colly
:yeah: Also to add parking and lane assist and such sensors... I didnt have that stuff. 2005 probably not either.

The only electrical going thru my bumper is the block heater cord.
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 04:09:47 PM: Well just do it. Cant be to hard if ya helping hands or lift jack hoist thing. I do know those bolts will require strong impact tool. :tup:
Title: Re: Any Tips Tricks On Installing Aftermarket Bumpers.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 16, 2023, 05:11:42 PM: Quote from: Mudman on January 16, 2023, 04:09:47 PM
Well just do it. Cant be to hard if ya helping hands or lift jack hoist thing. I do know those bolts will require strong impact tool. :tup:

I’ll hang it with my tractor bucket.😉