Have '16 Dodge Ram 2500 and thinking of dressing it up with a grill guard or full guard and bumper. Ranch Hand has good reputation but wanted knowledgeable opinions on this board before buying. Any other brands I should consider?

For looks or for real. I.e will you be winching with it or pushing open gates or pushing through brush, or pulling some fool out of a mudhole? If you're not doing that it might as well be the factory bumper or whatever you think looks good.

Mostly for looks but occasional use.

$500 grill guard or $500 deductible for hitting a deer?

Go with Ranch Hand. Aggie owned and manufactured in Shiner, TX. Well known for a reason.

I have a full replacement bumper and grille guard on my 2014 Ram 2500 and love it.

TxLawDawg said:

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Go with Ranch Hand. Aggie owned and manufactured in Shiner, TX. Well known for a reason.

I have a full replacement bumper and grille guard on my 2014 Ram 2500 and love it.

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Nothing wrong with this. If you want the road armor style I'd love into Tough Country out of El Campo, Texas made as well with a different style from ranch hand. (Still a Ranch Hand fan)

Leaning Ranch Hand a bit now knowing Aggie owned.

If I'd have put bumpers on my truck early, it would've saved me BIG $$ from two different impacts from other drivers. *****

Couldn't go wrong picking it up in person there too..the brewery is across the street.

Not familiar with Tough Country. Anybody?

Check out South Texas Outfitters in San Antonio.

They have a website I believe, I lived in El Campo, which is why I'm familiar with them. Never owned one, but most of my buddies from there did. No complaints. If it's built in Texas, should be ok.

Frontier is Aggie owned as well and a member of the Aggie 100, the same as RanchHand. Both of my trucks have ranch hand because I like the look better.

Not sure what your location is, but Arc-Rite grill guards in Del Rio and Southwest Fabricators in Junction are really good too.

Tough Country is Aggie owned as well. I actually think they look better than Ranch Hand.

http://toughcountry.com/

Hands down it's....AEV

Ted Nugemt just picked up his truck from Tough Cointry.

Evidently he has a ranch in the Waco area but sent his truck to El Campo for replacement bumpers. If I remember correctly. He's been using tough country for about 10 years now.

I just picked up a grill guard off Craigslist cause that's all I'll realistically ever need. However, after purchasing I wish I would of gone with the full replacement. Supposedly the grill guard will bend and total the frame a lot easier if it hits something substantial, while the full replacement actually protects the frame quite a bit better. I don't have any first hand knowledge, this is just what I read after purchasing

Tough Country is pretty good looking. Looks pricier than Ranch Hand but get what you pay for, hopefully.

I have had Tough Country. Got a 2017 F250 several weeks ago. I am headed back to El Campo as soon as they are ready to take my money.

TAMU77CLAY said:

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Not familiar with Tough Country. Anybody?

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Wife used to work there, the have a great product line and just redid one of Ted nugents trucks

Appears all Tough Country is made to order with 3 week wait. Live in DFW area but will be in Sugarland next week and since El Campo 50 miles away, thought I might drop by. No stocking dealers of Tough Country?

I've had good luck with both Ranch Hand and Frontier products.

TAMU77CLAY said:

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Appears all Tough Country is made to order with 3 week wait. Live in DFW area but will be in Sugarland next week and since El Campo 50 miles away, thought I might drop by. No stocking dealers of Tough Country?

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Tough country has a pretty nice store there in El Campo, might call ahead and see if they stock.

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My South Texas Outfitters bumper. I wanted the double pipe and they made one. I had them just weld it up. I primed, painted, and mouted myself.

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378, that front guard bumper is killer!!!! How much $ was that beauty?

I've got a frontier on my Dodge 2500. I totaled three cars during a wreck and I was still able to drive away from the accident. Very sturdy grille guard.

TAMU77CLAY said:

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378, that front guard bumper is killer!!!! How much $ was that beauty?

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I'd have to look it up. Don't know if it would help as that bumper is 10 years old now.

Tough Country is Aggie owned, family business. I grew up down the road from them, good guys, stuff is a bit expensive but they stand behind it. Prices went up this year it seems, after pricing my rear bumper from them I decided to just build one myself while copying their design (****** move? lol)

Their Design


Where I'm at so far



I did get my front replacement from them and they were happy to mix and match some of the different features I wanted from different bumper style and I don't think it even cost extra.

I would recommend Tough country with Ranch Hand a close 2nd.


Brent/Kurt if your following this thread, Sunshine says hi haha

Tough Country has dealers around the country that should have bumpers in stock or could get one in quickly.

I like their traditional bumpers but they also have a newer designed "flat plate" type bumper similar to Iron Cross etc if you're in to that.

Brent and Kurt and crew are great folks!

If Kurt or Brent are following this that would be awesome.

But they are awesome folks

Fab Fours is Aggie owned as well and they have ranch style bumpers plus winch bumpers.

Thanks to everybody for your council and I just bought a Tough Country from a dealer in Bryan while I'm here for the game. Bad news it will be 3-4 weeks delivery but I got what I wanted with help from you guys. Thanks again.