Grille guard question

Purchased bumper below and company who is installing it is saying they need to cut into truck to make this fit properly. Did quite a bit of research prior to buying and didn't see anything about having to modify front end. Was under the impression it would go right on out of box. Any insight on this?

https://www.realtruck.com/ranch-hand-legend-series-grille-guard/ggt16mbl1.html

 

Doesn't look like it or say anything about it. Just install it yourself?

 

Per the pdf instructions on the site you listed (https://c2.rt-static.com/shared/pdf/manufacturers/447/ranch_hand_ggt16mbl1.pdf), step #6, you should only have to cut the air dam (which you don't have) and "the outer part of the recess area." Not quite clear what that "recess area" is (they don't include picture of it), but if your install company says they have to cut any more than this, they're doing something different than the vendor-supplied instructions state.

I'd just install it myself.

 

Look at the picture in the link man. How do you think it attaches to the frame unless you cut the plastic? You didin't have to do any research, just looking at the pics shows you have to cut the lower air dam to gain access to the frame. Might have to cut more but can't tell from the pics.

 

OP doesn't have lower air dam

 

Might have to cut a bit higher lol.

 

We're good. I totally misunderstood what the installer was saying. I knew air dam would need to be cut. He made it sound like air dam and part of the front end would need to be cut. Appreciate the responses.

 

And yes, going to install myself. Or at least try. Thoughts & prayers appreciated.

 

Take the opportunity to return that hideous thing.

 

Sure is a functional looking thing.
Strictly functional.

 

Not all mods are for looks. This strictly destroys deer and not my truck.

 

I'm very much a "to each his own" philosophy with modding trucks, but there are better front ends than that. Is it too late to return it? If not, good luck with the install. Go slow and don't get frustrated.

 

Not too late to return. Point me in direction of better options in same price range?

 

I know this isn't very helpful because of my lack of same-price alternatives, but I've heard many times on this site that these types of guards are actually "damage multipliers". Because of the lack of upper support (the thing only attaches to your frame at the bottom), these usually end up bending when in an actual collision with a bull, resulting in more damage to your front end than would occur without.

I'm speaking from knowledge I've gained from lurking on this site and not from any real-world experience, so take it as you will.

 

That's very inexpensive for a reason. We do have a group buy going on for the SSO Slimline bumper, it's close that price and is a much better product, but it doesn't offer much in terms of actual protection. SSO and others (C4, I know) do offer full protection front bumpers. They will be more expensive but they will certainly offer much greater protection.
Check out the SSO Slimline and some of the other bumpers by them and C4 Fab. Heck, you can contact those guys on here if you want. They'll be happy to discuss your options.
Buy once, cry once.

 

I've heard that as well. Think it's all very dependent on the situation, point of impact, etc. I've hit deer with my silverado with and without the guard. Damage without guard was considerably more than with.

 

I like this c4 bumper much more (looks wise) than my ranch hand, but doesn't appear as sturdy and is twice the price. I guess I'm a little biased to the ranch hand because I've owned one and seen how it handled a deer.

 

That C4 bumper is the real deal. It'll be much sturdier than the one you posted. ARB has one as well, but I think it's $1600.
Hopefully some guys running the C4 will chime in and you give you their first hand thoughts. You can see some their stuff on YouTube.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ront-bumper-installation-instructions.445309/

Here's C4's installation instructions for that bumper. I'm basing this purely off two minutes of scanning the instructions, but I bet the C4 bumper can handle a deer collision way better than any bull guard. 1) it attaches to your truck at more spots (frame cross member AND aluminum crash bar member) and 2) its thicker plate steel, designed for taking hits from boulders while off-roading and to be used as a lifting point/winch support. I doubt any bull guard manufacturer will recommend using their product as either.