Ranchhand and Performance

[AJF]

Hey guys, I LOVE my Powerstroke and love the way it looks right now. However, I work for a couple farmers and I am on the girl friends farm a ton. This travel includes a lot of backroad travel with a lot of deer incounters. So my question is, since I feel the need to protect my truck, will the trucks performance and mpg's be effected very much by a ranchhand?

Thanks for any input,
AJ

[Ditty]

Ranchhand-style bumpers are VERY heavy. Mine weighs about 300-400 lbs. They can significantly reduce your MPGs, times, and what not. Other than the weight, they reduce your aerodynamics.

Installing one will also accelerate the wear on the front suspension parts, brakes, tires etc.

Every ounce of weight you add effects more and more parts on your vehicle.

That being said....get one!!! Or better yet, BUILD one!!!

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

i would just get it... my bumper isnt as almost as heavy as a ranch hand after i added all the lights and winch and have only seen around 1mpg less

[Rodslinger]

I've got one of the biggest front end replacements on this board with a 12K winch shoved inside it and I still run 13's in the 1/4, get great mileage when I'm not standing in it and my tires wear fine because I rotate them on schedule. I'd rather have to rotate my tires more often than hit a buck at 80 on a back road without it.

[TwinTurboStroker]

Originally Posted by Rodslinger

I've got one of the biggest front end replacements on this board with a 12K winch shoved inside it and I still run 13's in the 1/4, get great mileage when I'm not standing in it and my tires wear fine because I rotate them on schedule. I'd rather have to rotate my tires more often than hit a buck at 80 on a back road without it.

Or other cars in the Houston area

[Rodslinger]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboStroker

Or other cars in the Houston area

Oh yeah, that too......how could I forget?

[worx]

I would think that personal safety would outweigh anything else... Mine is just a "small" one also, and I dind't notice any drops to speak of... It may take a little to get used to the extra weight up front if its big enough- if not, keep adding! I see deer too much around here to not have it on, and even on the road woeking, they seem to want to wander out...

[rednek01]

another option for for you might be just the grill gaurd that they sell. I have one on my truck its not quite as stout but I wouldnt want to be hit by it

[AJF]

Thanks guys, I have to save for a little bit though since I just got done paying for books and school stuff for college.

[Ditty]

I'm not saying, I'm just saying...I noticed a BIG difference when I dropped my toolbox and rear seat when I went to the track....and that was MAYBE 300lbs. MPGs when up about 1mpg and the truck felt a little 'peppy-er'. Now add the loss of both my front and rear bumpers, and the headache rack...we are talking about nearly 800-1000lbs of lost weight, lower weight equals faster times, better MPGs, and less wear on the driveline, brakes, and tires.

That being said (again): I would still get one, (if I didn't already have one.) Extra weight is extra traction in the winter. better traction for pulling, better in the rain, etc. RanchHand-style bumpers provide a little extra protection in accidents, game encounters, etc. They also have a "Part the waters" effect on local traffic. In general, a crappy driver will get out of the way when they see that 300lb Ranchhand in their rearview, hanging off the front of your truck. It gives a truck that, "I'll go through ANYTHING" attitude to it and actually makes the truck look bigger than it is.