Grille Guards

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

John Jensen

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2016
Posts
1,511
Reaction score
1,646
Location
San Diego County
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Ecodiesel
Has anyone mounted a Grille Guard on their 2019-2021 yet?

Our trucks have a new unique front end and hooks making it difficult to mount a grille guard.

And, if you have a front camera the field narrows real quick. Plus some do not keep the OEM tow hooks.

I have it boiled down to either a Steelcraft Grille Guard 50-2280C or a Ranch Hand Legend Grille Guard GGD191BL1C

I have a Ranch Hand on my 2016 1500 and one on my Ford F350. Ranch Hand uses heavier tubing and uprights material than the others but they do not show how it mounts to our 4.5 trucks. The few pictures make me wonder how strong their mounting might be.

The SteelCraft is much cheaper and has excellent Install Instructions and pictures. But I cannot find any reviews on SteelCraft.

One vendor, who sells both. said the Ranch Hand is better quality but could not elaborate on the mounting system.

So that's my dilemma. All comments would be appreciated. Especially if you have installed any grille guard on a 2019-21 HD.

Will be posting on other sites as well.
 

noodles

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2020
Posts
151
Reaction score
88
Location
woodbridge, va
Ram Year
2020
Engine
hemi 5.7
Has anyone mounted a Grille Guard on their 2019-2021 yet?

Our trucks have a new unique front end and hooks making it difficult to mount a grille guard.

And, if you have a front camera the field narrows real quick. Plus some do not keep the OEM tow hooks.

I have it boiled down to either a Steelcraft Grille Guard 50-2280C or a Ranch Hand Legend Grille Guard GGD191BL1C

I have a Ranch Hand on my 2016 1500 and one on my Ford F350. Ranch Hand uses heavier tubing and uprights material than the others but they do not show how it mounts to our 4.5 trucks. The few pictures make me wonder how strong their mounting might be.

The SteelCraft is much cheaper and has excellent Install Instructions and pictures. But I cannot find any reviews on SteelCraft.

One vendor, who sells both. said the Ranch Hand is better quality but could not elaborate on the mounting system.

So that's my dilemma. All comments would be appreciated. Especially if you have installed any grille guard on a 2019-21 HD.

Will be posting on other sites as well.

I found this on carid.com: https://www.carid.com/2019-ram-1500-grill-guards/steelcraft-grille-guard-1546888539.html 1 star review, so far.
 

Sandevino

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Posts
1,146
Reaction score
1,506
Location
North Texas
Ram Year
2023
Engine
HEMI 5.7 eTorque
I’ve ordered the Steelcraft winch mount full bumper replacement and am waiting for it to be manufactured and shipped. I’m looking at approximately 6 weeks.

I just received and installed a Steelcraft rear bumper and it’s stout.
 
OP
OP
John Jensen

John Jensen

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2016
Posts
1,511
Reaction score
1,646
Location
San Diego County
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Ecodiesel
I’ve ordered the Steelcraft winch mount full bumper replacement and am waiting for it to be manufactured and shipped. I’m looking at approximately 6 weeks.

I just received and installed a Steelcraft rear bumper and it’s stout.
Thanks. That helps
 
OP
OP
John Jensen

John Jensen

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2016
Posts
1,511
Reaction score
1,646
Location
San Diego County
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Ecodiesel
Because of the front camera's view uncertainties, I canceled my grille guard order.

I looked at all grille guards that have a screen/mesh opening to allow the front camera to operate. Then I mocked up their openings on my 2020 3500 Laramie's front grille and turned on the front camera. In every case, the camera's view was obstructed. In fact, the camera has such a wide-angle view that anything placed at the outer edges of the grille is seen and obstructing. The bottom line is no guard that allows a clear unobstructed view.

Then I looked at grilles that have no screen/mesh and grilles that they will sell without the screen/mesh. Again either their horizontal or vertical bars obstruct the view.

So, at this point, no grille guards for me.
 

HEMIMANN

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Dec 7, 2020
Posts
6,807
Reaction score
17,098
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Ram Year
2017 2500 Laramie Crew Cab
Engine
6.4L HEMI
I have a Gen IV, so not directly applicable, but also want a grille guard due to too many near-misses here in big deer country (upper midwest).

I looked at a bunch of them and compared for weeks. I've decided on this one through site sponsor Auto Accessories...
https://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.c...g-Tex-Grille-Guard?set-vehicle=1&autoselect=1

My requirements were a stout guard for highway speed deer collisions to protect the radiators. I thought that meant a mesh plate, but looking at this one, the bars are close enough to prevent a deer leg from going all the way through, and restrict less cooling air flow. This is the only one I could find that is:
1) made in USA
2) chrome or stainless finish (black looks horrendous on chrome trim truck IMO - see my avatar pic)
3) reasonable price

You might want to check to see if they have for your Gen V model.
 

Bamaprof

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2018
Posts
12
Reaction score
5
Location
Alabama
Ram Year
2007
Engine
6.7
I cut a hole in my Westin HDX so front camera works fine. Its a heavy stainless mesh so won’t rust or distort. When my RoadArmor bumper arrives I’ll take it off and sell it. To me, the Westin fit the lines of the 5th gen Ram best

A63259E1-7570-4F6D-AFA2-1942BA1EC283.jpeg

1B0C94A7-FF7F-4B31-9130-8FEFC33B4497.jpeg

E52048EA-A61C-428A-AFA9-ECCCCEB2EA52.jpeg
 

Fatbob Frank

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2018
Posts
2,532
Reaction score
6,910
Location
Mc Gregor, Iowa
Ram Year
2021
Engine
6.4L
I had a Westin HDX on my 1500 Laramie.
Liked it so much I put one on my PW.
Front collision warning beeps at town speeds so I have to shut it off, and I lost my factory tow hooks but other than that it's great...
truck3.jpg
 

Latest posts

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
194,926
Posts
2,864,180
Members
155,296
Latest member
VLG6963
Top