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Front bumper options (chicom pig iron need not apply)?

K

KIBarrister

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Had a deer run out doing 55. Credit to the Ram, my kids didn’t even know it happened - but the bumper and grill were toast (along with the radiator). Asked the body shop to put on an aftermarket front bumper from Chassis Unlimited made in America. They said ok. After the work starts, for reasons still not explained (they wanted to get one with a better profit margin) they started sending me other ones to look at. Among the examples is a fugly abortion of pig iron made by Westin I said no to quite clearly. Sent another one without info afterwards that I said fine, as long as it’s made in America.

Picked up my Ram yesterday after waiting almost three months (the last month it’s sat done, it turns out, while the shop was trying to shake down more money), and that God awful Chinesium trashed is bolted to the front of my poor Ram. Yeah, I was real salty. Real, real salty…

Now, since the shop knows full well what they did was a bait and switch, they’ll be paying for a proper replacement. Before I settle on Chassis Unlikited as planned, any other suggestions to take a look at that *ARE* made in America?

I have a 2” lift running 35s so I’m looking for some extra heft, preferably with provisions for a winch - but it’s not like a 6” lift with mini monster tires that would justify some of the far more beefy options.

Thanks in advance! I need to get this thing off my Ram PDQ - I feel about to stroke out every time I look at the front of my truck and knowing it is Chinesium… 🤬
 
If they are paying, make it hurt 😅


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While you guys are being so kind to give some ideas, I do plan to throw in a winch at the same time. A couple of the options (chassis unlimited and Vice above) will include or sell one with it, in both instances the Warn Evo, which is made in china. It looks like pretty much every other Warn winch is made in the USA (and it seems like the Warn US options are the only US options in the 12k winch game). For me the winch will be seldom used, but needed when it's needed. It's been over a decade since I put a winch on a vehicle. Any feedback on the Warn winch lineup?
 
KIBarrister said:
While you guys are being so kind to give some ideas, I do plan to throw in a winch at the same time. A couple of the options (chassis unlimited and Vice above) will include or sell one with it, in both instances the Warn Evo, which is made in china. It looks like pretty much every other Warn winch is made in the USA (and it seems like the Warn US options are the only US options in the 12k winch game). For me the winch will be seldom used, but needed when it's needed. It's been over a decade since I put a winch on a vehicle. Any feedback on the Warn winch lineup?
Click to expand...
Assembled in the US and made in the US are different things. I'd be willing to bet most of the parts used on the US Warn winches are still made in the same place as the Evo parts
 
I am likely contradicting myself and making an unpopular suggestion...if you are rarely going to use the winch there is some consideration to getting the best you can afford to make sure it works when you need it. Getting a full-size truck stuck is no small event so you will probably really need it. Warn is local to me, so I am biased, but following the above theory I would buy the US-made one just because I think they cannot be beat for quality. Just my heavily biased opinion mind you. I have nothing to fall back on other than I have owned them and NEVER had a problem at all.

Controversial opinion is a lot of people seem to pick up and really like the 12K Harbor Freight Badland. If you are to believe the YouTube videos, they use the heck out of them. They seem well made, especially for the money and I would consider them. How they compare to Warn overseas models...I don't know. I know that I have been surprised more than once who seems to be using them.
 
KIBarrister said:
While you guys are being so kind to give some ideas, I do plan to throw in a winch at the same time. A couple of the options (chassis unlimited and Vice above) will include or sell one with it, in both instances the Warn Evo, which is made in china. It looks like pretty much every other Warn winch is made in the USA (and it seems like the Warn US options are the only US options in the 12k winch game). For me the winch will be seldom used, but needed when it's needed. It's been over a decade since I put a winch on a vehicle. Any feedback on the Warn winch lineup?
Click to expand...
Honestly, many in Jeep community use Smittybilt with synthetic and no issues. Myself included.

X2O GEN3 Winches - Smittybilt

www.smittybilt.com www.smittybilt.com
 
I havent had to use it, because like you, I will probably rarely ever need to. But I purchased one of the cheap Chinese winches that has been compared to the HF Badlands winches. It's sold by OpenRoad Off-road. 12k lb synthetic line, two wireless remotes. Was around $300. Install was easy, and I made sure the remotes worked. Beyond that it hasn't been used. Still need to find a spot to fully spool it out and wind up under tension before needing to actually use it.
 
Thanks guys - I ended up going with the Vice option. It isn’t technically American (but these days only slightly more socialist) but it turns out their build is actually beefier than the others I was considering. My truck will have a “top hat” from America’s hat
 
KIBarrister said:
Thanks guys - I ended up going with the Vice option. It isn’t technically American (but these days only slightly more socialist) but it turns out their build is actually beefier than the others I was considering. My truck will have a “top hat” from America’s hat
Click to expand...
great pick now u need the rear bumper to match!
 
HSKR R/T said:
Assembled in the US and made in the US are different things. I'd be willing to bet most of the parts used on the US Warn winches are still made in the same place as the Evo parts
Click to expand...
You are correct. I think it is mostly the metal parts that require machining like cases and gears that are still made in the US. I dont know for sure but I would not bet against the electronics being made overseas. Unfortunately, my bias would be against the electronic parts failing before gears (for my very casual use). Hard to get anything made totally the US anymore.
 
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