Ryan's Off Road bumpers

bobnoxious said:
While I agree that plating that runs farther down the frame rail with more holes for bolting is far stronger, and I have always since built like this, my first bumper (7 years ago maybe...?) was attached using only the stock attaching points, using the stock hardware. I lost count of how many times I did this with it, not to mention countless times using it for self recovery as well as recovery of other rigs...
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It lived on this rig for 2-3 years until I rolled it, and bought/built a new rig that it got installed onto, with the addition of a winch. Yup, I'm strapped to a tree, winching a 30K GVW school bus...
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It's now living on it's 3rd rig, using the same mounting, bashing into rocks, being used for recovery, and not ripping off. I'm not saying to build them like this, I'm just pointing out that the stock attachment points can take just a bit more abuse than is generally thought. Like I said, I won't build one like that again knowing what I know now, but it worked.

Man, I can already see the flames:wave:

I was a school bus mechanic for 5 years. We used a stock Ford Ranger once to push a bus. We also did it with 2 or 3 guys before. You can pull one with a Geo Metro once you get it moving. Where are you at? We have Laidlow over here too. They are in Boise, ID, replaced another large company. I worked for Brown Bus company. They are something like 7 on the list in size last time I checked.
 
lighthouse jim said:
I just found that the THOR folks' website is back. In connection with this discussion, they make a very nice set of bumper mounts to use as a foundation for those of use with fab tools and skills. http://www.thor4x4.com/HTML/xjtg.html

Those are nice, but don't they seem a bit pricey for what they are:dunno: ? I'd use them if they were less expensive, but for that much $$, I'd spend the time making my own. Not slamming, just saying...;)
 
For your information Ryans bumpers are very well constructed. There winch bumpers mount like 14" back on each side with 6 bolts per side just like any other aftermarket bumper. His non-winch bumper only mounts in stock location but would be fine for recovery points especially if used with frame plates. JCR are good design but a friend of mine bought them and they mount just to factory location too and you have to use frame plates with them also.. I think there is just alot of people on here nocking his bumpers because he has a better design then most highly recommended names. Sounds to me like yall are just pissed because you cant build them yourself or didnt come up with the design. Just my two cents.
 
Chad29860 said:
For your information Ryans bumpers are very well constructed. There winch bumpers mount like 14" back on each side with 6 bolts per side just like any other aftermarket bumper. His non-winch bumper only mounts in stock location but would be fine for recovery points especially if used with frame plates. JCR are good design but a friend of mine bought them and they mount just to factory location too and you have to use frame plates with them also.. I think there is just alot of people on here nocking his bumpers because he has a better design then most highly recommended names. Sounds to me like yall are just pissed because you cant build them yourself or didnt come up with the design. Just my two cents.

You're attitude suggests that you're Ryan's brother. Looks like Ryan may have gone under.:dunno: The links that are posted are dead. I can't see the pics either.(may be due to firewall here at work) If they're built like the posts claim, I wouldn't touch them.

Welcome to 2008 buddy.
 
MIXEDBREED said:
Ryan's VS. Nate's??? Which one would you go with?
Uhmm,neither!
 
The links dont work, are these the ones on ebay that are sold in pairs not painted and with the stinger front bumper? If so, they dont fit right at all.
 
Nothing like bringing up a dead thread to defend a company that may not even be around anymore. If Ryan's is still around and he is now using 6 bolts per side then it just reaffirms why this thread was started. Factory bumper bolts are not good enough for recovery, even ryan has seen the light and changed his design(apperantly).
 
Ryans is still around. I live about 30 minutes from his shop. His regular bumpers mount with like the factory ones, and his winch bumpers tie into the frame better. They seem to be pretty well built, but I don't care for the design of them myself.
 
I just ordered mine from them. I know of two people that have them, one is on a XJ the other one is on a MJ. They mount by using the three bolts for the bumper plus three more that uses the p/s bolts on the drivers side and three more that need holed drilled for the r/s.
 
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Victor S. said:
I just ordered mine from them. I know of two people that have them, one is on a XJ the other one is on a MJ. They mount by using the three bolts for the bumper plus three more that uses the p/s bolts on the drivers side and three more that need holed drilled for the r/s.
How much did you pay.. without shipping?
 
I have a Ryan's Front bumper with the winch mount and it bolts on with 6 bolts down each frame. Plus I just picked it up 2 weeks ago. The price was good also just as Victor said.
You have to paint them is the only downer but that just gives you whatever color or coating you want.
 
Figured I'd give my two cents since I have owned these for a while now. I stumbled upon this thread while looking for another set of Ryan's bumpers for a friend. I've have to say these are not the most high tech bumpers out there, I have the front and rear set with the winch mount and the receiver in the rear, not much more the square tube and pipe. The welds are very clean, and the recover points are solid and welded front and back. I have been pulled out of a few mud pits, once I was yanked so hard by an F-150 the shock cracked the windshield. I did bend one of the skinny light guard tubes, I was on a simple trail and one of my passengers left a wicked beer/wing/sulfer fart, I had to stick my head out the window, missed a turn, and plowed into a tree going about 10mph, stopped the jeep dead and put a slight bend in the tube, not bad. I have used the rear hitch to tow a small boat maybe 1000lbs with trailer, also been pulled out with the rear, I do check the bolts after I get yanked and have not had a problem. IIRC I dropped $254 for the set and drove two and a half hours to pick em up, another plus of not having to pay $100s for shipping was I had cash left over to get them powder coated. My set must have been the updated design as they have quite a few bolts on each side also act as a frame stiffiner on the steering box. I'm not trying to be a mark for these but I don't think you are gonna find anything better thats not gonna cost at least twice as much for one bumper. If you have a welder and bender im sure you could build these quite easy for the cost of raw material, but if you have those skills and equipment you probably are not looking for prefab bumpers.
 
Yes, I got them off eBay, they were going for anywhere between $500 to $150 for a set. If I remember I had to go out and buy a few extra grade 8 bolts, I will check for sure when I get home, if it's not raining and I feel like it. I might even take a picture. Also, I am a cheapskate, I can barely justify paying the $100 for 6 months of insurance on the pile. I drive maybe once a month lately and have only really wheeled twice this year. I will say when I did have the time and money to go out every weekend I paid no pity to the bumpers and they gave no guff in return. If I were to say I paid $500 a bumper for these and they are the most awesome, rock bashing, brick wall smashing things you could ever bolt on to your XJ that would be all it takes for some people. I gave an honest review of what $254 got me and they do what a bumper does. Maybe i got ripped off and these things are total garbage, I don't know I've never had another aftermarket unit and probably won't.
 
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