Best Aftermarket Bumpers for the RAM 1500

Updated on Sep 11, 2023

As a member of the “Big Three,” including Ford, General Motors, and RAM, the RAM 1500 is one of the United States' top-selling pickups. While no other companies ever trounce Ford in sales, RAM consistently dukes it out with Chevrolet for second place in pickup sales, with both manufacturers selling over half-a-million half-ton pickups annually…that’s a lot of trucks! 

With so many examples on the road, it can be challenging to set your personal pickup apart from the multiple-million other RAMs on the street; luckily, RealTruck has everything your RAM needs and then some! In this guide, we’re covering one of the top modifications to boost your RAM’s durability and styling: a premium aftermarket bumper! 

We’re detailing the various bumper styles, their characteristics, and our expert’s top-recommended product in each category, ensuring you settle on the bumper that best suits your aesthetic preferences, needs, and expectations. Now, let’s get started!


Bumper Styles

RAM bumpers come in several styles and designs, each offering different aesthetics and features. In this section, we’re covering each primary style, its characteristics, and our top selections in each category!


Base

Like a base-trim RAM, base bumpers are simple and streamlined without any flashy accents or guards. Base bumpers typically feature a simple, low-profile aesthetic and one-piece plate steel construction, ideal for those that want improved impact protection and aesthetics without going overboard on flashy styling. While stealthy in design, base bumpers still support various accessories, like LED lights, winches, and D-Ring shackles.  

Base bumpers often inspire other styles, like grille guard, bullnose, and prerunner. Several companies even employ base bumper bodies for these alternative styles, with the only difference being a welded-on guard and a higher price tag!

Expert’s Choice: Body Armor Ambush Series Front Bumper

The Body Armor Ambush Series Front Bumper is a simple yet aggressive replacement bumper for the RAM 1500. This heavy-duty bumper features a rigid 3/16-inch cold-rolled steel construction for superior impact resistance and strength. A textured-black powder coat finish guards the underlying steel against corrosion, ensuring a long service life. 

Feature-wise, the Body Armor Ambush includes provisions for a 30-inch LED bar and dual D-Ring shackles, ensuring ample visibility in low light conditions and sufficient recovery points in case of an off-road accident.  

This product offers a simple bolt-on installation with the included vehicle-specific mounting kit, allowing for a straightforward installation in any home driveway or garage. 

Features: 

  • 3/16" cold-rolled steel construction

  • Textured-black powder coat finish

  • Accepts most 30-inch LED light bars (sold separately)

  • Easy, bolt-on installation

  • Includes vehicle-specific mounting kit

  • Welded-on D-Ring shackle mounts

  • Limited lifetime structural / 3-year finish warranty

Bullnose

Bullnose bumpers are nearly identical to base bumpers except for a single welded-on hoop, reminiscent of a bull bar. This additional hoop moderately increases impact protection and styling, making for a truly unique front end. 

Like base bumpers, bullnose bumpers typically include accessory mounts for LED lights, D-Ring shackles, and winches, adding both style and functionality to your RAM!

Expert’s Choice: Ranch Hand Legend Series Bullnose Front Bumper

The Legend Series Bullnose Front Bumper is a premium front bumper from legendary body armor provider Ranch Hand, the quintessential provider of ranch-style bumpers for all makes and models. The Ranch Hand Legend is no exception, featuring a rugged schedule 40 pipe and diamond-plate steel construction for superior strength and durability. A sleek, glossy black powder coat finishes off the Ranch Hand Legend’s striking aesthetics while supplying exceptional corrosion resistance. 

Looks aside, the Ranch Hand Legend is here to work! This bumper features an integrated 2-inch hitch receiver and cutouts for your RAM’s factory tow hooks and fog lights. Additionally, the Legend is fully-welded and mounts to the frame in four separate places, making for a secure and vibration-free fitment.  

Features: 

  • Heavy-duty Schedule 40 pipe and diamond-plate steel construction

  • Built for 3/4 and 1-ton pickups

  • Built-in 2” standard front receiver

  • Tow hooks and factory fog lights retained on most vehicles

  • Four-position mounting for a tight, vibration-free, fit

  • One-piece welded design prevents rattling

  • Black powder-coat finish

  • USA-made

  • Limited 1-year warranty

Grille Guard

Grille Guard bumpers, like bullnose, are essentially base bumpers with a front-end guard welded onto the body. These bumpers feature an integrated, full-size grille guard offering comprehensive front-end protection, far beyond that of a base bumper.

Expert’s Choice: Ranch Hand Sport Series Grille Guard Front Bumper

Ranch Hand makes the list again with its Sport Series Grille Guard Front Bumper, a modern take on the company’s classic ranch-style design. This bumper is practically identical to the Ranch Hand Legend, both stylistically and construction-wise; however, instead of the simple, 3-tube guard of the Legend, the Sport Series features a full tubular grille guard for exceptional front-end protection. 

This bumper is manufactured from rugged schedule 40 pipe and diamond plate steel, keeping true to the classic Ranch Hand styling known and loved. A sleek, glossy black powder coat finish keeps corrosion at bay, ensuring years of service! 

The Ranch Hand Sport Series is compatible with your RAM’s OEM fog lights and tow hooks; it also features a standard 2-inch front-mount hitch receiver and provisions for a 15,000-pound winch. 

Features: 

  • Constructed from 1/4" formed C-channel and diamond plate steel

  • Full grille guard constructed from 12-gauge steel tubing

  • OEM fog light compatible and tow hook compatible on most applications

  • Features a two-inch receiver hitch

  • 15,000-pound winch ready

  • Made for 3/4+ ton trucks

  • Black powder-coat finish

  • USA-made

  • Limited 1-year warranty

Modular

Modular bumpers are similar aesthetically to base bumpers; however, they ditch the heavy one-piece design for a multi-piece construction that’s easy to ship and install.

Expert’s Choice: Westin Pro-Mod Front Bumper

The Westin Pro-Mod Front Bumper is a high-quality modular style featuring an easily shippable and assemblable multi-piece design. The bumper comes in three primary pieces–the center section, driver's wing, and passenger wing–which bolt together using provided hardware. 

This bumper is manufactured entirely from rugged 10-gauge steel, ensuring maximum impact resistance. A tough, dual-layer finish–E-Coat and Powder Coat–protects the underlying steel from corrosion while providing the bumper with a sleek, stealthy appearance that’ll perfectly complement your RAM’s existing black trim. 

Features: 

  • Lightweight yet sturdy modular design

  • Rapid shipping compared to heavier bumpers

  • Simple one-person installation

  • Rugged 10-gauge steel construction

  • Dual-layered E-Coat/powder-coating for superior corrosion resistance

  • Steel valance included on some applications

  • Optional skid plates available for off-road protection

  • Accepts most 30" LED light bars (sold separately)

  • 3-year warranty

Prerunner

Prerunner bumpers are extremely similar to base bumpers; however, they feature a 3-tube guard inspired by the off-road racers in such events as the Baja 500 and 1,000! These bumpers offer several accessory mounts and rugged styling, ideal for an off-road or full-size overlanding build.

Expert’s Choice: Hammerhead Low Profile Prerunner Front Bumper

The Hammerhead Low-Profile Prerunner Front Bumper is a sleek, stylish plate steel bumper manufactured from heavy-duty 7-gauge steel. An oversized, three-tube prerunner guard protects your Ram’s front end against impacts and abrasions, keeping the radiator, AC condenser, and other critical front-end components free from damage. Two-stage textured black powder coat guards the underlying steel against corrosion, ensuring a long-lasting finish and even longer service life! 

This bumper features provisions for multiple LED lights–including four 3.25-inch cubes and a 20-inch LED light bar–and ¾-inch D-Ring shackles, ensuring your RAM is ready to hit the trail!  

Features: 

  • Sturdy 7-gauge steel construction

  • Two-stage, textured black powder coat finish

  • Cutouts for four 3.25" cube lights & a 20" LED light bar (sold separately)

  • Includes vehicle-specific mounting kit

  • Shackle mounts bolt to vehicle’s frame

  • USA-made

  • 1-year warranty

Tube

Tube bumpers are constructed primarily from tubular steel, producing a lightweight yet sturdy bumper with exceptional ground clearance and off-road-inspired aesthetics.

Expert’s Choice: N-Fab RSP Gloss Black Prerunner Front Bumper

Introducing the N-Fab RSP Prerunner Front Bumper in Gloss Black, a rugged tubular bumper from the body armor experts at N-Fab! This sleek, high-clearance bumper is manufactured entirely from 1.75-inch tubular steel, ensuring a final product that’s as tough as it is sleek! A 3-stage, glossy black powder coat protects the raw steel against corrosion, keeping rust and scaling at bay. 

This bumper also includes LED light bar mounts, winch compatibility, and a simple bolt-on installation on most applications!  

Features: 

  • Fully welded 1.75" tubular steel construction

  • 3-stage gloss black powder coat finish

  • Mounts either two 38-inch light bars or multi-mount

  • Select applications are winch-compatible

  • Includes vehicle-specific mounts and all necessary hardware

  • Simple bolt-on installation

  • 3/16" aluminum skid plate for superior undercarriage protection

  • Improves approach angle and front tire clearances

  • USA-made

  • Limited lifetime structural/5-year finish warranty

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