With so many companies making tons of killer parts these days, the possibilities for modifying your vehicle are seemingly endless and can require some forethought. We like this pursuit of product satisfaction as much as the next guy, and we’ve also learned that some parts simply become outdated, wear out, fade, or become fatigued and crack. Our testbed ’01 Ford F-250 Super Duty with a 7.3L diesel has been the victim of all the maladies mentioned and has now had several different front and rear suspension systems, multiple sets of rims, and now we are moving on to a new front bumper!
With help from Hanson Heavy Duty, we were finally able to find a front bumper for our Super Duty that we thought looked tough, fit right, would hold up well in an accident—and certainly made it our own. Hanson Heavy Duty specializes in high-quality, made-in-the-USA bumpers for Chevy, Dodge, Ford, and GMC trucks and was one of the pioneers in the aftermarket bumper industry. You can order the HHD front bumper in various configurations, including a version that accepts a 16,000-pound winch, one that comes with upper brush guards, or any number of other combinations. We chose the non-winch/without brush guards version, as our rig is more of a tow/camping rig than an extreme off-roader, which might require a winch and more protection.
| hanson Heavy Duty Hanson Hd Front Bumper Installation 2001 Ford F250
| 01. Once the factory bumper is removed and the foglight harnesses are disconnected, you are now ready to install the new Hanson HD front bumper. Please note: If you are no longer using the factory leaf spring setup, you can then start to unbolt the low-hanging leaf spring cradles as shown here.
The crew at Hanson Heavy Duty in Bakersfield, California, assisted with the install, which took only a few hours. This installation was real basic and can easily be done in your driveway with a few strong buddies and wrenches. No welding or drilling is necessary, and it comes in a high-quality powdercoat finish. It also allows you to retain the sturdy factory tow hooks and provides pre-drilled holes for you to be able to mount a front license plate. You can also install rectangular auxiliary lights in the recessed light buckets for better visibility. The multiple cutouts in the front are dual purpose, as they not only make it lighter but also draw more air to the radiator. If you are ready to join in on the pursuit, follow along as we get this impressive looking and functioning bumper on the front of the Super “Hanson Heavy” Duty.
| 02. Since we installed a Full-Traction front coilover conversion a while back, the lower crash bar/front spring hanger cradle was removed as shown.
