Somebody stole your Dodge RAM hood ornament, so you need a replacement? Then you’re in the right place. We got four gorgeous designs that will make your truck stand out and make up for your loss. Ready to know more? Then let’s jump right into it.
Contents
Why Do you Need a Dodge Ram Hood Ornament?
- It looks cool — the main reason drivers get hood ornaments is that they look pretty cool. You can choose from hundreds of designs!
- It makes your vehicle stand out — although small, a hood ornament is a simple but fantastic way to enhance your truck’s appearance.
- It is cheap — you can get a decent hood ornament for $50.
4 Best Dodge Ram Hood Ornaments Reviews in 2021
Below we’ll go through what we believe to be the best hood ornaments for your Dodge Ram:
01. GG Grand General 48052 Hood Ornament – Best Overall
Highlighted Features
- Shiny finish
- Two studs
- Drill installation
- Horn & fur details
Many cheap hood ornaments make you feel like you’ve been scammed by some shady dude.
But this original Dodge Ram hood ornament from GG Grand General makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.
We think that the design is attractive enough for most Dodge Ram owners, and it’s available in a shiny and gorgeous chrome finish.
When going down the road, it’ll make your truck stand out from other stock vehicles.
Its winning feature is that they’ve put a lot of effort into this hood ornament.
For example, the horns look gorgeous, and they’ve added enough details so that the fur feels part of the design.
If you don’t plan on removing this hood ornament any time soon, this one is a great fit.
It is easy to install, but you need to drill some holes on your hood for the support, adjustability, and comfort that you won’t worry about coming off.
Moreover, this hood ornament feels pretty sturdy compared to others we’ve come across so far. So, rest assured, knowing that it won’t come off.
“We love this hood ornament, but it’s so easy to snap off and get away with it. If you thought criminals would leave your truck alone after getting this replacement, you’re wrong. It doesn’t take much time to take it away.”
What We Liked
- Easy to install
- Gorgeous finish
- Makes your truck stand out
- Holds up pretty well
What We Didn’t Like
- Easy to steal
02. GG Grand General 48010 Hood Ornament – Best for Aesthetics
Highlighted Features
- Chrome-plated swan
- Durable chrome finish
- Two mounting points
- Glossy design
With plenty of details to make your truck stand out from the rest, the GG Grand General hood ornament is one of the best models for most truck owners.
One noticeable feature of this model is that it features a swan, which gives this model a subtle but elegant look—although not as aggressive as the previous hood ornament—it is still good enough to make your truck stand out.
The durable and gorgeous finish plays a significant part in its overall design.
Reviewers have repeatedly expressed that this hood ornament holds up pretty well and does not feel like some cheap knock-off replacement.
Its durability is on par with high-end hood ornaments, but where this model stands out is how shiny and gorgeous it looks under the sun.
Seriously, it seems pretty polished, which makes your truck feel more elegant.
Like the previous contender, this company really took it to the next level with all their details.
The winds and beak look fantastic, and they have these fancy textures that make it look like an actual swan.
“Take some time and measure the size of this hood ornament and figure whether it matches your hood size or not. Some reviewers complained this model far exceeded their expectations in terms of size, which they now have to return.”
What We Liked
- Looks pretty glossy
- Holds up pretty well
- Gorgeous finish
- Makes your car look elegant
What We Didn’t Like
- It can be too big
03. GG Grand General 48370 Hood Ornament – Best for Creepy Design
Highlighted Features
- Scary eyes
- Chrome plated finish
- Shiny design
- Drill installation
If you thought that our first hood ornament didn’t look aggressive enough, well, this might do the trick for you.
Featuring a rather furious and creepy skeleton, this one will freak out anybody that walks by your truck.
Anybody trying to steal your hood ornament might want to think twice before they mess with your vehicle.
And to make things even better, the eyes light up, which makes it look like the inside is going up on fire.
The eyes also make you feel they’re looking into your soul. So if you’re into that kind of stuff, you’ll love this model.
Apart from that, we love that they went with a chrome-plated finish, which makes this skeleton head look like a real one.
Like the previous models, you need to drill to set it up. Don’t worry, though.
The installation is pretty simple, and even if you have no previous experience doing this job, it shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.
“This hood ornament has it all, but they made a mistake with the screws. Some reviewers on Amazon have had trouble getting the screws inside. They are pretty short, which makes the installation process somewhat difficult on vehicles like the Ford F150.”
What We Liked
- Super easy to install
- Gives off a weird but cool vibe
- Eyes and nose light up
- Durable finish
What We Didn’t Like
- Screws are pretty short
04. GG Grand General 48203 Hood Ornament – Best for Friendly Design
Highlighted Features
- Available in two finishes
- Smiling pig
- Cast metal
- Drill installation
If you’re looking for a cute and elegant Dodge truck Ram head hood ornament, then you’ll love this gorgeous model from GG Grand General.
Unlike the previous model, which had this weird but attractive look, this model features a cute pig that brightens up anybody’s day.
We love the cute pig that they’ve added—it’s excellent—but where it shines the most is in how it glows when it’s under the sun.
Drivers love that, it makes your car stand out from far away, and overall it feels pretty cool.
Like previous models, they really went ahead and made this hood ornament feel like a real animal.
They paid close attention to the details, and the end result looks perfect. But it also means that bad guys might want to snap it off.
The hood ornament is available in a gorgeous chrome-plated finish. But we know that not everybody likes this color.
So, they’ve been nice enough to sell another model available in a modern and sleek black finish.
As for the installation process, we’d say it’s not much different from the models we’ve gone through so far.
You need to drill some holes to properly install the unit. It shouldn’t take much time, even if you have no experience.
“We had a little bit of a hard time deciding whether this would be a great fit for the Dodge Ram. It doesn’t really have this aggressive look that this truck gives off. If you’re fine with that, you’ll probably like it. But if you’re not, this is not a great purchase.”
What We Liked
- Pretty easy to install
- Shines under the sun
- Chrome plated finish
- Cute hood ornament pig
What We Didn’t Like
- Gives off this soft feeling
What to Consider when Buying
Hold up. Before you spend your hard-earned money on any vintage Dodge Ram hood ornament, you should know a couple of tips to make the right purchase.
Make sure It is a Direct Replacement
Unfortunately, we know that most people looking for a hood ornament had the horrible fate of coming across some asshole that took it off and got away with it.
So, we know where you’re coming from when looking for a suitable replacement.
However, drivers often forget that they should get a direct replacement. Otherwise, they might have to do extra work to install the new unit.
For example, you might drill some holes and then notice that they do not match the existing ones, making it hard to install the new hood ornament.
So instead, take some time and measure everything before getting one.
Chrome Plated Finish
Another thing you should watch out for is that you should get a chrome-plated finish hood ornament.
This is an excellent finish that increases the hardness and durability of your hood ornament.
Most hood ornaments follow this standard, but you should still be careful.
Shiny Hood Ornament
Let’s keep it a buck fifty. Most people get a 1st gen Dodge Ram hood ornament to change up the appearance of their vehicles. That’s the main reason.
That being said, to make things even better, make sure that your hood ornament shines under the sun.
It looks pretty cool, and it’s an easy way to make your truck stand out from other vehicles nearby.
Typically, those that are covered in a chrome-plated finish shine a lot as the sun rises up.
Adhesive Vs Bolt Threaded
We’ve seen those cheap hood ornaments on eBay before, and they all have one thing in common: they are garbage.
Avoid those adhesive hood ornaments, they are dangerous, and you’ll most likely spend a lot of money fixing your vehicle.
Why is that? Well, you don’t need to be an expert to tell that a bolt-on hood ornament will hold way better than adhesive.
Driving like this is extremely dangerous as it could come off, hit your windshield and break it. Worst-case scenario, you’ll lose control and crash.
Weight
You should know that you don’t want your new hood ornament to be too heavy.
If it weighs over 3 pounds, there’s a high chance it might come off in the future and possibly destroy your window in the process.
We would not get anything above 2 pounds. As we said, you never know when it might come off and cause damage.
Light Up Eyes
This is more of a preference, but if you’re looking for a cool and flashy hood ornament, you might want to consider getting a Dodge RAM hood ornament with light up eyes.
There hundreds of these models available to choose from. However, make sure that the eyes don’t stick out too much.
We’ve noticed that some of these models with huge eyes tend to fall out as time goes by.
Avoid Shady Brands
Noticed a pattern after going through our review section? That is right. They are all manufactured by GG Grand General store.
As we’ve noted several times throughout this article, getting the wrong hood ornament is dangerous and often leads to undesired results.
They might come off when driving, and they don’t necessarily hold up well.
That being said, you’re better off sticking to brands like GG Grand General Store, which has been in the market for a very long time.
How to Install a Hood Ornament On a Dodge Ram
Installing a hood ornament doesn’t take any time. It is easy, and you don’t need many tools. That said, here’s how to install Dodge Ram hood ornament:
1. What You Will Need
To properly install your hood ornament, gather these tools:
- A drill and drill bits — to install your replacement, you need to drill some holes.
- A ratchet — get a ratchet to tighten the screws.
- A rag — get a rag to clean all the debris that might build up as you drill.
- A sharpie and some tape — figure out where you want to place your hood ornament.
2. Place Your Hood Ornament
To start, place your tape where you’d like to install your hood ornament. Now measure your hood to make sure you got it right.
After finding the center, mark it using your sharpie.
3. Drill Some Holes
Find out just how many mounting holes you have got. If your hood ornament has two, then drill two holes through the hood.
They should be large enough for your unit to fit right in.
When drilling the holes, you might want to pop the hood of your truck and see just where you’re drilling. Be careful, though. Do not hit any parts under the hood.
After you’re done drilling all the holes, clean all that mess. Finally, remove the tape from the hood.
4. Install Your New Hood Ornament
After drilling the holes, put your hood ornament inside the holes. Now pop the hood and tighten the screws.
Need more help? Then watch this video:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Need more info about the Dodge RAM hood ornament? If that’s the case, check this out:
Why are hood ornaments illegal?
Hood ornaments might look cool and everything, but they can cause serious damage to pedestrians.
Therefore, the government has begun to crack down on them. They are not as popular as before, but you might see them from time to time.
How do I stop my hood ornament theft?
Hood ornament theft has always been an ongoing problem. They are not popular anymore, but bad guys still have their ways.
So, park your car in your garage. But if that’s not an option, getting an alarm should be your number one priority, as well as cameras.
Why did they stop putting hood ornaments on cars?
Theft has always been a problem, and, unfortunately, getting a new hood ornament can add up. It’s no fun when some asshole won’t leave your vehicle alone.
Moreover, safety has been a concern around hood ornaments. Hitting a pedestrian with one can be deadly.
How do you remove hood ornaments?
Pop the hood of your vehicle. You should now see the hood ornament. Get a set of pliers and then turn the hood ornament counterclockwise. It should eventually come off.
What’s the most expensive hood ornament?
Hood ornaments are relatively cheap. They usually go for $50-$100. As for the installation cost, it costs about $30 to $50.
For the most part, they are pretty cheap. And if you don’t feel like paying somebody for this simple job, do it yourself.
Can I put a hood ornament on any car?
Yes! You can put a hood ornament on most vehicles. Don’t worry, though. It won’t block your view as you’re going down the road.
Conclusion
Found a suitable Dodge Ram hood ornament replacement? We hope that you can enjoy the road with your new and shiny hood ornament.
We carefully reviewed the four hood ornaments we just went through. For your Dodge Ram, they are the best option.
So, rest assured that they’re not cheap and questionable hood ornaments from some shady factory.