Thoughts on brush/grill guards

[stioc]

I'm considering getting an OEM grill guard. Now typically I'm not a fan of them due to several reasons, one I prefer a cleaner look, but the main one being in a real front end collision supposedly they do more damage than good and also the approach angle suffers. While I've seen people using them for recovery points and with the hi-lifts (with reinforcement? like WARN trans4ermer) but I don't think with just the two attachment points like the OEM racks fot the Pathfinder they should be used as such.

Having said all that they do provide a place to mount aux lights and the main reason I want one is so I can mount my hi-lift on it. I don't want to mount the hi-lift on the roof rack because it's hard to get it down and back up there, two the center of gravity is higher and three usually my roof rack is pretty darn loaded as is. I also don't want to mount it towards the rear of the truck because when loaded down for 3 days of camping the rear squats down as is so having the hi-lift and the grill guard up front should even out the weight a bit.

I'm thinking of it because a used one has come across my way for really cheap but is it even worth its weight? Would the truck look like it's trying too hard to look like something it's not? For the price I may just buy it and then sell it if I don't like it or cut it up and use it for scrap metal

 

[IdaSHO]

Youd have to have one hell of a grill guard to effect front approach angles... :snorkel:

As long as they protect the radiator (grill guard) and headlamps (brush guard) Im all for it.

That said, I dont have one on any of my rigs. I did build a "bull" bar for my subaru, to provide some radiator/front end protection, and allow for forward mounted off road lamps.

 

[mkitchen]

You are right, they don't do much

If the grill guard is like the one I am thinking of, then I recommend not putting it on. When my son bought his 80 series LC, it had a guard that was mounted in two spots and had a bar looping around each side to cover the lights. If you hit an animal or tree with this set up all you would do is push the bar into the fender.

Another option is something that the full size fellows used to use in the 1980's. It simply mounted at the bumper mounts and protected the radiator area. Mostly it was for styling and a place to hang more lights than a fellow needed, but you could build something like that for your vehicle. Now, as well as back then, so much add on stuff is more cosmetic than functional. Kind of frustrating to say the least. Good luck yours.
Mikey

 

[stioc]

The one I'm talking about looks like this:

 

[88Xj]

I like it..maybe add it some thin metal pieces in front of the headlights to better protect them from brush ect. Similar to this xj one..

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3112136/2001-jeep-cherokee/

Could go up and down or left and right like that xj version.

 

[The BN Guy]

I agree. Definitely need to avoid that - reduced approach and those things are not NEAR as strong as you think they are! They'll bend back either into the hood or the fender and do lots of extra damage.

 

[jronwood]

My beef with those type things is they will only HOLD the dent in once it pushes into the body panels. .....IMHO. I forgo them on all my stuff, JD Gator, trucks etc.... I like them well built.

Jronwood

 

[reece146]

Grille guards are crap. Next thing you know you've got the thing half ripped off in the bush and it's a bigger PITA than it was worth. Bt/dt

Put your money towards a real bull bar like the ARB, TJM, etc.

 

[enzo]

Grille guards are crap. Next thing you know you've got the thing half ripped off in the bush and it's a bigger PITA than it was worth. Bt/dt

Put your money towards a real bull bar like the ARB, TJM, etc.

^This.

 

[stioc]

OK thanks for the input guys. Now all in favor of ARB, TJM, Shrockworks please raise your hands...

Good.

Now here's my bumper-funds account on paypal, please click the 'Donate' button as frequently as your like.

In all seriousness, as much as I would like to be able to drop $1200 on a single bumper I just can't justify it. So it's either the brush guard or nothing. I actually just PM'd with someone who said he's used his brush guard as a hi-lift jacking point more than a few times and it's held up just fine. So for 1/10th the price of an ARB bumper I just may give the brush guard a try knowing the two really aren't comprable.

 

[I Leak Oil]

At least you admit what you're getting into. But.....Those factory brush guards are crap and being able to use it as a hi-lift jack point proves nothing. When going into this ask yourself what it is you want this for? If it's for protection, it won't and as others have said it is more likely to cause more damage than it prevents. Sometimes, with body armor, less is more.....

 

[reece146]

Seriously, save your money. If you want to buy your truck a present with the $120 get something useful. CB, OBA parts, anything.

 

[CYi5]

just mount the main bar of the hi-lift to your rack. Put the other components inside your rig (ratchet mechanism, base, handle). It actually breaks down surprisingly well.

 

[highdesertranger]

russ i see you are in oc. i build my own. have done them for chevy, ford, toy. i might be able to give you some pointers for something that actually works if you like. highdesertranger

 

[eurosonic]

IMO they are pretty silly. They are not as strong as they look. During an accident it would cause more damage than good. They are usually an up-sell from a dealer and put on mostly for visual impression. I would much rather invest into a quality bull bar,,, which I did.