Brush guard install

[gasouthern02xls]

Hey guys, just got a great deal on a brush guard off craigslist and need y'alls help. It didn't come with instructions so I was wondering if anyone could show me where yours bolted up to? Or direct me to a thread showing me what to do?

Those are the bolts it came with, do I need anything else?

Thanks ahead of time for any help you guys can give me.

 

[Ronin8002]

Hey guys, just got a great deal on a brush guard off craigslist and need y'alls help. It didn't come with instructions so I was wondering if anyone could show me where yours bolted up to? Or direct me to a thread showing me what to do?

Those are the bolts it came with, do I need anything else?

Thanks ahead of time for any help you guys can give me.

Seems to be missing the L-shaped brackets that allow you to bolt it to the tow hook mounting holes on the underside of the frame rails.

 

[gasouthern02xls]

Damn, that's what I thought. Does anyone know of a website or somewhere that sells just those?

 

[Ronin8002]

Maybe use google look up one of the places that makes/sells the brushguards and give them a call to see if they can sell you just those parts?

 

[DanielJ]

I had that problem. I went to a local welder and he made a set of brackets for 50 bucks. Probably the cheapest and easiest way to go. The price depends on the welder. Could get lucky and find someone to do them even cheaper.

 

[Dano!]

Can you put a pic with the entire brush guard? I think you have the same type as i do. I had to do some modifications to get it on without the brackets. If its the same one i will post the pics i have of what i had to do.

I know i have a different year but it might work

 

[gasouthern02xls]

I know it's not an Aries nor a Westin because the mounting brackets are different, any ideas guys?

 

[DanielJ]

maybe a truck gear direct one..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/02-05-Ford-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c2b5eb5e3&vxp=mtr

 

[gasouthern02xls]

That's what I was thinking too, but I don't know. Can someone who has a brush guard from them post a picture of the brackets?

 

[xTOM153x]

It is a Hunter Grill Guard. I would contact them at this site http://www.truckgeardirect.com/ tell them you need the brackets and bolts washers for it. The bracket is just a long L shaped bracket. The bolts are welded to like a tiny bar thingy that braces itself inside the frame. You slip that bar with the bolt thing into the frame and the bolts will come out of the holes and that is where the brackets bolt up to. Other than the bracket you have everything else you need.

 

[Dano!]

When i installed mine i did not have any brackets. Granted mine was the same brand but different model. My problem was that the bolts that held my bumper to the frame did not Line up with the holes on the guard. And the holes on the guard were too small.

I had to drill the holes out to a larger diameter first and to get the guard on to the truck i had to do two things.

1. I had to remove the trim under my bumper for clearence.
2. I had to cut the bracket the bolts ( that held the bumper to frame) in the middle. Essentially making two individual bolts for each side. That was the only way i could get the get the guard on without brackets. When i get home i could post pictures if you would like.

 

[gasouthern02xls]

It is a Hunter Grill Guard. I would contact them at this site http://www.truckgeardirect.com/ tell them you need the brackets and bolts washers for it. The bracket is just a long L shaped bracket. The bolts are welded to like a tiny bar thingy that braces itself inside the frame. You slip that bar with the bolt thing into the frame and the bolts will come out of the holes and that is where the brackets bolt up to. Other than the bracket you have everything else you need.

Any chance you could post pictures of that?

 

[xTOM153x]

Unfortunately the only thing that can take picture of it is with my iPhone and won't be getting another one for about a week so I can post a picture then but it will be like a week before i can get a picture up on here of it.

 

[HiImBrian]

Unfortunately the only thing that can take picture of it is with my iPhone and won't be getting another one for about a week so I can post a picture then but it will be like a week before i can get a picture up on here of it.

I take all my pictures with my iPhone and upload them all to photobucket with their free app... It takes 2 mins. Just saying.

 

[xTOM153x]

I take all my pictures with my iPhone and upload them all to photobucket with their free app... It takes 2 mins. Just saying.

I just recently sold my iPhone so I don't have it...waiting for my iPhone 5 to arrive. Only camera I have at the moment so I can't take a picture of the brackets.

 

[gasouthern02xls]

I take all my pictures with my iPhone and upload them all to photobucket with their free app... It takes 2 mins. Just saying.

Brian, first off your truck is by far one of my favorites on this site. Is there any way you could take like 2 or 3 pictures of your mounting brackets for the brushguard? I don't want to order brackets without first making sure that those are the ones I need.

 

[HiImBrian]

Brian, first off your truck is by far one of my favorites on this site. Is there any way you could take like 2 or 3 pictures of your mounting brackets for the brushguard? I don't want to order brackets without first making sure that those are the ones I need.

Thanks, I kinda like it too. My brackets are a little different because A. I have a 3" body lift and B. I have tow hooks from an F-150.

The brackets from hunter are meant to have you mount them to the underside of the frame rail. Because my tow hooks had to mount there instead, I had to cut about a third of the bracket off to allow it to slide into the frame rail. You can see that here:

Seeing these photos I recommend a can of black Rustoleum...

Because I had to cut them, I lost the use of the third mounting hole as you can see in the pictures. I also had to use the left bracket on the right side, and the right bracket on the left side so the holes would lineup. The only way that you can mount a brush guard and tow hooks is with a 3 inch body lift. There is not enough clearance otherwise. The bolts that you see holding on the tow hooks and the brush guard brackets are grade 10 bolts from Fastenal, not the ones sent with my brush guard. They were too short.

I actually prefer the brush guard with my body lift. The body lift raises the body 3", but repositioning the brackets only raises the brush guard about an inch and a half. In my opinion, the brush guard sits a little lower on the body and looks a lot cleaner. Many of the other trucks you see with a brush guard and no body lift, the brush guard looks like it's sitting too high.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

 

[Ronin8002]

slightly off topic Brian, but would you believe that those grade 8 bolts for one of my tow hooks sheared right off when I got in my accident? found both tow hooks next to the crash site, and one of them was bent in a U-shape from the front to the back!

 

[HiImBrian]

slightly off topic Brian, but would you believe that those grade 8 bolts for one of my tow hooks sheared right off when I got in my accident? found both tow hooks next to the crash site, and one of them was bent in a U-shape from the front to the back!

I'm not going to lie. That's really cool. Did you keep the bent tow hook? I would have just for the reminder. Did you have the molded hooks or the ones like I have with the bent piece of steel?

 

[Ronin8002]

I'm not going to lie. That's really cool. Did you keep the bent tow hook? I would have just for the reminder. Did you have the molded hooks or the ones like I have with the bent piece of steel?

Yeah it's crazy how much force a 4700+ lb truck has when it impacts something at highway speed. It was the cast steel type...thing weighed like 5 lbs. I kept the hook for a while but threw it out this morning as I've been cleaning metal scraps and junk out of the garage. I took a pic...I'll post it if I still have it.