Brushguard ??

[Norad]

I have been looking around for a bit for a brushguard that is both functional and doesn't break the bank, and am at a lose. I know that a brushguard in modern terms menas that you can't use it to run things down but at the same time I want to make sure that it doesn't shake when I am driving down the highway. I need a brushguard that I can use as a hard-point when I have stuff on my roof such as kayak and or anything else. Who out there has a brushguard that they are happy with? I called about the brushguards that you can get from Ramsey and was blown away when the local shop quoted me $920 and change. There have to be a couple of good options out there.

 

[bmxking5]

I think just about any frame mounted brush guard would be good. I've heard a lot of good things about the Manik(?) brush guard. You might want to check those out.

 

[jimcom]

There is a company on ebay that sells them, it's under 300 shipped to your door. Hunter is the brand name.
Here is the listing......
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7978086004&category=33645

 

[Norad]

I think that I am going to go with the WAAG one piece brush guard. It seems to be priced a bit high but at the same time quality.

http://www.autoanything.com/generic_pages/product_image.aspx?id=160297&p_id=1236
or :thumbdwn:

 

[IAmTodd]

I would find a good one and do some reinforcing of your own. My old one jiggled about going down the road, and it seemed solidly mounted. Although I'm not sure because I haven't hit anything with it.

 

[j602]

I have a Longtek. It is super strong, and never moves. You can swing from it and it won't budge. $350 shipped from sportztrailers.com.

 

[jimcom]

Thumbs down on the waag.
The thing I don't like about it is it doesn't go with the contours of the 2nd gens.
I like the ones that follow the outline of the grille rather than the straight up and down ones.
\-/ vs. I-I
Thats just my personal preference though, get what you like.

 

[TravisM.]

I'm in the same boat.

I just got my 96 Sport last week. I would like something on the front, both for cosmetic purposes, and to mount a set of lights on.

The 2G Explorer is a hard duck to shop for. The contours of the front end are gorgeous, but it seems all of the brush guards/light bars I've seen for the front end, that look like they belong on the vehicle rather than looking out of place, are very expensive. I mean, I dont mind paying for quality, but for this, what is the difference? As long as the tubing is a decent guage, the mount is solid to the frame, and the welds are good, how can they justify over $200 on one of these?

On a side note, a buddy of mine has a Westin Safari Bar on his 4-door S-10. It looks nice on his truck, but pictures Ive seen of 2G Explorers with Safari Bars mounted make it look like more of a bumper protector than anything else. It doesnt look to come up very high on the front end. If possible, I would prefer protection for the full grille.

 

[jimcom]

I agree, never been a fan of the safari bars on an explorer, the full guard looks much better IMHO. Now whether they protect better or not, well thats a whole other debate, most of the grille guards out there are for aesthetic purposes, and not protection.
But I still figure if you pop a deer at a decent clip, it's better to replace a $250 grille guard than a $600 hood. Now if you really smack something hard, no grille guard is gonna absorb ALL of the damage, but it may take most of the punishment.

 

[TravisM.]

I just saw one in JC whitney today. $79 for the grille gaurd, $40 for the headlight gaurds. Of course, thats black to match my X, the chrome plated ones are obviously more expensive.