grill guards- form or function?

[blue_goose]

I have a shot at a nice grille guard that looks like a Westin or Manik, or one of the other top brands, I'm not sure which. However, I am apprehensive about these. I really want one because I like the look, but most importantly I really need some protection on the front end. I have heard these are more for show than anything else. I need something that can take abuse (somethimes rather harsh abuse), and was wondering if this would help me, as I have heard that they just slam into your front end everytime you hit something and do more harm than good and I have also heard that they can do a good job protecting things up front and am not sure what to think. Any ideas?

 

[JCUZ]

I have a shot at a nice grille guard that looks like a Westin or Manik, or one of the other top brands, I'm not sure which. However, I am apprehensive about these. I really want one because I like the look, but most importantly I really need some protection on the front end. I have heard these are more for show than anything else. I need something that can take abuse (somethimes rather harsh abuse), and was wondering if this would help me, as I have heard that they just slam into your front end everytime you hit something and do more harm than good and I have also heard that they can do a good job protecting things up front and am not sure what to think. Any ideas?

I assume you mean something like this:

They bolt to the chassis rails (where the tow hooks come standard), and some even have a mid mount that bolts up under the lower grille opening into the metal of the front bumper bar. So to say they hit your body work would suggest that those this has happened to haven't secured it very well at all.

They offer limited protection - in fact, here (in Oz), we call them "Nudge" bars, as they will take the odd nudge, bang or scrape, but in a big impact, say with a Kangaroo or a cow, you'd be better off with a full 4 post bull bar like the one below:

I have voted with my feet on this one - I've just spent the weekend painting a second hand nudge bar; I went for a hammer coat charcoal finish, which should match the plastic trim on my XLT.

 

[not8taxi]

I have a shot at a nice grille guard that looks like a Westin or Manik, or one of the other top brands, I'm not sure which. However, I am apprehensive about these. I really want one because I like the look, but most importantly I really need some protection on the front end. I have heard these are more for show than anything else. I need something that can take abuse (somethimes rather harsh abuse), and was wondering if this would help me, as I have heard that they just slam into your front end everytime you hit something and do more harm than good and I have also heard that they can do a good job protecting things up front and am not sure what to think. Any ideas?

i have an 02 explorer...i put the black westin bull bar ....i hit the divider one icy/snowing night and if it wasnt for that bull bar my radiator and the whole front end wouldve ended up next to the firewall...the bull bar took most of the impact with the bumper and fender...replaced everything and put a new bull bar on it...the body shop did say that sometimes they tweak the frame and whaever....but it turned out that it didnt do any damage to the frame...i would say get the westin bull bar ...you'll be happy with it...

 

[Mustang4mikey]

All i can say is that when my X was hit it was sent into a car infront of it. If it hasnt been for my push bar, X would have been taken to the junk yard! The Chevy Caprice infront of my truck lost its entire trunk and RH quater. All i had was a broken turn signal and scratched bar.
IMHO whether its a bullbar or a full Brush guard they help!!!

 

[m4dc0w]

For most system, they defeat the purpose of the guard when they have a pivot so you can clean/work on your front end. The weakest point will be the pivot.

Some are mounted directly to the frame rails, which will be much stronger. I had a similar one on my Bronco, that I have on my EX which had brush guards. A couple of years ago I hit a average size deer that should have totalled my truck, it bounced off the main grill guard, and bent back one of the brush guards either that no body damage.

Ny only concern is how does the grill guard affect the airbag sensors, I emailed Warn about that, and after 6 months I have yet to get a response.

 

[blue_goose]

Well, it sounds like they are pretty hardy, which will do for me. I have always wondered about the sensors though, does anyone know if these affect the sensors and how much effect they have on them?

 

[JCUZ]

Well, it sounds like they are pretty hardy, which will do for me. I have always wondered about the sensors though, does anyone know if these affect the sensors and how much effect they have on them?

The bar I am fitting is fully airbag compatible - it comes with a sticker that says so! Most nudge/brush bars and bull bars are air bag compatible these days - how many cars do you know of that don't have air bags???

Now, I'm not sure what airbag compatible actual means, but I assume it means that in an accident where the air bag sensors would have triggered the air bags to inflate, they still will even with the bar fitted (Pretty big impact).

 

[corkey]

after having hit 3 deer on the highway i put one on my other truck, but i have yet to put one on my Ex, ,
i had my other truck fixed by the insurance company , deer was dead, but the damage was about $3200 , and i was going slow,, that was just one,, i have had 3,
way more expensive than a grill guard,

 

[m4dc0w]

Then stop trying to run over deer....

 

[bigapple]

im pretty sure most guards will be airbag compatible... the way the airbag sensor works is somewhat like a spring-loaded trigger... however many G's push forward throw the sensor forward... and when the sensor closes the circuit if it touches, the airbags deploy

ive had my full guard for a while now and i rear-ended someone going about 15 and all was good... one thing though, since it was only bolted to the bottom of the frame, the thing bent back and put a little dent in the top of the hood... besides that it was good... its made me consider reinforcing it and putting the bars on the top part and connecting that to the frame as well though

heres my setup... been pretty sturdy so far

and for a little comic relief in this thread....

 

[Blazepet7]

mine feels sturdy but is bolted on with mounting brackets i love the look but i dont know how it would hold up to a hard impact, it depends what your trying to avoid, branches, deer, annoying people who cant parallel park (my reason). if you want it for brush this is not the one.

 

[m4dc0w]

I run a Warn Trans4mer on mine. It mounts on the lower frame rails, and has about 4 crossbars above also. It doesn`t budge.

I have used it to push on of our trator units without much movement or damage to the guard (using a tire as a cushin)

People learn to be very careful when they drive close I notice.

 

[JCUZ]

Here's mine fitted today. I managed to retain the factory tow hooks as well. It's painted charcoal hammercoat finish, and almost matches the grey plastic trim. Pretty pleased with it - just needs a bit of work to tidy it up, and a couple of spot light to sit in the brackets, and it's all done.

 

[blue_goose]

that is pretty much exactly what i want!!! I will pm a couple of you guys to get more details about your gruads. but thanks for the info- very helpful!! one last thing-- does anyone make a off-road bumper that is affordable for this generation X? I can't find any, and thats what I really want but I will settle for a bull guard if I can't find one.

 

[JCUZ]

that is pretty much exactly what i want!!! expect a pm soon asking for more deails. and does anyone make a off-road bumper that is affordable for this generation X? I can't find any, and thats what I really want but I like that bull guard almost as much.

blue_goose, was that for me, or one of the others. Remember that I'm in Australia, so the bars we get here are going to be from local suppliers (TJM, ECB etc). You can google them to get the styles you are after, but I think Westin makes similar bars. Mine is just a 3" nudge bar, but I think Westin call it a 3" bull bar. I'll see if I can find you a link to something that you can get in the states.

Check out the following (link to pic).
www.westinautomotive.com/photographs/SMALL JPGs/FDBB322WPR.jpg

Personally, I like the black one, but they have chrome too. It looks similar to mine, but with a bash guard fitted under it as well. More details etc found here:
www.westinautomotive.com
Click on the E series bull bar, or the ultimate bull bar (Ultimate is the one pictured in the link above)

 

[High_Order1]

I need something that can take abuse (somethimes rather harsh abuse),

Dude - having rammed a couple of cars in my lifetime, I can tell you that if it doesn't look like something off of the Road Warrior, very little on the market is going to help you. That includes the vehicles.

When you pop other vehicles, it rattles EVERYTHING in the push vehicle. I have a friend who does some stuff for some people involving teaching them how to get out of problems using a vehicle. Even with the heavy duty "PIT" style bumpers, they still wind up trashing them after a couple of years, because it torques the frame a little time each time, and knocks a lot of stuff out of spec.

Most of the bumpers you see are for looks or to mount lights on. Like the Aussie guy says, there are what they call Bull Bars, but those are for the occasional tap. They aren't designed for actually mashing something / someone.

There are some AWESOME bumpers that you could special order, but you are looking at a grand plus.

Google "Mighty Mo", or "Warn heavy duty bumper", or "Road Armor Stealth Bumper with Lonestar Guard" for a few I think are pretty bad ass....

-Shawn

 

[blue_goose]

Allright, thanks for the help! I wil check out those bumpers although Im sure they are too much for me, but I will see. As far as being able to smash anything, i reralise that this is a 4500 lb truck and thats alot of momentum to have behind you so it won't be bulletproof. I just need something that can push people, bounce off a tree when off-roading or take a minor idiot hitting the front of it in traffic, and animals too (with the hope I can slow down before I hit them). So it sounds like I should be covered as long as I do my homework. I will definitly check out those links, thanks again for all the help!!

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

jcuz did u put yellow window tint over ur stock fogs or did u get yellow bulbs and u got pics of them on at all.

 

[TheChadders]

I have a shot at a nice grille guard that looks like a Westin or Manik, or one of the other top brands, I'm not sure which. However, I am apprehensive about these. I really want one because I like the look, but most importantly I really need some protection on the front end. I have heard these are more for show than anything else. I need something that can take abuse (somethimes rather harsh abuse), and was wondering if this would help me, as I have heard that they just slam into your front end everytime you hit something and do more harm than good and I have also heard that they can do a good job protecting things up front and am not sure what to think. Any ideas?

I can tell you my westin grille guard has been through hell and back
first the day i bought it i ran into an ice bank at 20 did no damage to the truck and none to the grille guard
i have beat it up on rocks and no damage
i have rear ended a car and no damage to my car or the grille guard

These things provide excellent protection and would recommend them highly

 

[JCUZ]

jcuz did u put yellow window tint over ur stock fogs or did u get yellow bulbs and u got pics of them on at all.

O/T - They are complete replacement units off ebay and come with the yellow plastic lenses. Only issue I had is that they take the bulbs from the high beam, not the standard ones that come with the clear driving lights. But I had 2 spare after my HID conversion anyway, so just used them.

Back OT - I have now fully secured my nudge bar/grille guard and it does feel nice and strong. Hopefully, I'll never have to use it though!