Brush guards ? Are they worth it?
#31
05-18-2010 | 04:29 PM
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
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From: CA Bay Area
It is common misconception about what protects occupants.
The brush guard will protect the paint in parking lot incidents, but in really hard accident will not absorb the impact like crumple zones would.
Hope the picture from other forum shows here, but this is a wagon that sitting at red light and was hit by heavier car at 60 mph. When you take a look, the car body absorbed the impact, sacrificing itself. The driver of this Mercedes walk away, the driver of Chevy Lumina was airlifted.
It is your choice what is your priority.
The brush guard will protect the paint in parking lot incidents, but in really hard accident will not absorb the impact like crumple zones would.
Hope the picture from other forum shows here, but this is a wagon that sitting at red light and was hit by heavier car at 60 mph. When you take a look, the car body absorbed the impact, sacrificing itself. The driver of this Mercedes walk away, the driver of Chevy Lumina was airlifted.
It is your choice what is your priority.
#32
05-18-2010 | 05:32 PM
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 2
From: So Oregon
I worked as an insurance adjuster in an area where deer impacts were relatively common, as were livestock impacts.
Brush guards help, but they don't keep you from getting damage. Full bumper replacements are the same thing, but they "usually" limit vehicle damage more. What ends up happening when you have a full bumper replacement is you have to buy a new $1500 - $2000 bumper/guard and you have frame damage, as well as some vehicle damage. If you have a brush guard you have to replace a $700 brush guard and you have $1300 dollars in additional body damage to the vehicle. Honestly it's a toss up. No matter what you do, the deer you hit is going to put it's antlers through your radiator or intercooler. Then it's going to glance off and go down the side of your vehicle causing minor damage down the side of the vehicle, to the fender, door and bedside. Or, you'll have bought a light bar only for $199 and you'll drive right over the sucker and won't be able to find any damage on the vehicle whatsoever, except maybe some deer hair caught in a shock mount.
Buy what you like cosmetically because it's like insurance, once you get a serious "deer protector" you won't see a deer. But the day after you decide to spend your money on tires instead of a kick *ss bumper you'll hit three deer on the way to the grocery store.
Brush guards help, but they don't keep you from getting damage. Full bumper replacements are the same thing, but they "usually" limit vehicle damage more. What ends up happening when you have a full bumper replacement is you have to buy a new $1500 - $2000 bumper/guard and you have frame damage, as well as some vehicle damage. If you have a brush guard you have to replace a $700 brush guard and you have $1300 dollars in additional body damage to the vehicle. Honestly it's a toss up. No matter what you do, the deer you hit is going to put it's antlers through your radiator or intercooler. Then it's going to glance off and go down the side of your vehicle causing minor damage down the side of the vehicle, to the fender, door and bedside. Or, you'll have bought a light bar only for $199 and you'll drive right over the sucker and won't be able to find any damage on the vehicle whatsoever, except maybe some deer hair caught in a shock mount.
Buy what you like cosmetically because it's like insurance, once you get a serious "deer protector" you won't see a deer. But the day after you decide to spend your money on tires instead of a kick *ss bumper you'll hit three deer on the way to the grocery store.
#33
05-18-2010 | 07:08 PM
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Lubbock
with ranch hands ive had good success. totaled two trucks and the grill guard survived. my step dad built his for his 06 and i will probably build one for mine at some point. i dont prefer the pipe look though so i will opt for some plate steel. im thinking 3/16-1/4 for the front and probably half inch for the uprights. i will use pipe for the guard part but probably one inch or inch and a 1/4 because i dont like the flimsy look of 3/4
#34
06-16-2010 | 10:52 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Claremore, OK
Sorry for pulling an older thread out of the closet guys.
That's what happened to me in the wee hours of the morning (10 minutes past midnight to be exact). I creamed a buck with my stock F250 while driving 60 mph. Didn't have a chance to miss him, he ran out in front of me at point-blank. I haven't gotten the truck to a body shop yet (I work out on the road during the week), but from what I can see the driver's front fender...headlight/turn signal...grill...and bumper are all going to be replaced; I'm sure there are a couple other minor trim items but that's the big ticket stuff that messed up. Since I travel through the area where I hit "bucky" (aka Venison Valley) twice a week...I'd like to come up with a good replacement that will offer my truck a little better protection for next time.
I don't need a receiver hitch or winch mount...there's a reason I call it a Pavement Princess; this truck spends 99.09% of it's time rolling down the hwy/interstate either pulling trailers or running light. The other 0.01% I've got the front end in the air for an oil change or rotating tires. The thing that is killing me is pretty much all the ones that I've been able to see online (Ranch Hand, FabFour, Herd, etc) are either close to $2k or suited for lifted 4WD trucks. Both of which do not appeal to me. Does anyone have a suggestion for a reasonable replacement bumper that isn't close to $2,000 or well suited for a lifted 4WD?
I don't need a receiver hitch or winch mount...there's a reason I call it a Pavement Princess; this truck spends 99.09% of it's time rolling down the hwy/interstate either pulling trailers or running light. The other 0.01% I've got the front end in the air for an oil change or rotating tires. The thing that is killing me is pretty much all the ones that I've been able to see online (Ranch Hand, FabFour, Herd, etc) are either close to $2k or suited for lifted 4WD trucks. Both of which do not appeal to me. Does anyone have a suggestion for a reasonable replacement bumper that isn't close to $2,000 or well suited for a lifted 4WD?
#35
06-17-2010 | 12:53 AM
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,187
Likes: 193
From: Breckenridge, TX
Ranch Hands run $1200 installed here, I really don't know where people keep pulling the $2,000 number from. You can order them on the internet and have them shipped across the South for less than $1500.
Call the outlet store for Ranch Hand in Irving, TX (Dallas), that isn't more than a day out of your way from Ft Smith. They'll sell you one for probably $1300 after taxes, and the install takes mechanical skill that's on par with changing the oil and rotating the tires.
Even with the receiver hitch and all that jazz, the Ranch Hand is your best bet, unless you find someone to make you one like South Texas Outfitters will, with either stacked 3/4" pipe, or single 5" pipe. The leading edge that will hit the deer first will always be the pipe part of the replacement bumper, then the uprights of the grille guard. Find one made from at least Sched. 40 pipe (so the pipe won't bend) and 1/4" or thicker sq. tubing, and that's all you'll need. I know you don't want the front end to look like a jacked up 4wd ready to run into a tree, but anything flimsy and delicate looking will do more harm than good. Get a replacement that's got a pipe built in it, or a grille guard Jethro welded up in his backyard out of scrap rails.
Call the outlet store for Ranch Hand in Irving, TX (Dallas), that isn't more than a day out of your way from Ft Smith. They'll sell you one for probably $1300 after taxes, and the install takes mechanical skill that's on par with changing the oil and rotating the tires.
Even with the receiver hitch and all that jazz, the Ranch Hand is your best bet, unless you find someone to make you one like South Texas Outfitters will, with either stacked 3/4" pipe, or single 5" pipe. The leading edge that will hit the deer first will always be the pipe part of the replacement bumper, then the uprights of the grille guard. Find one made from at least Sched. 40 pipe (so the pipe won't bend) and 1/4" or thicker sq. tubing, and that's all you'll need. I know you don't want the front end to look like a jacked up 4wd ready to run into a tree, but anything flimsy and delicate looking will do more harm than good. Get a replacement that's got a pipe built in it, or a grille guard Jethro welded up in his backyard out of scrap rails.
#37
06-17-2010 | 08:55 AM
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
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Sorry for pulling an older thread out of the closet guys.That's what happened to me in the wee hours of the morning (10 minutes past midnight to be exact). I creamed a buck with my stock F250 while driving 60 mph. Didn't have a chance to miss him, he ran out in front of me at point-blank. I haven't gotten the truck to a body shop yet (I work out on the road during the week), but from what I can see the driver's front fender...headlight/turn signal...grill...and bumper are all going to be replaced; I'm sure there are a couple other minor trim items but that's the big ticket stuff that messed up. Since I travel through the area where I hit "bucky" (aka Venison Valley) twice a week...I'd like to come up with a good replacement that will offer my truck a little better protection for next time.
I don't need a receiver hitch or winch mount...there's a reason I call it a Pavement Princess; this truck spends 99.09% of it's time rolling down the hwy/interstate either pulling trailers or running light. The other 0.01% I've got the front end in the air for an oil change or rotating tires. The thing that is killing me is pretty much all the ones that I've been able to see online (Ranch Hand, FabFour, Herd, etc) are either close to $2k or suited for lifted 4WD trucks. Both of which do not appeal to me. Does anyone have a suggestion for a reasonable replacement bumper that isn't close to $2,000 or well suited for a lifted 4WD?
I don't need a receiver hitch or winch mount...there's a reason I call it a Pavement Princess; this truck spends 99.09% of it's time rolling down the hwy/interstate either pulling trailers or running light. The other 0.01% I've got the front end in the air for an oil change or rotating tires. The thing that is killing me is pretty much all the ones that I've been able to see online (Ranch Hand, FabFour, Herd, etc) are either close to $2k or suited for lifted 4WD trucks. Both of which do not appeal to me. Does anyone have a suggestion for a reasonable replacement bumper that isn't close to $2,000 or well suited for a lifted 4WD?
#38
06-17-2010 | 09:14 AM
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Minnesota
After reading some of the previous posts, I feel lucky! Last summer on our way to the Black Hills in SD, just an hour into our trip a deer came out of nowhere just to get a close-up of the right front (then undercarriage) of my X. I'm guessing he was about 150-170#. I pulled over, thinking our trip may be over early, but the only damage I could find was a baseball size dent in the front of the bumper! After arriving in SD and cleaning the deer remains off the front of the TT, my 11 year old son showed me the deer remains splattered all over the driver's side wheels! There sure wasn't much more I could have asked from the ol X!
Last edited by fordboy67; 06-17-2010 at 09:15 AM. Reason: spelling
#39
07-14-2010 | 05:40 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 856
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From: PineyWoods
They look essentially identical to Ranch Hand - but I believe they are less expensive. I haven't been able to determine yet if that is due simply to consumer preference in the marketplace for the leading brand name, or if the Cattleman product is a little lighter in terms of materials or workmanship.
It seems like posting links can be tricky - but if you do a web search using 'CattlemanHD bumper' your search should take you right to it.
There's another outfit I've found called Frontier Truck Gear that may be a more affordable option for you, too, depending on what exactly you may need/be looking for.
Right now, I'm trying to decide which of these three I plan to go with on the rear setup I need.
Good luck and be sure and post us up a pic with what you end up getting.
J
#41
08-14-2010 | 03:56 AM
Fulltime INFIDEL!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 252
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From: Down South
My grille guard is pretty stout. It's made of square tubing, has 5 crossmembers, bolts up in 4 places, and I can stand on the brush guards without them flexing (I'm 6'4 and 225lbs). I don't know know what is in the uprights, but they are not hollow. The whole thing makes working under the hood a lot easier, as it's a nice perch. I got it about 5 years ago for about $500. It was made by a company called Diamond B that has since gone under. A buddy fabbed the light bar. I wish it had provisions for a multimount winch, but I'm not going to give it up for anything! If you can find a used one, you better ****** it up quick. I have seen a few on older Haliburton trucks in the OK/TX area. If I had to guess, I would say it weighs more than 200lbs. Taking it on and off is a NIGHTMARE!
#42
07-26-2015 | 01:56 PM
New User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 22
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Ranch hand Full Replacement
Brush guards that bolt into sheet metal will rip off if you hit anything hard, usually taking the sheet metal with them. If you push on stuff with them, normally they'll just bend until they hit something on the truck, and then noramally dent that in too. Stay away from them IMO, they're pretty pointless.
Full front end replacement absolutely suck if you hit anything big at high speed, like another SD or large truck. If you beat on them on the farm, they hold up great. We used a Ranch Hand yesterday to straighten up bent pipe uprights in an arena, I've put some pretty heavy trailers on the front receiver on them, and hit deer and various other animals, and they've always held up fine. If you bend the grille guard part bad enough or bend the plate stell, you can torch it off and weld replacement parts in, you lose the powercoating, but they are fixable to an extent. But again, in a truck-truck collision, you're screwed no matter what in a SD.
Edit: Price wise, $2200 is WAY high. Ranch Hand full replacements, the good ones with the sched 40 pipe are 1300 installed in Lubbock, and from what I've seen around Texas, even that is a little high. If you look around you can find new ones for ~1100, the install is easy. ARB and road armour winch bumpers are expensive, and IMO worthless because they're made of all basically plate steel and have no grille guard uprights on them. Ranch Hand is best, but I'm prejudiced because that's what I've used the most.
Full front end replacement absolutely suck if you hit anything big at high speed, like another SD or large truck. If you beat on them on the farm, they hold up great. We used a Ranch Hand yesterday to straighten up bent pipe uprights in an arena, I've put some pretty heavy trailers on the front receiver on them, and hit deer and various other animals, and they've always held up fine. If you bend the grille guard part bad enough or bend the plate stell, you can torch it off and weld replacement parts in, you lose the powercoating, but they are fixable to an extent. But again, in a truck-truck collision, you're screwed no matter what in a SD.
Edit: Price wise, $2200 is WAY high. Ranch Hand full replacements, the good ones with the sched 40 pipe are 1300 installed in Lubbock, and from what I've seen around Texas, even that is a little high. If you look around you can find new ones for ~1100, the install is easy. ARB and road armour winch bumpers are expensive, and IMO worthless because they're made of all basically plate steel and have no grille guard uprights on them. Ranch Hand is best, but I'm prejudiced because that's what I've used the most.
Was testing out a new light bar.
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