Bought a chrome grille guard yesterday off cl for $100, the guy said it was for a 97 f250 but it looks like it is more for an 03 superduty. Not positive though. Either way, we made it work, and it looks good on my truck (in my opinion). I mounted it up with brackets I found from ace hardware, they seemed sturdy enough, until I got the grille guard mounted up. It saggs forward, which we allieviated by putting bolts through the top of the bumper.

My question is, did Ford put tow hooks on the f250 or f350 of this body style, that would fit my half ton 96? I could probably use the tow hooks or the brackets off of them to make this guard more sturdy, seeing as those would be steel.

We attached the brackets to the bumper mount bolts, and I had to use an L bracket to mount the guard up.

 

Looks Nice.
But remember on these trucks Ford used a crush frame on the front of the frame. Look underneath & you will see rolls for a lack of a better word for about a foot. They are there to collapse the frame in a head on collision. So I wouldn't be pulling or pushing to much unless you mount behind that area.
Craig

 

You brackets look Terrible.

As for the crumple zone. only 1/2 tons and bronco had them

 

Those brackets look awful..

 

Thanks for all the positive reinforcement and great ideas guys! Yes I know these trucks have crumple zones. I didn't put it on to ram into ****. I think they look good.

I will work on the brackets, but **** it they hold it up and its sturdy. Just not straight.

I remember now why I love these kinds of forums.

 

it don't look to bad i would just take out a section to pull the bottom closer to the bumper

 

It hangs down really low. All brush guards are are damage multipliers.

 

Will that thing even clear a speed bump? I've never seen a brush guard hang down that far. It certainly wasn't intended for your application.

 

YUP. Just bump a deer and you whole front end will be gone. If you had nothing on there, you would of just needed a bumper and MAYBE a grill.

They are Purely for cosmetics. And that looks like a s s

 

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how would this cause more damage

 

well since that is a full replacement bumper that just happens to also have a brush guard on it, that's not what they are talking about...

 

it sure seems like it and i was just being a smart a s s...

 

I've seen full bumper replacements get bent back through the body to the point that they were touching the block from a deer. I've also seen them get ripped off the frame by another vehicle.

On the other hand the (bumper mount) one on my pickup survived a 70 mph deer hit. With the fender and door taking the damage from the deer rolling down the side.

In my opinion it all depends on how/what you hit and how the stars are aligned.

As for the looks I would agree with a earlier comment about sectioning the lower part and bring it up to where the horizontal tubes will alight with the brackets. That will help with clearance and give you something to help cover the brackets. Only if you're looking to change anything though. If you like it then it's that much easier!

 

I didn't put it on for deer. I live in the suburbs of colorado not the hills of wyoming. In MY opinion it looks good. Which is all that matters, seeing as its my truck right? I raised it up last night so it doesn't sit so low to the ground. And if a honda lowered two inches from the ground will clear a speed bump, I'm pretty sure the bottom of a grille guard that sits a foot off the ground will.

 

Build some heavy duty brackets, one big pothole and its going flying.