My truck came with a brush guard. I am not used to parts on a vehicle that aren't meant to be used. So when I drove through some brush, I fully expected the guard to work as it's name implies. WRONG!

The cheap tubing bent back, broke a bolt, and dented my fender. Who the hell makes a product called a brush guard that actually does more damage than it protects from?

Anyway, now I'm looking for something a little bit more...useful. But the only ones I can find online are $2000+ bumper replacements.

I don't mind used, but the only place I know to look in that category is craigslist. And the pickings there are nonexistent. Anyone know where there are deals to be found on these things?

By the way, happy thanksgiving to all Americans near and far.

 

Brush guards, just like vehicles with 4 WD that in about 98 % of them never leave the pavement are the style, not necessity.
Than real brush guard would add probably over 200 lb to the vehicle.
Happy Thanksgiving

 

I add over 220 pounds to my truck every time I get in it.

She hasn't complained yet.

 

Yeah, most of those "brush guards" are just for looks. If you want something that provides some protection, you need something like a Ranch Hand.

 

Ranchhand does make a quality product. I haven't put mine to the test yet....I hope not to, but it's a cheap insurance policy if a deer forgets to look both ways before crossing.
What year is your truck? I'm thinking of doing an 05 front clip when I get back home in march, and If I cant make this brush guard work with minor modification, I may make you a deal on it.

 

I feel your pain. Many years ago I had one of the wraparound type on my '84 Ranger. When I hit a deer, the whole thing folded back so instead of just trashing the grill, it took out the hood and both fenders. Oh well.

 

I've heard of guys mowing down a deer at highway speed with ranch hand and not having damage. Those suckers are built well, and heavy!

 

Deer? Dude, I mowed down a Honda Accord with my Ranch Hand. Something like $3-5k of damage on him, I used a 3M pad to scour his paint off the powder coating on the RH. He stopped in the middle of an active roadway and got lucky the cars behind me swerved instead of pounding me deeper into him......


Depending on the year, full replacements can go for a few hundred on craigslist all over texas, brush guards for next to nothing, I saw some knock offs for as low as 200. My front end was $1100 installed brand spanking new. OP, look for welds instead of bolts holding the headlight guards together, and for the mounting tabs to attach to where the tow hooks are instead of just bolting into the sheet metal on the bumper. RH brush guards are just as well built as the upper part of a full replacement, the uprights are something like 1/4" plate with a strap welded along the front of it to give it some width. The main supports for my replacement are 3/8" and 1/2" plate, heavy but stout.

 

Franko72 I appreciate the offer. I have an '02 so let me know if you are letting that go.

 

10-4, I'm stuck in NC working till sometime in March, and plan to do the 05 front after that.
I picked it up at the Ranchhand outlet in Houston last Dec. It still looks new, and My 220 lbs cant get it to wiggle. (the Ranchhand that is....)

 

what kind of bush did you hit to bend the pushbar? Are you sure it wasnt a tree in a bush costume?

 

I had a full replacement Ranch Hand on my 09, but opted for the Grill Guard this time around, its and extra 140lbs up front (full replacement for the F250 is 185lbs, if that gives you an idea), its no joke. If It bends, you hit the **** outta something heavy.

I've never bent any of mine, and I'll push over trees with it. Its not moving.

 

I think what happened was the guard got hung up on a hidden tree branch in some sneaky brush as I went around a tight turn. Definitely not something you would have blinked twice at though.

Also, I can't figure out how to post a pic here, but my headlight guard is only one tube curved around, no extra supports like you guys all have. It looks very similar to this:

 

yeah, thats a lightweight one there I believe...

Here's mine.

 

my 09 full replacement bull nose: