I'm planning to put a brush guard on my 2006 250SD Crew Cab. I've seen lots of them in classifieds but am wondering the following: Will Brush guards that will fit the f-150 fit the F-250 without modification? What years are direct swaps? Just 05-07 or is there a bigger range than that? I see lots of them but end up letting them go by because I don't know if they'll fit.

Thanks in advance!

 

 

There's most likely zero F-150 to Super Duty cross-over from 1999-2016 on the front end. Tailgates cross but the front frame and facia is 100% different in every year.

That said, someone down the street from me has a very obviously Chevy front end replacement on a 99-04 Super Duty. Looks like chit, but he boogered enough welds onto the thing to make it mount. So anything is possible with a welder, time, and total lack of aesthetics.

 

 

Would love to see a picture of that!

 

As would I. There are no crossover brush guards from F150 to the SDs. I have seen a few 2011-2016 trucks in my area with guards from 08-10 trucks on them. It is noticable that they aren't exactly made for the truck, but they still look decent. The mounting points have never changed to my knowledge as these trucks have had pretty much the same frame from 99-15. Coils were added in 05, but the frame itself is still the same. I don't think a 99-04 guard would fit a new truck unless you did some pretty heavy modifications to it. Keep searching craigslist, they pop up about once a week on their in my area, and they are the exact fit ones for my truck.

In my hones opinion, brush guards alone are pretty much useless. Everyone that I have seen isn't strong enough to take any kind of hit and if they do, they fold up into the hood and destroy the grill and hood. I would look for a bumper/brush guard comb i.e. ranch hand, aries fab, road armor, etc. They are much stronger and better made.

 

Something like a Ranch Hand is actually what I had in mind, but I thought those were the ones that bolted to to spots right by the front tow hooks. Have I got that wrong? See below for the kind of thing I was thinking of (which actually came off my local craigslist which I looked at after your post - thanks).

Thanks!

 

The front frame horns were lowered in 2008 to remove the crash bar. The horn end has what appears to be the same/very similar bracket IIRC, but the mounting points did move. The whole front facia was redeisgned so it's not normally noted until you try to do a 2008+ or 2011+ front clip swap on an older truck and have to use a bracket to move the bumper.

I'll try to get real data on it tonight, I can't access the body builder guide from work but it has dimensional data on the changes.

 

Ah, so they have changed. I thought the front end was designed around the frame, not the other way around.

Yellowbeard, that pic you posted is of an 08-10 truck, but if you compare that brush guard to the one that is made for my 2014 truck, they are nearly identical. That is what I am talking about with guys near me running the 08-10 guards on their 11-16 trucks.

 

Yeah - sorry. Pic was meant only as an example of the type of thing I plan to buy. I knew that one was from an 08 (part of why I wanted to know - I like that one and it is a good price).

I assume (since you have one on your truck) that this is NOT the kind you were recommending against?

Thanks!

 

Ranch Hand makes both full replacement bumpers, bumpers with brush guard, and just the brush guard. I still think that only the brush guard from a quality brand like ranch hand will be much better than others like Westin, Smittybilt, etc. I have a ranch hand grille guard and side steps that I will be putting on this weekend for my 2000.

https://www.ranchhand.com/ford.html

I know that Fab fours, Road Armor, Cattleman, and I'm sure others also make great products, but a Fab Fours will be twice the cost of a RanchHand.

 

You can see of the left hand side the front horns really dropped in 2008:


Love my Ranch Hand full replacement:

 

That diagram was super helpful. Now I also have bumper envy. Thanks.

 

I actually do not have one on my truck. I have, however, seen the aftermath of crashes, deer, etc. It is not good with that type of brush guard. They aren't strong enough to take the blow and not buckle into the hood. Don't let that stop you from putting one on, I was just giving you some information. The ranch hand one like you have pictured is probably pretty tough. As their bumpers are indestructible.

 

Hey, I appreciate any info I can get so thanks. I would rather have the full steel bumper with integrated brush guard but I'm not sure I can find one used and my marriage won't support buying one new at this point.

Maybe I'll just build one. I need to brush up on the old welding skills.