Best Lightbar/Brush Guard Combo?

[BTSullivan91]

Hey all! I know there are a lot of threads out there about lightbars, bumpers, etc, but to me, it's all vehicle specific! I want to get input from you all on what you think would look bad A on my ride!!

Thoughts

1) I'm a storm chaser. I do some off road, some mud, but beyond chasing, I don't go out mudding or looking to get stuck.

2) My ride is blacked out front to back (decals, etc, too)... I'd love a black brush guard, but I don't want something sh*%y that is going to peel off the crummy powdercoat in a year of driving in wind, rain, etc.. I live in OK, so salt isn't a big issue, plus I wash often.

3) I want something that I can mount an LED bar too.. Are these easy to do with just the bull guards? If so, maybe I don't need a full guard.. I mean, is a full really going to help me?

4) I've thought about the custom LED grille kits.. But they are like $1000 and I can get a brush guard (Westin) + a LED bar for that... Then have some added protection from the bar...

Here is a few looks at my ride so you can see what would look good... 2014 T4R Trail Premium.

Feel free to link some different options.. I am open to ideas!!!

 

[Darrie]

Maybe a nudge/push bar - this link shows where a guy got an Aries B35-2006 Black Bull Bar with Stainless Steel Skid Plate sub-$200 from Amazon for his 2014 4runner.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/140201-2014-4runner-128.html

Powder coat is a bit harder to match when touching up, but black is possibly the easiest to hide any marks.

LED Bar attaches straight to the number plate bracket.

 

[BTSullivan91]

Dang, yeah that looks really good!! Only issue is my 4R doesn't have a license plate mount in front. Oklahoma doesn't require a front plate... Hmmm! I wonder if there are any mounts made to work on the rounded edges of these type of bumpers?

Funny story, had my best off road experience a few days ago when chasing a tornado in Colorado. My buddy beside me got stuck and had to try to pull him out! A winch would have been neat... Still unsure I want one of those huge bumpers though that require you taking off the factory bumper.

 

[Darrie]

Seriously though, these nudge bars have pros & cons you need to be aware of.

Cons are they are of little use - no major strength in them. They really are just touch bars for very small trees/bushes and a little bracing should someone reverse into you. They don't support pushing heavy obstacles like another vehicle, and normally are not strong enough as a winch or pull point. Most do not have enough strength to mount a winch to them as the bar bends rather than moving a stuck vehicle. Pros are they offer some additional protection, and don't weigh your front end down like full steel amour does. Weight is your enemy once your in the dirt - lighter you are the less likely you are to sink.

I'd suggest you look at brackets that bolt on to existing mounting points to mount the light bar rather than add a nudge bar or mount direct like below, or even a light bar rack up top.

And re your winch comment, maybe not such a good idea when you may not have firm anchor points available like trees - even your vehicle would slide on those black soil plains rather than pull someone out.

I'd think about a few useful pieces of recovery equipment first: Rapid tyre deflators, Tow hitch, Snatch strap and recovery skids.

The most useful setup in a recovery of 2nd vehicle is a simple solid tow receiver hitch on the rear end of your vehicle and a recovery snatch strap. In the recovery vehicle you start on or aim for good solid ground and in a forward motion with the recovery strap on your hitch to the rear of his vehicle the big "jerk" action of the strap gas pulls him out.

For you with solo vehicle recovery on treeless stuff like your image I'd suggest the easiest recovery tools you should have onboard are the Maxtrax Recovery Skids and a shovel - instant traction and floatation and light to carry these skids enable you to drive out of most situations. In worse scenario you can also air down your tyres with rapid deflators - this can effectively double your tire footprint area which can often give you the floation needed to get grip.

Sorry just a bit of rant, but these light pieces of equipment alone will get you and your buddies out of situations 95% of the time and not kill your vehicle with additional weight.