bull bars/grille guards

[druuu88]

I have been contemplating purchasing a full grille guard for a while, but have always been turned off because of price. I wanted to know the main differences between Westin/other reputable brands and the ebay knock offs. Do they mount differently? Structural integrity? Please let me know your experience. I feel like the bullbar below is to cheap to be of any quality....


ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyo...Q5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_5492wt_1202

 

[druuu88]

called Hunter today (manufacturer of the ebay bull bar).. and they said it mounts the exact same as Westin. The guy on the phone also didn't seem to know exactly what he was talking about, but thats a whole different story.

Can anyone verify this is true? If so, why spend the extra $200-300 on Westin? Pictures would be awesome!

Im sure someone has bought the ebay one before and can comment on the structural integrity, longevity??

 

[druuu88]

well after a lot of research.. i decided to go ahead and order it today. My main concern was whether the mounting brackets would prohibit the bar from shaking side to side.

Since I have access to a welder, if that is the case, I'll be fabbing up some beefier mounting brackets or supports for the bar. Ill post pics and let you know how it all goes..


(i like how I'm the only one who responds to my own thread.. haha)

 

[benormous]

Thanks for the info. I think I will order one of these this summer. I have the same reservations you do, and I also have access to a machine shop where I can make new brackets if the included ones don't work too well. This topic has been discussed briefly several times and I don't really think there has ever been a conclusion.

 

[HNTMUP]

The Hunter Bull Bars are pretty much plug and play. No mods necessary (at least on my 02). The only real differencs that I have noviced is the Westin looks like it wraps further under the bumper and the skid plate is about 2x as thick as on the Hunter (however both are basically cosmetic).

Unless you are planning to buy a used Westin, you are pretty much SOL. Westin no longer makes bars for 3rd gen 4Runners - at lest that what Westin told me when I called to find out where to get one.

 

[druuu88]

Yeah, i was considering getting a Westin, but for the price, Hunter will suffice. Its unfortunate they discontinued their model for the 3rd gen.. makes me really realize how "old" my car really is!

How does your Hunter fair structurally? Lot of wiggle room?

 

[HNTMUP]

Probably the same as a Westin - pretty solid. My wife managed to slide into a guard rail in February. She hit at an angle but the bull bar took a majority of the impact. It was at a pretty slow speed but the bar prevented any real damage to the chrome part of the bumper. The bar was still usable but I had already decided it was a mistake to have mounted a black one for for $150 I replaced it with a chrome one. I probably would not have done that had I spend $$$$$ for a Westin. (By the way, there was no damage to the frame as a result of the barr being bent back.)

As far as wiggle room, it seems pretty solid. Guess the real test will be when I mount lights on it - then I expect to see wiggle, if there is any.

If you have access to a fabricating facillity I think it would be easy to replace the cosmetic skid plate with something more substantial for very little cost.

 

[LINY4Runner]

I can't really speak about the Hunter, but I love love love my westin bar, for what it's worth

 

[jroyal29]

pretty much any bull/grille guard is gonna be the same cuz they all hav 2 mount spots. jaos is wanna the few that actually is better quality and its high dollar

 

[druuu88]

yeah.. a jaos brush guard is what... $1400! I could buy a new Hunter guard twice a year for 3 years and still be on top...

but i do wish i could afford a Jaos

 

[jroyal29]

yeah i was just sayin that thats one of the few thats diff. i'd def go with the regular one for the money

 

[Sloan]

i got my westin last year . watch out for dicthes though. the mounts will bend in a hearbeat...

 

[sn0wrunner]

yeah.. a jaos brush guard is what... $1400! I could buy a new Hunter guard twice a year for 3 years and still be on top...

but i do wish i could afford a Jaos

Or you could buy a custom bumper! :bigok:

 

[werez12]

I just got a new WAAG one for cheap.

Do these usually come with hardware or are they stock bolts you unbolt from underneath?

 

[410toy]

brush guards

I have a post from a while ago don know how to add the link so just go to search and type in brush guard and it is the 4th or 5th one down look for 410toy !!!!! that should solve any issue you have !

 

[druuu88]

finally got the Hunter grille guard fully installed tonight! Ended up replacing all the hardware with Grade 8 (after snapping two of the crappy bolts it comes with)... drilled my frame out to use the upper mounts it comes with. This helped solve the vibration/shake a LOT. They bar is really really secure now. Also painted all the new grade 8 hardware with black enamel to match the guard. im very happy with the guard quality (MINUS the hardware which was awful).

I'll post some pics within the next few days..

 

[el-guapin]

Can you post pics?

 

[druuu88]

pics i promised

replaced all the hardware with grade 8 bolts (after a few of the crappy bolts snapped). In this picture you can see the lower brackets that attach to the tow hook/tie down locations. Originally this is the only bracket i installed, since Hunter told me the other bracket was for the Tacoma...

 

[druuu88]

The bar shook too much for my liking with just the two bottom brackets, so i decided to make the other brackets work. I had to cut out the lower plastic insert for the bracket to fit through. Took 5 minutes on each side with a skil saw. This upper bracket bolts to the frame as well. There was a preexisting hole in the top of the frame rail, but i had to drill a hole in the bottom (where the "indentations" where). Took a few minutes for each hole with the right carbide tip drill bit..

 

[druuu88]

top of the bolt that runs up through the frame rail to secure this upper bracket. I used 5" grade 5 bolts.. but 4 1/2" would have worked just fine (didnt want to go back to the hardware store to get shorter ones). I had to use spacers in order for the bracket to be lifted up and clear the plastic bumper. I used a square nut that was to big and a washer on top, this provided just enough lift to clear the bumper and still line up with the grille guard.