Bumper/Grill Guard:Advice?

[Got2xlr8]

Had a minor crack up with a Honda CRV, (low speed, like foot off the brake) popped the bumper cover, and bent one of the bumper cover supports, (1/4 inch separation from the passenger head lamp) the damage is on the TOP of the bumper cover just in front of the grill, just >12-14" in length (from a distance you really can't tell).



Now that you know what I've got to deal with, I have 2 options for dealing with the problem:

Replace the bumper cover/support & Add a grill guard (WAAG center)
$600 ($100 for the BumpCover, $500 to paint and install) + $500@Andy'sAutosport (WAAG) + $100-150 ancillaries.

or

install ARB/CBI/Shrockworks/Other Bumper
~$1000+

not going rock crawling, biggest concerns are future vehicle contact/deer contact. Don't really want to reduce my MPG's much more than the V8 already has which is a concern with the Armor.

 

[OrdnanceMarine]

Is this being done via insurance or are you paying out of pocket? If out of pocket you might want to find another 4Runner owner who's done the armor swap and has their cover sitting around collecting dust and install it yourself. I know if I were in a situation where replacing my front bumper cover were necessary I'd go armor without the grill guard since deer strikes are pretty rare where I drive (sure wish there were more deer here) and I don't want the hit to highway MPG unless it buys me something useful. YMMV.

 

[Michael M]

I'm in the same boat as the OP. Not in the sense I have a damaged bumper but in the sense of thinking about front end armor for deer strikes. What kind of hit to MPG are we looking at on average when going with an ARB (for example)? 1-2 or more like 3-5?
Deer strikes are a big concern with our T4R as we have many close calls leading up to deer season in Wisconsin when the population is at its peak. Would a brush guard protect against a deer strike at 55-65 mph or cause more problems? Like the OP, I'm no rock crawler. Just looking for a good venison deflector.

 

[Got2xlr8]

Is this being done via insurance or are you paying out of pocket?

yeah I'll be footing the bill on this one. AFAIK there isn't a lot of 4 wheeling in this farm country, and even fewer rocks/trails. the getting of the Bumper cover isn't expensive $80ish. its the install that adds a chunk, my Shop said he'd paint it for 200, install is 300. I just don't know how much of a pain it is to get it on and installed.

if given a choice id rather have put this effort in to engine/exhaust/lighting/leveling

What kind of hit to MPG are we looking at on average when going with an ARB (for example)? 1-2 or more like 3-5?

in my small town driving I get 11/13, Highway I actually get as high as 19/21. Adding a steel bumper can affect MPG by as many as -4/-6, just what I've read/heard about.

Would a brush guard protect against a deer strike at 55-65 mph or cause more problems?

From what I've read of other's experience anything over 20mph the brush guard will only be a damage adder. if your expecting to actually collide at that rate a solid bumper is the only thing that is going to even try to stand up to those kinds of Gforces. in my case the guard would have worked due to the very low speed involved.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I love the term venison deflector :jump:

 

[jsmith21]

If you ever want to sell that grille, let me know! I'd love to get my hands on a Nautical Blue limited grille. :thumb:

 

[LOSTR4]

I went from stock hovering around 19-22mpg in mine...I added tires and lost about 1mpg; then added a lift and lost an additional 1mpg. The biggest factor in my loss of mpg occurred when I added a roof rack with an integrated LED light-bar...I lost nearly 2.5-3mpg because of that...but it looks and performs as I expected. I didn't lose anything when I added my SW bumper...I was pleasantly surprised. If anything, it allows me to retain MPH better when acceleration isn't needed...at constant speeds, I'm holding my mpgs around 18.3mpg last I hand calculated...around town or getting up to speed, my mpg drops considerably...

I don't think you'd lose too much but because of the added weight, you may consider a small lift of leveling kit...at most you're only going to lose around 1-2...always worth it if you ever encounter a deer or three...

 

[Stuck CAPS]

yeah I'll be footing the bill on this one. AFAIK there isn't a lot of 4 wheeling in this farm country, and even fewer rocks/trails. the getting of the Bumper cover isn't expensive $80ish. its the install that adds a chunk, my Shop said he'd paint it for 200, install is 300. I just don't know how much of a pain it is to get it on and installed.

So you're looking at 280 for the painted PART? That's not bad, quite frankly. If you aren't offroad often enough to need it, and want best MPG, just get the cover and get it painted, install is REALLY easy. You get the cover on the actual bumper, eyeball to line it up, push back, force the fender liner clips onto the little holes for em, and bolt it in. It'll take you probably 30 minutes being your first time removing/reinstalling.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Given that you don't need a heavy bumper for off roading I would probably just recommend fixing your existing bumper. Any bumper that attaches to the frame is going to have some gaps between the bumper and the body - there's no way of avoiding it.

Those of us who off-road just suck it up and live with it, but if I didn't derive some benefit from the bumper (increased front end protection when off-roading, increased approach angle and ability to fit bigger tires in front without rubbing the fender liners) I would have just kept my stock bumper.