Grille Guards really work??

[mctizzo]

Hey all,
As a 4runner and 4wd newbie I wanted to know; do Grille Guards (as made by steelecraft, and Go industries, etc) really work? Or are these just for looks?

Was looking at several different front end protect options, everything from basic bull bars and brush guards all the way to heavy duty winch bumpers..

Any advice?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

From what I read they are just for looks. If you contact anything they might actually do more damage to your factory bumper then if you didnt have the guard. Get an ARB or wait for the other companies to reveal their offerings.

 

[Co4runnin]

Grille guards aka brush guards only protect from small branches and things that might hit your headlight areas. They're worthless in the event you actually hit something. They are mostly for looks.

I agree with Mike that your better off going with a replacement steel bumper in the event you want something you can beat on a bit.

 

[blademan]

I agree, mostly for looks, however - when I push the 16ft tubesteel gate open with my truck, Im sure glad the bull-bar is taking that abuse and not my bumper- so maybe there is some practical usefullness.

 

[RandyDaytona]

It actually depends on what kind of guard you get and where it's attached.

I have a grille guard made by TopGun on my work truck, have hit several deer, and it doesn't even flinch. It's heavy, though, was kinda pricey (about $800.00 if memory serves) and is attached directly to the frame.

I think the ones in the $200-300.00 range which come in numerous pieces are the ones that are more for show.

 

[CmdrCody]

The less expensive ones that wrap around the headlights are often referred to as "damage multipliers". For example, if you hit something that might have just bent the bumper and cracked a headlight, it will bend the bar back into the truck and also smash the marker light and fender / hood sheet metal.

The bull bars/winch bumpers are stout and meant to take a hard hit. I have an ARB on my FZJ80, and it is bombproof. However following that road leads to the Warn M12000, which leads to the heavier OME springs and shocks to compensate.

Beware of scope creep!

 

[westwind77]

As said before, they can help and they can hurt, all depends on the situation. I had a friend back into my old suv with his gate door open (side swing). Even though it was mounted to the frame on the bottom and 2 small pieces in the middle it still pushed it back and put 2 tiny (1/8") dents in the lower bumper. If it had NOT been there he would have broken my whole front grill, lights, and damaged the hood. So, in that instance, it defiantly worked out for the best.

 

[mctizzo]

It actually depends on what kind of guard you get and where it's attached.

I have a grille guard made by TopGun on my work truck, have hit several deer, and it doesn't even flinch. It's heavy, though, was kinda pricey (about $800.00 if memory serves) and is attached directly to the frame.

I think the ones in the $200-300.00 range which come in numerous pieces are the ones that are more for show.

See I was looking for something more heavy duty(Heavy Dutier?) But not so much that I have to replace the bumper..
I was looking at Roo Bars(Austrailian) and also custom Tube steel type bumpers.
(similar to the Toyota rally truck but not drilled into the hood)
I know that the 2011 is newish and I should be waiting but man it'd be great to have something that worked but wasn't a complete bumper.
All these manufacturers make great stuff but either for Jeeps or FJ's or older 4runners (09 below) so I guess it's just a matter of time.

Thanks for the inputs all!