Quality Brush Guard??

[Soneill]

My wife really wants to get a brush guard. We were looking at a place here in town and they have a Aries brand guard. Is the Aries brand any good? Does anyone have a suggestion of a good guard to buy? Any help is much appreciated.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

Most people avoid brush guards. The reason being that they provide no extra protection and cause major issues in the event of an accident. They are commonly called "damage multipliers" because small fender benders are made much worse after the brush guard gets pushed back into your radiator and everything around it. I would suggest you talk her out of it and into an actual aftermarket bumper.

 

[TheFauxFox]

Agreed with frontrange here, I'm very tempted to get a cool looking brush guard for my runner but I know I'll regret it in the long run if I end up in an accident... The reason they act as "damage multipliers" is because they are only mounted to the lower half of your front end, this makes the entire top half of the bullbar/brushguard (and that's the where the vast majority of the metal is...the weight) act as a lever, the lower connecting point being a fulcrum. Just makes it easier for a lot of metal to push into your engine bay ie: lower accident speeds will cause more damage than they should.

Plus you'll have to replace the bullbar

 

[tristero]

If she likes the look of the brush guard, I'd try to talk her into the ARB bumper. Search for damage multiplier, there's a ton of info on brush guards here and other forums.

 

[Soneill]

Most people avoid brush guards. The reason being that they provide no extra protection and cause major issues in the event of an accident. They are commonly called "damage multipliers" because small fender benders are made much worse after the brush guard gets pushed back into your radiator and everything around it. I would suggest you talk her out of it and into an actual aftermarket bumper.

Agreed with frontrange here, I'm very tempted to get a cool looking brush guard for my runner but I know I'll regret it in the long run if I end up in an accident... The reason they act as "damage multipliers" is because they are only mounted to the lower half of your front end, this makes the entire top half of the bullbar/brushguard (and that's the where the vast majority of the metal is...the weight) act as a lever, the lower connecting point being a fulcrum. Just makes it easier for a lot of metal to push into your engine bay ie: lower accident speeds will cause more damage than they should.

Plus you'll have to replace the bullbar

If she likes the look of the brush guard, I'd try to talk her into the ARB bumper. Search for damage multiplier, there's a ton of info on brush guards here and other forums.

Well I just told her.... Wasn't happy with the answer but definitely understood why. She just wants instant protection against parking lot bumps and bruises. Looks like we will be saving the brush guard money and putting in savings for a bumper.

 

[Concon40]

Good choice. always opt for armor.

 

[STX4Runner]

An ARB or Shrockworks is way overkill for parking lot dings. They cost $1,000+, add a ton of weight to your vehicle, and if you're not seriously (not dirt roads) offroading or mounting a winch you don't need it. I've done plenty of difficult offroading without one. To each their own, and if you want to get a full front bumper for mall ding protection, go ahead, but I don't think it's necessary.

Also, you'll just end up getting door dings instead.

 

[Seattle206]

Also, you'll just end up getting door dings instead.

Be sure to get some Budbuilt bumpout sliders for door ding protection. Full front and rear steel bumpers for those folks who love doing love taps as the park. I'd argue you will risk more potential damage going into the mall/ supermarket parking lot opposed to offroad trails. Too many careless drivers, kids who swing doors too wide and those runaway shopping carts. You may add more weight to the vehicle but as least it's protected. I think it's worth it.

 

[Soneill]

An ARB or Shrockworks is way overkill for parking lot dings. They cost $1,000+, add a ton of weight to your vehicle, and if you're not seriously (not dirt roads) offroading or mounting a winch you don't need it. I've done plenty of difficult offroading without one. To each their own, and if you want to get a full front bumper for mall ding protection, go ahead, but I don't think it's necessary.

Also, you'll just end up getting door dings instead.

Yeah, Wife was like "why the he'll would we need a full bumper" we may be getting the guard for the for the time being. We will see what the "boss" says.

 

[humbertx2]

Yeah, Wife was like "why the he'll would we need a full bumper" we may be getting the guard for the for the time being. We will see what the "boss" says.

You might want to look at the southern style slimline bumper


2016 SR5P 4WD Super White
Bilstein 5100 @ .85
Nokian Rotiiva AT 265 70 17
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[STX4Runner]

Be sure to get some Budbuilt bumpout sliders for door ding protection.

Everyone says this, but I just don't see how sliders are protecting you from door dings given the curved profile of car doors. (See terrible MS Paint rendering below LOL). Unless you're parked next to a really low slung car, or your sliders stick out really far.

 

[nb rob]

I agree about the sliders protecting against a very limited amount of door dings.
A rear door has a cutout for the rear wheel of the vehicle, and will easily go over a slider.
I've got a ding in my door for that very reason.


Best protection in my area is to park in the back and walk past the lazy people.

 

[STX4Runner]

I agree about the sliders protecting against a very limited amount of door dings.
A rear door has a cutout for the rear wheel of the vehicle, and will easily go over a slider.
I've got a ding in my door for that very reason.


Best protection in my area is to park in the back and walk past the lazy people.

Agree. It's amazing to see people in parking lots circling looking for a spot or waiting for someone to leave for a spot 100 feet closer to the store.

 

[StRanger7032]

My wife really wants to get a brush guard. We were looking at a place here in town and they have a Aries brand guard. Is the Aries brand any good? Does anyone have a suggestion of a good guard to buy? Any help is much appreciated.

Take what you hear on T4R with a grain of salt. This forum is filled with brush guard haters. I've seen deer hit at highway speeds with a good brush guard with little to no damage to the vehicle vs. thousands of $ worth of damage without one. If you have a major front end collision with enough force to push the brush guard into the front of your truck, it would have f'ed up your front end regardless of whether or not the brush guard was there. Since you're in Texas I'd recommend checking out Arc-Rite. They make some killer brush guards that look and perform way better than the Aries etc.

 

[Soneill]

Take what you hear on T4R with a grain of salt. This forum is filled with brush guard haters. I've seen deer hit at highway speeds with a good brush guard with little to no damage to the vehicle vs. thousands of $ worth of damage without one. If you have a major front end collision with enough force to push the brush guard into the front of your truck, it would have f'ed up your front end regardless of whether or not the brush guard was there. Since you're in Texas I'd recommend checking out Arc-Rite. They make some killer brush guards that look and perform way better than the Aries etc.

Thank you for the info. I'm probably going the brush guard route. But unjust looked in to the Arc-Rite and they only go to 2009 on the 4runner


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[Seattle206]

I spoke too soon. Noticed somebody decided to scrape my rear bumper. See, this is why I need a steel rear. Lol.

 

[Capt.Canuck]

Well I just told her.... Wasn't happy with the answer but definitely understood why. She just wants instant protection against parking lot bumps and bruises. Looks like we will be saving the brush guard money and putting in savings for a bumper.

Best protection against parking lot bumps and bruises to park away from other cars (when possible) and just walk a little farther.

(Edit) I see someone else made the same comment above.

 

[StRanger7032]

Thank you for the info. I'm probably going the brush guard route. But unjust looked in to the Arc-Rite and they only go to 2009 on the 4runner


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Give them a call on Monday. They have them but they don't keep up their website very well.

 

[e60ral]

throw this on the back:

https://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-27046B-Beaver-2-Inch-Hitch/dp/B004K23KQ0