Brush Guards: Opinions Please
Question:
I seem to have lost my signature file – let’s try this then! (opinions are my own, not necessarily those of my employer)
Response:
IMHO I would support such a ban, I have 3 kids and 2 Land-Rovers neither of which have roo bars. I have hit a pedestrian once, she stepped off the pavement in front of me and was not injured, but I dread to think what would have happened if she had been hit by a length of 2" steel pipe.
when you hit this woman, did it do any damage to the front of your vehicle?? if not then it would not have hurt her any more with a 2" steel pipe (bull bar) bolted to the front of your vehicle than it did without it. now if your vehicle crumpled with the impact of her body hitting it, thus absorbing the impact (which I HIGHLY doubt) then you may have saved her life by not installing the bull bar. lets face it people an unyielding vehicle will win in a fight with a pedestrian (with or without a bull bar). laters, — ///ild Bill and Dawn
Response:
I know that I haven’t done it all, but I can keep my wheels on existing tracks without running over anything to the extent that I need to bolt on protection. I am curious why anyone would go out and run over brush so as to need these things? Not trying to flame, just curious.
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, the front turn signals on Landcruisers are just beggin’ to be knocked off by an opportunistic branch. I don’t know what vegetation is like where you live, but here in NW Washington it only takes a few months for a stand of alder to sprout up in the middle of a little used trail or logging road. If you use your rig for work as I do, you will find the protection offered while yarding out fallen trees and such to be well worth the expense. Granted, I work in a relatively remote area where such obstacles are common. My opinion is that if you are buying them for looks, then make them out of plastic. They’ll look the same and won’t screw up your weight distribution. Rod Daebelliehn ‘72 FJ40
Response:
I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.
I know someone who was driving in the Northern Territories, Australia, when her " ‘Roo Bars" collided with a hapless Kangaroo. Poor old "Skippy" was killed instantly, but the ‘roo bars worked. If you mount the brush guards on your Jeep, you won’t have to worry about having a Kangaroo damage your rig! RY
Response:
I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.
I don’t think that most brush guards were designed to guard against a frontal impact they are mostly for show. They may stop a few twiggs or tall weeds from catching in the grill or may save a headlight if you have the wrap around guard. Even some of the dealer installed roll bars are non functional ’show only’ items. I have a brush guard on my F150. So far I have found 3 uses. 1. A step ladder for me to climb up in there to check the oil etc. 2. A bracket to mount driving/fog lights. 3. Tow hook bracket. There has been some talk about the effect of brush guards and frontal impact with pedestrians. Like how many more millions should be added to a lawsuit etc. Kevin Kevin Ricks
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – IMHO I would support such a ban, I have 3 kids and 2 Land-Rovers neither of which have roo bars. I have hit a pedestrian once, she stepped off the pavement in front of me and was not injured, but I dread to think what would have happened if she had been hit by a length of 2" steel pipe. when you hit this woman, did it do any damage to the front of your vehicle?? if not then it would not have hurt her any more with a 2" steel pipe (bull bar) bolted to the front of your vehicle than it did without it. now if your vehicle crumpled with the impact of her body hitting it, thus absorbing the impact (which I HIGHLY doubt) then you may have saved her life by not installing the bull bar. lets face it people an unyielding vehicle will win in a fight with a pedestrian (with or without a bull bar). laters, — ///ild Bill and Dawn
Hi! In fact there was damage to the Land-Rover, the front wing was pushed back and the lights pushed in – sufficient damage to require a new wing. It also has to be said that in this case it was an adult, and the impact was with her arm and shoulder. A child would have been hit in the head but since the front of a Land-Rover is "very soft" the result would probably not have been any worse. The victim was thrown clear and did not go under the vehicle, and the accident happened in a busy street in London. As a father of 3 small children, who ride their bicycles along the road, I still feel they deserve all the help they can get. (We live in the country and there isn’t much traffic along our lane). Best Regards, Chris Hall (opinions are my own, not necessarily those of my employer)
Response:
I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.
Response:
I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.Well it probably won’t protect your jeep if you hit a building at 50 Mph
but it will help if your on a trail and wap a tree (again NOT at 50 Mph) I am not sure if they make it for the "Grand" but MANIK makes a sturdy one.
Response:
I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.
Looks are one thing, then strength doesn’t matter. Whatever keeps you hard will do then 
, but to plan on enlarging the trail system with the front of your JGC seems a little strange, especially with all the PC talk about not running wild across new country. I know that I haven’t done it all, but I can keep my wheels on existing tracks without running over anything to the extent that I need to bolt on protection. I am curious why anyone would go out and run over brush so as to need these things? Not trying to flame, just curious. bird
Response:
Most brushguards are gingerbread (no function). I bumped a Blazer with mine and it flexed back into the hood since it only attached at the bottom. Check out how race trucks brace and triangulate their bumpers.
Response:
I am going to get some soon. I am not sure how will they work, but the dealer told me they couldn’t sale them because it can affect your airbag. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.
Response:
I am going to get some soon. I am not sure how will they work, but the dealer told me they couldn’t sale them because it can affect your airbag. I have a 96′ JGC Laredo and I am considering purchasing brush guards. However, I’ll only get them if they actually improve my front end protection. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s had brush guards on their suv/truck where the brush guards actually "guarded" against a frontal impact. Also, who makes the sturdiest brush guards for the JGC? Any information is appreciated.
There is a lot of talk in the UK (and Europe in general) about the dangers of Bull bars (Roo Bars, Brush Guards etc) to pedestrians, particularly children. In tests (simulated I hope) a low speed impact with a child that would result in survivable injuries with a standard vehicle were invariably "fatal" if bars were fitted. Since most of these bars are not strong enough, or perhaps not mounted well enough to actually protect the vehicle in a collision with an object (tree, Kangaroo, other vehicle, or gate post), and they inflict terrible injuries to pedestrians it is quite possible that the EEC will ban them. IMHO I would support such a ban, I have 3 kids and 2 Land-Rovers neither of which have roo bars. I have hit a pedestrian once, she stepped off the pavement in front of me and was not injured, but I dread to think what would have happened if she had been hit by a length of 2" steel pipe.
Response:
]I am curious why anyone would go out and run over brush so as to need ]these things? Not trying to flame, just curious. They work well here in Texas, if you go off road. They successfully deflect sage, mesquite, and other small brush type trees away from your grill, preventing damage to the plastic parts which would otherwise get broken. They are also good for mounting lights, etc… Kevin Tapperson
Response:
I would support a ban on kids that are too stupid to watch for cars. Why do we have to ban everything because somebody may get hurt? Lets just ban the whole dam car. I bet it hurts more getting hit by a car than a bike. Well, maybe we should ban a bike also because it would cause more injury that walking into somebody else, HEY, lets ban us humans from the EARTH, all we do is mess it up RIGHT? Sorry about that guys.. I just get sick of everytime something may cause injury we must ban it. We can’t live forever. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There is a lot of talk in the UK (and Europe in general) about the dangers of Bull bars (Roo Bars, Brush Guards etc) to pedestrians, particularly children. In tests (simulated I hope) a low speed impact with a child that would result in survivable injuries with a standard vehicle were invariably "fatal" if bars were fitted. Since most of these bars are not strong enough, or perhaps not mounted well enough to actually protect the vehicle in a collision with an object (tree, Kangaroo, other vehicle, or gate post), and they inflict terrible injuries to pedestrians it is quite possible that the EEC will ban them. IMHO I would support such a ban, I have 3 kids and 2 Land-Rovers neither of which have roo bars. I have hit a pedestrian once, she stepped off the pavement in front of me and was not injured, but I dread to think what would have happened if she had been hit by a length of 2" steel pipe.
Response:
Rad And they bounce a deer pretty good too!!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They work well here in Texas, if you go off road. They successfully deflect sage, mesquite, and other small brush type trees away from your grill, preventing damage to the plastic parts which would otherwise get broken. They are also good for mounting lights, etc… Kevin Tapperson
Response:
RE: deploying air bags. When I spoke to Rhino, they had just returned from some show in NEV. Both Ford and GM had given them letters saying that the BG’s had no effect on air bag operation. I agree with them also being a great place to mount and protect your lights. Bill Gunn
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – when you hit this woman, did it do any damage to the front of your vehicle?? if not then it would not have hurt her any more with a 2" steel pipe (bull bar) bolted to the front of your vehicle than it did without it. now if your vehicle crumpled with the impact of her body hitting it, thus absorbing the impact (which I HIGHLY doubt) then you may have saved her life by not installing the bull bar. lets face it people an unyielding vehicle will win in a fight with a pedestrian (with or without a bull bar). laters, — ///ild Bill and Dawn Hi! In fact there was damage to the Land-Rover, the front wing was pushed back and the lights pushed in – sufficient damage to require a new wing. It also has to be said that in this case it was an adult, and the impact was with her arm and shoulder. A child would have been hit in the head but since the front of a Land-Rover is "very soft" the result would probably not have been any worse. all I can say is that God or __your religious choice__ must have been holding her hand that day..: and im glad to hear it. That is a very interesting story…I have never heard of a person walking away from getting hit by a vehicle and doing damage to the vehicle. was she a body builder??? laugh
Hi again, No, she wasn’t a body builder, at least I don’t think so, and yes, we were both very lucky! The victim was not British and consequently did not look to the right before stepping off the kerb (as you know, we drive on the left) and she was sort of bounced back onto the pavement (sidewalk). We were both quite shaken and the incident changed my driving (so did having children). However, the alloy panels of Series and Defender type Land-Rovers are very easily damaged, and fortunately easily and cheaply repaired. keep safe Chris Hall (opinions are my own, not necessarily those of my employer)
Response:
95 suburban 4WD used on state hiway in Trinity Alps and on private road thru forest and up a mountain. I have a Rhino brush guard on my truck to protect the truck and me against deer. And there are a lot of ‘em, and they may run across your path at night. Best case, you sacrifice the brush guard in lieu of a lot of sheet metal damage. Worst case, prevents hood from coming thru the windshield like a huge knife blade. I bought the best I could afford.(Brush Guard being a misnomer IMHO). If you dont put it on yourself: preserve all the misc holes ‘n such that are drilled during installation. (from Rhino) cover all joints and connections with some sort of clear paint. then wax brush guard with some cheap auto wax (carnuba, etc ) to protect it. The top railing is called a "euro rail". It really doesnt do "that much" and you could live without it. (from RHINO). I put it on. after going that far the $30 or so bucks dont make that much difference. It does "finish" off the front.(from RHINO) it gives your front end the "Land Rover" look. Bill Gunn
Response:
dealer told me they couldn’t sale them because it can affect your airbag.
Same response from my dealer. I had one on my Trooper, but the only real help was for mounting extra lights. But one time I did hit a deer, and it did deflect enough of the force to save damaging the truck. But I did have to rearrange the brush guard, as it got quite messed up. I have found that a person doesn’t usually drive in the kind of brush where the guard will do much good. Frankly, The only thing it will do is prevent a little brush rubbing on the front. If you are worried about brush getting to the front of the vehicle, you will already have scraped the devil out of the sides of your vehicle. But if that scraping doesn’t bother you, why worry about the front end? But they do make for a nice, solid mount for your auxilliary lights. I do understand that the additional weight of a brush guard can cause the air bags to trigger, if you hit a bump hard. It is apparently the additional weight of the brush guard shifting around that does it. But as to protection from brush, remember that the guard is on top of your bumper, and most of the brush you will hit will be at the height of or below your bumper. JMHO Happy Trails! Scott Stone
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – when you hit this woman, did it do any damage to the front of your vehicle?? if not then it would not have hurt her any more with a 2" steel pipe (bull bar) bolted to the front of your vehicle than it did without it. now if your vehicle crumpled with the impact of her body hitting it, thus absorbing the impact (which I HIGHLY doubt) then you may have saved her life by not installing the bull bar. lets face it people an unyielding vehicle will win in a fight with a pedestrian (with or without a bull bar). laters, — ///ild Bill and Dawn Hi! In fact there was damage to the Land-Rover, the front wing was pushed back and the lights pushed in – sufficient damage to require a new wing. It also has to be said that in this case it was an adult, and the impact was with her arm and shoulder. A child would have been hit in the head but since the front of a Land-Rover is "very soft" the result would probably not have been any worse.
all I can say is that God or __your religious choice__ must have been holding her hand that day..: and im glad to hear it. That is a very interesting story…I have never heard of a person walking away from getting hit by a vehicle and doing damage to the vehicle. was she a body builder??? laugh laters, — ///ild Bill and Dawn
Response:
IMHO I would support such a ban, I have 3 kids and 2 Land-Rovers neither of which have roo bars. I have hit a pedestrian once, she stepped off the pavement in front of me and was not injured, but I dread to think what would have happened if she had been hit by a length of 2" steel pipe.
Huh? Never mind getting whacked by a Land-Rover… it’s the pipe that’s gonna getcha! Maybe we should all put pillows on our trucks so we can bounce people off our hoods and have a jolly good ol’ time! — Hafa Adai! Gary Typhoon Duty Officer, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Guam
