Hybid Guards

[Kevin Lang]

We all know about the Brush Guards, and how they protect the center of the vehicle, allow for pushing, and cover the lights, but they leave the left and right sides of the front bumper--where the fog lights are--unprotected.



So unless you get hit, or manage to hit someone, straight-on, the guard isn't going to save you.



I don't need Ramming Speed protection on the sides; I just want protection from minor parking lot abrasions, and the unruly stick or two that sticks out of the ground at just the right height to whack the bumper.





I thought that I would have to devise my own solution to bumper protection, but then I saw that Waag has come out with a new bumper protector, which protects the whole bumper, but not the grill or lights....and you can't install both simultaneously, even if I _could_ afford waag's outrageous prices....400 bucks for a backordered rear 02 pushbar, which is just a simple curved bar, is rediculous.



Is there anything that combines these two guards into one "fully-equipped" guard?



(Or am I just going to have to wing it, by affixing my own metal bars to a stock brush guard or something?)



Thanks,

--Kevin L.

 

[Todd Z]

NONE of the guards on the ST will protect you in any thing above 2 MPH..... they mount like JUNK and are not strong enough...



They will make good Light holders and shopping cart protectors...



And in some cases they can cause MORE damage than good..



Todd Z

 

[Kevin Lang]

I had my doubts about a guard which only bolts on, and from the bottom at that--when it seems that force would be applied at the top, and the guard would lever itself against its bolts, but I did not think they could be so crappy.



I also thought that they could collapse back on the car during a collision, but I figured that something which is claimed to be able to push another vehicle (can it?) would be able to withstand a certain amount of stress.



Are you telling me that if someone hits my parked car in a parking lot backing up or cornering too sharply, or if someone cuts me off a little too close in traffic, that the guard will just crumple up like a tin can which passed crash testing in class with the honda civic?



So this 200 some dollar investment is just for "rugged" looks and deflecting the odd stick or 2 which comes my way? Seems like a huge rip, especially given the claims.



This development sucks. Burst my bubble completely.







Well, I'll ask one more question. If someone does get hit by me due to their own stupidity, will the brush guard cause more damage to be dealt to them than to me? If it won't alleviate stupidity, will it at least help teach people a lesson the hard way?

(I'm grabbing at straws here, but I've wanted the guard for so long now that I don't want to see it go due to my confirmed fears and doubts





Thanks again though.

 

[Dingo]

Kevin, get whatever you like the best, then add a front hitch and this:

<img src="http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/330441_lg.gif">



Then, they have to get past the hitch and hook to damage the bar.

 

[Kevin Lang]

lol--and while I'm at it, I'll put a lance on the front...nothing like 15 feet of space guaranteed in front of my ride....that's almost a car length....and jousting is the state sport (though most of the population here doesn't know that...)



Even if it is just for looks, I'll get the guard. I can't break my own bubble like that.



Oh, here's a pertinent question: Would the guard be able to survive an impact with a chain hung just below grille height? Chain maybe an inch across at most--I don't know how chain is measured.



Someone had the _brilliant_ idea to hang a black chain across a parking lot at night, and when I had to cut through the lot to go around a police closure of an intersection due to an accident, I almost hit the stealth chain at a good 10-12 mph...I stopped about a foot from it.



There was a sign, hidden in a bush, which stated: No parking--private property. This was in the parking of a strip mall...who expects the parking lot at a STRIP MALL to be half blockaded, and right in front of the most convenient exit, at 10 o'clock at night?!?





I'm glad that I saw it in time--Truck beats chain, but chain cripples headlights, and I didn't want to limp back home, 20 miles away--with only fog lights--in the dead of night. If anyone lives in PG county in Maryland, petition for more street lights!



So the guard kills sticks dead, but it looses to another vehicle, so there must be a cutoff in between for what the guard can and can't take....could it take the chain?

(not that I intent to don quixote-challenge the chain again, but it would be good to know that any more close calls won't be so risky)



--Kevin.

 

[Dingo]

And you thought I was kidding. Click the link. It's my last truck. And I would've seen the chain in that truck.

 

[mookie]

I have heard these guards refered to as "BRUSH Guards". Designed to keep brush from damaging your paint while driving offroad. That's what I always think of them as.

 

[Kevin Lang]

Alright--I took the plunge and last weekend installed some Hunter grille guards from ebay. I have no real complaints; the only problem is that in less than a week, the bolts which hold the headlight covers on have rusted. However, the other bolts seem to be fine.



I don't know how I drove without a pushbar.

 

[Scott Heckler]

Pics?

 

[CountyMounty]

Yes pics please.



I decided to see what guard you were talking about and stumbled upon this. This is the first "bull bar" I have seen for the 01-05 Tracs. I may just put it on my Christmas list.

 

[Kevin Lang]

That bar is from the same company from which I ordered. I didn't see your reply here, because the forum really does bury it.



As soon as I grab an SD card reader, I'll get the pics off my camera for my brush guard.



You're going for the bull bar, but just FYI, I'll post what I bought:

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Explorer-Sport-Trac-01-06-Grille-Brush-Grill-Guard-BK_W0QQitemZ110186808525QQihZ001QQcategoryZ33645QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">My Brush Guard</a>



The directions in the box were pretty non-existent, but installation was so easy (especially with member projects) that instructions were not needed. The packaging for the product was well done, and the shipper was fedex. (one of the few fedex boxes that arrived on my doorstep not having been ravaged...thankfully)



***Pictures***:





<CENTER>

<A HREF="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/23327/Grille%20Guard/Original_Fogs1.JPG"><IMG SRC="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/23327/Grille%20Guard/Original_Fogs1.JPG" HEIGHT=300 WIDTH=480 ALT="Cool Rain Shot of Guard (with original fogs)">

Cool Rain Shot of Guard (with original fogs)</A>

</CENTER>







<A HREF="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/23327/Grille%20Guard/New%20Fogs.JPG">Rainless shot, same position. (with New Fogs)</A>



Complaints:



<A HREF="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/23327/Grille%20Guard/Light_Guard_Bolt_Rust.JPG">The bolts which hold the headlight guards on have rusted...and the box said they were stainless </A>



<A HREF="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/23327/Grille%20Guard/Rusty.JPG">A shot to see the rust in detail.</A>



Other than the rust, which I am contacting Hunter about, I couldn't be happier with my guard. I don't know how I drove so long without one.



<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=-2>BTW, the fact that this forum allows HTML is great. Thank you for remaining above the other bbsystems which are castrated, as they allow no code whatsoever...cough automotiveforums cough</FONT></P>

 

[Kevin Lang]

Even though you can't see it here, upgrading the fog lights to the 9005 bulbs GREATLY increases visibility...I need to upgrade my normal lights to Silverstar Ultras as well...the 9005 bulbs were a pain to get in there, but they do go in.



In the other thread about lights, I should post some nocturnal shots of the fogs, to illustrate the massive difference.



I could never go back. Right now I could almost drive with just the running lights and the fogs--that is a testament to their brightness.