Recommendations: heavy duty Full Brush Guard for Limited

Infinite_Karma · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:16 pm

Hello again LOSTJEEPS peeps!

I have been trying to find a good "heavy duty" Full Brush Guard for my 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited CRD for quite some time now, and I wanted to ask for feedback from everyone. Here is the shape of my 05 Jeep Liberty Limited bumper:

*disclaimer* I understand that Brush Guards are not intended to protect the vehicle in a accident, high speed impact, nor to push boulders around. They are intended to mitigate light to moderate "brush" impacts and the like.

The only one that has met my criteria is this one by Tomken Machine jeep specialists (http://www.tomken.com/):

Sooooo ... how many people out there with the 02-07 KJ have the "Limited" front bumper style have a Full front Brush Guard that they're happy with?

The only other Full Brush guard that I've seen that fits the Limited bumper style is the Aires brand version of the full Brush Guard, but it seems less heavy duty than the Tomken Machine one.

Aries Band full brush guard:

Lastly, I don't have the budget to go with a full ARB Bull Bar bumper replacement system yet (since that will also necessitate me upgrading the front shocks and suspension), and so I'm wondering what people's recommendations are.

What would you do?

Let me know .. THANKS!

Sarma.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:48 pm

If you don't want all the fancy hoopty hoops
then look at the Matrix front brush guard from jeepinbyal
whats nice about it is the fact its heavier built,
much better mounting than what is shown above,
have great places to tow from if needed, something that the above ones don't have nor can have

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:07 pm

Here is the Matrix Brush Guard on BugginKJs KJ
we threw his old bumper cover back on for a test fit since never had a chance to install one on a 05-07 up to this point. So the cover is just hung on loose and his lights which normally mount on his aftermarket bumper are behind the grill

Infinite_Karma · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:27 pm

Thanks tommud for replying, and for sharing the awesome picture of your rig.

I was actually looking at that Matrix Brush Guard for a while, and felt torn about paying that much (about $800.00) and not getting more protection for the money. The style and heavy duty steel definitely makes it an attractive option though. If I start rationalizing ways to spend up near $1,000.00 on a brush guard, I might as well just go all out and get an ARB Bull Bar bumper ... but then I'd have to upgrade my front suspension and shocks too.

On a side note, how did you mount your fog lights behind the grill!? That is stealth illumination power at its best!

I think the sport-KJs look pretty killer too (bumpers, fenders, curves, etc.), and I wish I could have the flexibility of the sport's body style on my rig.

Ahh well, I appreciate that I have a KJ at all, and the diesel one too boot!

Thanks again man.

Anyone else have suggestion, opinions, or ideas?

Infinite_Karma · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:39 pm

I wonder if they make Brush guards like this one for KJs ...

Or maybe this for a KJ?!:

If it wasn't too expensive, I'd be interested ... custom metal fabricator wanted .. :JEEPIN:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:41 pm

FIRST if you read what I wrote you'll see its not my KJ
Second also I explained why the lights are behind the grill
we were just testing it on a friend of mines and a member on here
here it is on mine I removed my ARB front bumper and threw this on for a while

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 6:42 pm

Infinite_Karma wrote:

I wonder if they make Brush guards like this one for KJs ...

Or maybe this for a KJ?!:

If it wasn't too expensive, I'd be interested ... custom metal fabricator wanted .. :JEEPIN:

No on both accounts and they would be expensive

Infinite_Karma · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 7:45 pm

Tommud,

Sorry I didn't read the second post you wrote as clearly as expected, I assumed it was your rig when I read your first post, and see now that your Jeep is the latter black one (beautiful mods by the way).

The expense of getting a truly durable and higher-end part is the challenging part for me, but I might have to suck it up and either pay for the good stuff or simply go without.

I wonder what custom metal fabricators might charge to make something like the Tomken (TMG-1600-L) ... Anyone ever have a metal fabricator make or alter a per-existing Brush Guard for your vehicle? How much might the hourly rate run?

The Tomken really seems like the best one that fits my needs, and seems like a "heavy duty brush guard" that provides more headlight and front grill protection too.

Compared to the Aries one, I think the Tomken seems like a stronger designed guard, in that the heavy steel tubing is more continuous (not wavey back and forth to follow the contours of the hood). The Tomken also looks like it is all welded as a single-piece construction, which tends to be sturdier than the bolt together types. And lastly the mounts for the Tomken utilize a unique solid-steel-towbar-bracket-arm from Roadmaster's tow receivers (http://www.etrailer.com/Base-Plates/Roa ... fgodoC4AYQ) for its mounting points.

Any thoughts on this?

Any and all opinions are welcome.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Dec 16, 2013 9:54 pm

Check Ebay, there are some nice ones listed that may fit your needs. I bought a black one last fall and am well satisfied with it. Well made and decent tubing...and the price was not that bad. :BANANA:

Infinite_Karma · **Posted:** Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:29 pm

Hi WWDiesel.

Thanks for your recommendation, how strong are the headlight cover sections (meaning if you grab it with both hands and yank it back and forth, does it move or wiggle)?

I may be wrong, and so correct me if you know better ... that style of Brush Guard may not work on the Limited body-bumper-style that I have. I was worried about buying that one and then having to modify (cut grooves through) my straight bumper cover in order to make it fit. Also, it looks flimsy compared to many other types (with the wave sections of the steel tubing that bend down near the uprights).

Also, do you know if that is an Aries brand brush guard? Is the steel tubing either bolted into the vertical uprights or if it is all welded as a single-piece construction?

I can't find the details online.

iMTB · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:27 pm **Posts:** 273

The 4XGuard brush guard is a tank. I will be posting a thread dedicated to it soon with install, testing, etc.

I went back to my parents house over the holidays and the first thing my old neighbor did was climb up on it and jump up and down. It passed that test.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jan 10, 2014 1:20 am

iMTB wrote:

The 4XGuard brush guard is a tank. I will be posting a thread dedicated to it soon with install, testing, etc.
I went back to my parents house over the holidays and the first thing my old neighbor did was climb up on it and jump up and down. It passed that test.

They are built well for sure , I see you got the stinger that leans out on yours, looks good
Mounting is easy to do on them as well. I think they look good as well, liked it on mine while I had it on there

Recommendations: heavy duty Full Brush Guard for Limited

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