BRUSH GUARD of CHOICE

euromade · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:51 pm

What are you prefered brush buards that would fit on an 05 Libby? (maybe some pics of your would be nice as well)
I've had a Westin Brush guard on my Exploerer and it save my life when I totaled the truck.
Westin's brushguard looked great and it was built very sturdy.

Thansk...

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:03 pm

ARB is strudy never seen a Westin that was not just thin tubing, did you have something different?

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:19 pm

BIG difference btween Brush Guards and Bull Bar Bumpers. ARB Bull Bar will set you back 700-1,000 bucks, BUILT like a sherman tank and is a full replacement, air bag compliant bumper/bull bar all in one. Brush guards are protectors over or in front of OEM bumper and grille.

Westin will set you back some where around 450.00-650.00 bucks with nowhere near the steel that the ARB has, or even the RL bumper.

Two different concepts.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:28 pm

YES KNOW THE DIFFERNCE between say an ARB and something like the Westin! Just trying to say that he wanted sturdy which a Westin is not really only mainly for looks in my opinion!
Had a buddy that had one on his Ford Pick me up and it rusted through in two years time!
THATS WHY I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE WANTS TO PUT ONE ON WHEN THEY COST SO MUCH AS IT IS, Oh well to each his own

euromade · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 4:46 pm

My Westin had a very solid built. As a matter of fact it survived a severe crash and now my friend has it on his Explorer. He had to paint a few spots and that was about it.

Now, I'm not going to be putting a winch or any other accessories - my primary goal is to protect the Diesel motor as car-deer crashes here in W. Michigan are very frequent.

It would be very nice to get something that would not rust our on my - however I do not like the chrome/stainless finish.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:23 pm

i actually really like the look of the westins. they are obviously not in the same realm as the ARB or RL though. They are not made the same, because they dont serve the same purposes. the westin is indeed mostly for looks. i believe it could protect you in pushing some branches out of the way or something though, but not anywhere near as what an ARB could do. they look great with a couple lights mounted in the center. you loose your tow hook locations though.

i personally dont want an ARB. they are very heavy (for good reason because they are built strong and offer great protection) and i dont love how far out they stick. i'm wanting to eventually figure out if a front hitch reciever will work with a westin (too bad all the front recievers are discontinued....). but anyway, thats my opinions on the westin.

humptyjumped · **Posted:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:36 pm

I HAD a bush bar (grille guard) and will never get another. I had a LOW SPEED accident and the thing
swung back like it was on a hinge and crushed the hood.

YES, all the bolts were tight.

The point is, they serve no function except to make your airbags not work.

And IMHO they look, well, like a big turd on the front of your grille.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:52 pm

Does anybody sell a brush guard with tow points? I'd like to get a brush bar however I'd lose my front tow points.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:58 pm

euromade wrote:

My Westin had a very solid built. As a matter of fact it survived a severe crash and now my friend has it on his Explorer. He had to paint a few spots and that was about it.

Now, I'm not going to be putting a winch or any other accessories - my primary goal is to protect the Diesel motor as car-deer crashes here in W. Michigan are very frequent.

It would be very nice to get something that would not rust our on my - however I do not like the chrome/stainless finish.

My Smittybilt on my CJ7 survived a couple deer impacts near the Allegan woods back in "the day". it wasn't perfect after the first one, but it was still usable.

You want a deer-proof front end, get the ARB. cheaper than replacing all that sheetmetal, and your insurance company will love you for it. How much is the Westin brush guard? probably a little over 400 bones? for what, $850-900 you can get an ARB. it's another $400...if you go to Arby's every day for lunch, you can stop, and bam...you got the extra cash to pony up for an ARB over the Westin in less than two months.

I'll just keep cruisin my stocker until I smash Bambi, then tell my insurance company to buy me one :lol:

Fouros · **Posted:** Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:01 pm

the TJM T16 for 05+ kj's has recovery points built into the mounting brackets, its alloy so its light it also has a mounting system for some extra lights

Joe Jeep Owner · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:15 am

Just as an extra FYI - You can tack or spot weld a brush guard and/or bull bar ( I guess depending on the type) to the tow hook points or another place (not sure where exactly) as well and in addition to bolting it on to add extra strength. This helps eliminate the chance of it bending into your grill or hood upon impact (within reason of course).

A friend of mine did that and it's pretty solid. I considered it because I'm not in the market for an ARB or RL either, the only reason I havent gotten one is the rust factor. I have seen quiet a few guards and rails with rust, but then again I dont know the age or abuse they took either. Just not something I want to take a chance on at $400 +.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

For some reason, a lot of guys around here have those big aluminum brush guard/bumper setups. Every once in a while you'll see one of them all pushed in and munched up. From what I've heard, it doesn't take much to damage them. Steel is better, if you can get one with good paint so it doesn't rust out early. Steel bumpers are better still if your suspension can handle the weight. Does anyone know of a colour match for touchups to the ARB bull bar?

Joe Jeep Owner · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:07 pm

If it wasnt for the rust factor I probably would have one, well that and the fact that I currently dont have any extra cash laying around :lol:

I think welding it would help, I'm not saying it would allow to run into a tree or another car at full speed or anything (they would have called it a tree guard). Just not buckle so easily and protect from minor damage.

Freshmud · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:41 pm

ok for those who just dont want a new bumper whats are best bet

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:58 pm

welding the points that contact the frame would not help any at all it is the brush guard itself that is thin wall tubing so it will fold up no matter how much welding you do at the mounting points. I have seen a lot of these things in the past 30 plus years either bent up or rusted out, they are mainly for show only or a place to attach lights, go look at one in person then report back :wink:

I agree some of them LOOK the part and I even like them on some vehicles, just not mine.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:07 pm

I had to make my own bypass once by running through and over a small group of 2-3" dia. saplings, sure glad I didn't have a Brush Guard on.

When in doubt, choose the Sherman tank :!:

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:45 pm

Try looking at a few different models on another vehicle at highway speeds. Lately, I've noticed several of them vibrating almost to the point of contacting the bodies of the vehicles they were on. Can't imagine how they'd be strong enough to protect from anything we have around here. (ie: ever see 12' tall sagebrush? build a guard for that and I'll think about it.)

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:46 pm

Yes, I mean twelve FEET! I'll get pics sometime.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Dje Ryu wrote:

Yes, I mean twelve FEET! I'll get pics sometime.

I believed you the first time, although I don't know why: I've never seen sagebrush and wouldn't know it from a boot brush. :lol:

But for sure, any plant material twelve feet tall would likely bash the snot out of a regular brush bar....except maybe elephant grass or something else really bendy.

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:01 am

snowsport wrote:

For some reason, a lot of guys around here have those big aluminum brush guard/bumper setups. Every once in a while you'll see one of them all pushed in and munched up. From what I've heard, it doesn't take much to damage them. Steel is better, if you can get one with good paint so it doesn't rust out early. Steel bumpers are better still if your suspension can handle the weight. Does anyone know of a colour match for touchups to the ARB bull bar?

I'd love to see front protection mounting that uses a system like the "backbone winch" system that didn't require cutting (stout internal mounting with exit points through the existing tow-point cutouts). Although ARB and TJM both make really nice complete bumpers, I don't know that I can justify the asthetics of a full replacement unless it was as clean as this:

BRUSH GUARD of CHOICE

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