TheLaw

What's everyone using? Bumpers (ARB or TJM) or Brush Guards (WAAG)?

Any thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages would be appreciated!

Tacoma Dude

As you can see from my avatar, I have the WAAG brush guards.

They make my truck look awesome (I really like the rear bumper guards) and they've protected it from minor cosmetic damage when bumping into small things (bollards, Civics, etc )

Customer service sucks
When I ordered my rear guards it took forever to build it and send it to me and when they did they sent me a 2000 Tacoma version which doesn't fit in my 2002. They actually sent me this TWICE before they finally got it right. Even when they did I put it on and found that they drilled the mounts on either side asymmetrical AND the support tabs were welded on 1/2 - 1 inch too low. BUT through some minor incidents it has proven to be okay as it is.

WAAG also has a tendency to rust at the welds if you don't take good care of it. I think Smittybilt manufactures one that looks similar but WAAG does score the advantage in good looks. You can tell they've spent time customizing their designs around the specific car.

Don't get me wrong, I love my guards on my truck and I haven't run into any problems yet (knock on wood). I just may end up buying my nerf bars from them too once I get a suspension lift. Whenever that's going to be...

This is a link to another thread on the board and I have a pic of my rear guard with a few *ahem* changes.


https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...?threadid=8435

Cebby

I'm currently using Smittybilt guards front and rear, but if I had it to do over again, I'd have gotten an ARB or TJM and custom rear bumper.

sschaefer3

$400 bucks T-17, FedEx Ground shipping $30

For that price it was an easy call.

http://www.fastq.com/~sschaefer/tjm.html

seafarinman

I have Badlands Bumpers Tube bumpers front and rear as well as their sliders. I like the idea of having a bumper that I am not going to see on most other vehicles out there. I had a Smittybuilt grill guard for about 3 years.

http://www.badlandbumpers.com/Index_...PLETE%201A.jpg

Corey

iTrader: (1)

And that is a very nice front bumper indeed.
If I did not have my ARB up front, I would have that one Rome.

Robinhood150

Bullbar advantages:
1. In major accidents it will actually protect the truck rather than cause more damage.
2. Cheaper or similar price as a brush gaurd.
3. Available with or without a winch mounting location.

Bullbar Disadvantages:
1. Heavier than a brushguard, but it's not too bad. With a winch you might have to upgrade the front springs.

Brushguard advantages:
1. lighter.
2. place to mount auxilliary lights.
3. can protect in very very minor fenderbenders.

Brushguard disadvantages:
1. flimsy (they shake at speed, for goodness sake)
2. reports of more damage to the truck in a major accident.
3. depending on design, they can significantly hinder approach angles.

The main advantage with a bullbar is that it actually protects the truck.

Steve

44Runner

Not really, as most bullbars have mounts for lights too...

seafarinman, you think your sig could be any longer?

zedex

Custom

Robinhood150

Yeah, I suppose I didn't word that quite right. I didn't mean for it to sound like the light mounts are an advantage over a bullbar, but rather they an attribute of the brushguard.

Flygtenstein

If you wheel it, give a TJM a good look as Steve mentioned. I have rock eaters on my ARB that are starting to annoy me. It is tough and takes a beating, but I wish it would stop looking for a beating.

There is no real reason to get a brushguard. A real bumper does all that it does and more for about the same cost.

ChitRod

I have a brushguard, but if I had known about them when i got the brushguard i would have got a TJM

ChitRod

Oh yeah i forgot about his with the h idden winch mount, real nice.

BTOWN4RUNNER

I have a Manik and love it. I think that it looks great if you are not too interested in having the major protection on the front of your vehicle. If you are in an accident and it is serious enough, nothing is going to matter. There are several issues that concern either guard and each has its own ad/disadvantages. I love my Manik though. :fireman:

Arnold

Yup, I have the same prob w/ my bumper and had had to hammer the lower fins back into place. The only way to solve this prob is to run 35" or taller tires. The tow points on the ARB are pretty flimsy too. I tweaked the ones on my buddy's rig last week while attempting to tow start it.

Cebby

Here's a couple of sketchs of what I'll be building this summer:





The two horizontal bars over the tails, will likely not make "production".

doink

what do you mean by "i have rock eaters"

Flygtenstein

There are two fins on the front of the ARB that come down and mount to the frame at the front crossmember. I find that more often than not, I rub them when I am approaching ledges. The mounts on the TJM tuck in tighter so the bumper hits first instead of the fins.

I suppose in the end, it is six of one and half dozen of the other, but it is getting annoying.

I don't have a good pic of it, but if you look at Corey's page with the winch wire, you can see the part that I am talking aboutl.

Arnold, I am interested that you regard the tow points and crumby, mine have been good those far, but the bumper is young.

You can sort of see it in the bottom pic here.

DrtRunner

Those "rock eaters" have saved my tail a couple of times from flopping it !!!!!
true they might grind a couple rocks- mine have, but the fact that they saved my truck from serious body damage makes me like'em

good tough bumper, have dropped the truck on it alot, its grinded its way through Paragon, Tellico, and Moab

also took impact from 2 accidents- just paint transfer from there car to my bumper- serious damage on there cars, serious.

i guess i cant spell their, they're, or there...hahaha

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I have some pics in this folder.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/tech/arb_install_info/

You can see the extra metal ARB has that runs underneath here.
Don't pay attention to the red circle, that is for something else, and not for this discussion.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/tech/arb_...side_mount.jpg

I just put some yellow on it where someone with a plasma torch could probably cut off.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/tech/arb_...b_fake_cut.jpg

That looks like it would save a lot of clearance.
I don't get into any situations though where I have even rubbed the metal that is on there now.