jkatz09

hey everyone, i need some quick help.
I am looking at a grille guard for my 1997 4runner Limited. I found one that a guy is selling on craigslist but he is unsure exactly which years it will fit and will not sell unless I know for sure. It looks like its for 3rd gen 4runners like mine but they all look very similar...
Does anyone know if 30.5 inches is the correct width so that it will fit?
thanks

Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

I have a 1998 and '96-'98 are the same but the '99-'02 have the fat lip bumper so a grill guard for those years are different then ones for the first flight 3rd gens. I am doin a bumper replacement and had to pull mine off and just measured it from inside flange to inside flange it was 27 3/8". The thing is the mounting flanges on the frame are mounted using the tow hook bolts which puts the angle flanges towards the inside edge of the each frame so the hooks are clear. It would be possible to be near 30" but you need to look at the mounting flanges that you would bolt to your frame. I'm thinking you are gonna need about what mine is. Here is a pic of my grill guard and bumper installed before I pulled it off to swapped out my bumper.


Hope this helps

jkatz09

gotcha, yeah i see what you did, mine is the same. the problem is, the guy who is selling the guard doesnt know anything about it like what brand it is or anything. and no bolts either. which would pose as another issue after i got it. which is too bad because hes local and its cheaper than buying it new. thanks for the help though

Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

Well if he's local, ask him if you can bring your truck over and take some measurements and ascertain if its doable. If its close and the brackets are there, you can do some pre-fitting checks and then tell if it would be a match for your truck. Most bolts/hardware you will need to attach it to your runner's frame are not expensive. If he's motivated to unload the thing, you could get it for cheap! Especially if you have to purchase any hardware.

I did a similiar thing but I got my brush guard from a fellow Yota Techer in SoCal who was wanting to do the cup holder mod. I had an extra from my trips to the local yards and picked up a second just for such an occassion. We ended up doing some trading of center console parts so he could do the cup holder mod. We both had the same year 4runner so I knew going in that it would fit. All I had to do was unbolt it from his truck and hang on mine, then drove back to my brother's house where I was visiting for my vacation in SoCal, finish tightening everything, remount my Hella 500's on the brush guard, making sure it all fit and drove back to WA state. Hope it works out for ya

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jkatz09

yeah, thats what im thinking. but there are no brackets or bolts with it. if you wanted to see the link its http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/1609154995.html
pretty vague but i will keep checking

Ritzy4Runner

iTrader: (1)

Yeah thats a tough one. Nice looking but like you said, no brackets. You could have some made that would work with your truck, but I think it may be too big unless you got some angle iron that woulkd then bolt to the frame like mine and then try to adjust the pieces to fit the tangs on the bottom. Hope you can find one that fits, but like I said above, try to go to where it is and see if its even going to be close. Good luck