Hi all, I'm new to Toyota trucks and new to this forum. I just picked up a 94 4Runner, already lifted and on 33's and ready for some trails. This is my first real 4x4 so excuse my ignorance if some of this is newbie stuff.

Anyway, I love this truck as is but I'm considering a brush guard that I picked up for $50 of craigslist. Here's a picture:


The reason why I have been leaning towards a brush guard is because I bought a Hi Lift jack for the truck (since the stock jack doesn't reach with the bigger tires), and then realized I have no real jack point in the front. I figured some front-end armor would work with the Hi Lift in a pinch and is less expensive than buying and welding sliders. But my first question is: am I wrong in thinking the brush guard could support the truck with a Hi Lift if I needed to change a tire on the trail?

In researching brush guards I've also come across posts saying these are just damage multipliers because if you hit something in one small section of your front end, it will just force the whole brush guard into the radiator and other front end components. Other people say they've hit several deer with these things and kept on driving. So what's the consensus? Are they risky or actually protective?

 

I learned this the hard way watched it happen parking lot not a deer .

Not more then 5 mph vehicle impacted brushguard right corner took out the headlight crumpled the hood and fender enough to need replaced or lots of filler

Brush guard sure it will do the job of protecting from brush

You want real front end protection go with a bumper

Hitting Deer who can really say so many different ways that can happen I never hit one that I did not stop as soon as safe and check for damage.

I just cut one up just like that and put it in the scrap pile.

 

Well... In my 93.. 2 days after I bought it, I had some dumb ***hole slam his brakes at 50mph just in front of me in a for taurus....... needless to say, a taurus stops quicker than a 4runner.... his rig was totaled, I drove on..... Without the brush guard, prolly a different scenario....

 

One of those things you gotta make up your own mind

 

I have brush guards I made for the side lights on my FJ40 but nothing on my Taco. I am not worried about hitting deer. I worry about moose (yes, still technically in the deer family). Either way base on the picture of the brush gaurd it looks more like a show piece then a functional piece. Depending on where you live, what you are planning on doing with the vehicle and what you want it to look like you need to make your own decision.

As far as jacking up the vehicle for a flat, size out a block of wood as a shim so you can jack it up when needed and then don't worry about having another jacking point. Make it so the wood sits on the ground and the jack goes on top.

 

No that brush guard won't hold the weight of your truck using a high lift,
You run the risk of it collapsing and hurting yourself.
It is more of a light mount, nothing more,

In an accident it would probably cause more damage to your truck.

Pick up a taller hydraulic jack from lowe's, Ace, Home Depot or wherever.
Unless you know what you are doing with a High Lift it can be a dangerous tool. I have carried them for 30+ years and 90% of the time I have used my hydraulic jacks

 

Brush guards are typically damage multipliers. It would be better to get something like a Trail Gear winch plate base and splice that brush guard into that, maybe minus the "wings". TG winch plate has a receiver hitch up front, so you will have a good tow point and you can use your Hi Lift off the front if you absolutely needed to. For tire change, you really want to lift from the side of your rig, which is why sliders are highly recommended. Even if they're just for a step or to protect against door dings. TG again has the best price.

 

All of this.

Check the TG dealers websites. They often have it cheaper than TG.

This too. They hydraulic jacks always come in handy. The factory ones can usually be had very cheap at a junkyard, and you usually get handle with it.

 

For T-G stuff Low Range Off Road has been my goto source the last few years

 

If you plan on using a Hi Lift jack in the real world practice some so you get an idea how things work.

I still have a hard time not calling them sheep herder Jacks I have one of the original ones bought in 1975 .

 

Definitely practice using one and make sure you maintain it so it functions properly.
I think I use my Hi Lift more for working around the yard than I've ever used one on a vehicle. They work great for helping dig up a stump by hand - dig around the roots a bit, shove HiLift in there and jack it up to pull roots out so you can find them easier!

 

One of the trick we did when you kinda got stuck in the ditch along side the road is jack things as high as it would go.

Then give it a good push as things fell it would pull the truck out of the hole.

one might need to do the front and back more then once .

Granted the only other option was a 10 or 15 mile walk in the mountains.

Then you could just hunker down and hope someone came looking in a few days.

Peace and quiet although you would get reminded about getting stuck the rest of your life.

 

^ props to that. I have used a pole Jack when in tight quarters to literally turn the vechicle in place. So it takes a little time but then end product is the same, you get out...