chade617

I like the look and the idea of a completely new front end, but I'm not sure that I want to sink that kind of money into this auto right now. I would love to get into a new 5th gen in the next year or two so I may just have them do the bare minimum to straighten everything out and then put the rest in my piggy bank for the time being. Not sure though. It looks naked with nothing up front and I sure love this truck.

mt_goat

You'll get use to it.

1Runner

I dont know about where you are, but here, body shops make their money by pulling sheet metal and bolting NEW on. They dont WANT to spend 6 hrs. repairing a fender if they can have a new one painted and hung in 2.5 hrs. Let them fix your ride up right.

chade617

I have been back and forth about that, but I am leaning towards new sheet metal. I am still hung up about the brush guard. I like the looks of it on there and I still need the space to mount my lights. Has anyone seen a Steel Craft or Dee Zee brush guard?? I liked how the uprights on the Westin guard curved in at the top and followed the lines of the headlights/grille. I know the Manik and WAAG units have straight up and down uprights. AutoAnything has both of these units for about $400. Who knows, I can't decide. Part of me wants to just pocket that money. This is becoming more and more of a hassle every day!

nc994run

Spend $400 for something that will increase damage(and obviously already has) or a few hundred more for a bumper that will actually provide some protection and look a hell of a lot better .... sounds like a hard decision.

1Runner

Doesnt need to be a hassle. If you like the looks of a bumper/brush guard combo, by all means, stick with that. Start looking into local fabricators and have some one weld up a brush guard out of real steel....... well, like mine!
Lemme see if I have a pic.

1Runner

Odd...... cant load the pics.

chade617

Well now the insurance company is involved. Apparently the guilty party feels that my estimates were too high and are now sending out an adjuster. Sounds like they will pay the repair shop directly for everything except the brush guard. They will write me a check for "market value" and let it be. The only way I will go with another brush guard is if I can find an exact Westin replacement. Looks like the entire country is out of these things based on my research over the past couple of days. I am now leaning towards either a Westin Ultimate Bull Bar mod or just mounting my lights directly on the front bumper via a couple of brackets. Based on other posts, it seems that most are split between the Bull Bar and the bumper. I will poke around the front bumper today and see what I can think up. Thanks for all of the input. I will definitely post some pics when I am finished.

Ripcord_4Runner

If you just need something to mount lights on, you can just get a light bar, like this one:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EXP-17000/


Like this one Gerdo has, he made it himself, but that is what one looks like..

fireteacher

if your gonna ditch the truck for the 5th gen then just have them fix it OEM. If your going to put a a brush guard back on, do it quietly...i would hate to see you wasted your money again! 2700= shackles winch ARB/TJM/lights/roof rack, lights, hi-lift...........blah blah!!!