So, I wreaked the front end of 99LTD hitting a deer on the way home about 6 weeks ago; I live out of the city. After I get it back it's going to be sold and I'm going for a 04 Sport. Does anybody know of any companies making "worthy bush guards" to protect my new truck? I had an 89 4-Runner with the Toyota guard that I know wouldn't have held up against the 300lb deer I hit so I'm looking for something stronger if it's available and not totally ugly.


Tom.

 

Because the 4th generation is still pretty new, there just isn't a ton of options out there. I know Manik and Westin have one for the '03, but not sure how strong they are. Jaos has one and it is pretty cool, but expensive.

http://www.jaosusa.com/

 

I doubt that any of the current brush guards will hold up to a 300+ lb deer. If you're looking for protection, I suggest a steel bumper. Unfortunately, they are not currently available. I will be talking to Demello about making some custom front steel bumpers so maybe when this project is done, we will have a "real" steel bumper available for the 4th gen that will provide quality protection!

 

I had the Westin Brush Guard on my 03 Sport and had to remove it. It looked great but on rough terrain it would move sided to side so much it would actually hit the body of the truck where it wraps around the lights. That kind of defeats the purpose of having it.
The truck outfitter that installed it could not figure out away to make it work so they just removed and refunded my money. They (and the Westin rep.) said it had something to do with the "new setup" of the body and frame??

 

I had a one piece Manik Brush Gaurd on my Full sized Chevy Tahoe. It was solid as a rock and didn't move or vibrate at all. But on a Tahoe the frame comes right up to the bumper so it was mounted very solidly were the tow hooks go. I looked at my 03 4runner and the frame is set much further back, so I don't think the mount will be as solid. I used it on the Tahoe more for a place to mount driving lights because I didn't do serious offroading with the truck. On the Tahoe I think it could have taken on a 300lb deer without problems. If you are a serious off-roader, I think any of those bars will really decrease your approach angle because they do hang down a couple of inches under the front bumper. Just my .02....

 

Thanks for the input, I think I'm going to waiting for a while to get one, I'm not convinced that the Jaos one will hold up either its less then 50lbs worth of protection.

Anybody have any pics/sound clips of dual exhaust on their V8 runners?

Tom.

 

It's too bad that the guards won't work on the new 4Runners because they look good. I too was use to a guard that did not move at all, and I could see the one on the 4Runner move every time I hit a bumb in the road!
I have seen photos of the Jaos on this forum but no body has commented on how solid the mount is. I can't see how it would be much different?
And like Scott72 said, it will decrease the approach angle, at least the Westin did.

 

WAAG also makes them:


WAAG Website

Tal Hadas