Grille guard question

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
There are so many threads and articles about brush guard vs bull bar which I don't understand. They each seem protect different areas of the vehicle so why are they being compared? Then this question came to me:

Can you not use a bull bar and a brush guard at the same time?

I tried to google it... really... but I didn't have any luck. Sorry.

Thank you!
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Bull bar's, are BAD . Look cool for mall use. They lower your approach angle. Due to the design. Plus they act like a Can opener when in a frontal Crash.. Force multiplier. It's been years since I seen the info.. Not to be used..
better off with a shrock, ARB, that are more designed for the X.



ah had a few photos in my old photo Fridge.

Bull Bar (Medium).pngBull Bar 2 (Medium).pngBull bar 3 (Medium).png
 

Brunnie

Bumpers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Colorado Springs
Here's what I found:
"Grille guards bring the most complete front-end protection, especially when paired with a brush guard to cover your headlights. Bull bars, on the other hand, protect just the middle of your vehicle, so they don’t overly dominate or alter your ride’s appearance."

SO... it seems to me that a grill/brush guard, which protects the whole grill area from headlight to headlight, can incorporate a bull bar but a bull bar, which only protects the center portion, is not a grill/brush guard.
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Bull bar's, are BAD . Look cool for mall use. They lower your approach angle. Due to the design. Plus they act like a Can opener when in a frontal Crash.. Force multiplier. It's been years since I seen the info.. Not to be used..
better off with a shrock, ARB, that are more designed for the X.

ah had a few photos in my old photo Fridge.
Thank you for the pictures. I have to admit they do still cause me a bit confusion. When I look at bull bars none of them look like the protectors in your images. Rather they look much more like the brush guards on that same carid site. Now assuming you know that... do you have the same warnings for brush guards as bull bars? Can opener etc? Thank you sir!

led-bull-bar_1.jpg

black-grille-guard_1.jpg
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Here's what I found:
"Grille guards bring the most complete front-end protection, especially when paired with a brush guard to cover your headlights. Bull bars, on the other hand, protect just the middle of your vehicle, so they don’t overly dominate or alter your ride’s appearance."

SO... it seems to me that a grill/brush guard, which protects the whole grill area from headlight to headlight, can incorporate a bull bar but a bull bar, which only protects the center portion, is not a grill/brush guard.
"can incorporate a bull bar" is the exact piece of information for which I was looking. I just couldn't figure out if you could physically install both. Like perhaps they had conflicting mounting points or something. Thank you!
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Damage multiplier. Just say no. Get a real steel bumper with a hoop.
Hoop meaning... recovery point? I was also trying to figure out which is the better winch mount. I've seen some nice bumpers that seem to have the winch mounted behind and the cable comes out through a slit opening. Still looking at that one but thank you on the bumper. I'll be looking.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
ARB makes one with steel tubes..
This one in photo.. I think is a shrock? I could be wrong. but its a Real steel bumper and tubes welded.

just make sure to beef up your shocks, for the added Frontal weight.


Bumper (Medium).png
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
ARB makes one with steel tubes..
This one in photo.. I think is a shrock? I could be wrong. but its a Real steel bumper and tubes welded.

just make sure to beef up your shocks, for the added Frontal weight.
Man no WONDER you say beef up the shock!. It's like you've got a couple of iron girders on the front of that thing! So I'm assuming that won't can opener the front of your ride like the bull and brush can. It does look like it has a bunch more "crumple space". I'm still getting my head around the whole approach (33.2 deg stock) and depature (29.4 deg stock) angle stuff so does something like this bumper reduce approach angle? Thank again for the great example of a boat anchor bumper. :)
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
ARB makes one with steel tubes..
This one in photo.. I think is a shrock? I could be wrong. but its a Real steel bumper and tubes welded.

just make sure to beef up your shocks, for the added Frontal weight.


View attachment 17374
Yeah. That is a Shrock. @1L19 when I say hoop I mean the upper tubes on this bumper. They'll actually protect the front end as opposed to collapsing and causing more damage.

As far as brands, Shrockworks, HeftyFab, Coastal Offroad, Expedition One, Hardcore Offroad. To name a few. All small businesses that make stuff for this truck.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Man no WONDER you say beef up the shock!. It's like you've got a couple of iron girders on the front of that thing! So I'm assuming that won't can opener the front of your ride like the bull and brush can. It does look like it has a bunch more "crumple space". I'm still getting my head around the whole approach (33.2 deg stock) and depature (29.4 deg stock) angle stuff so does something like this bumper reduce approach angle? Thank again for the great example of a boat anchor bumper. :)
Bumpers like this increase approach angle. Especially when you look at being offset from the obstacle.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Good example of the Types of bumpers Prime mentioned..
Can also See lots of Video's Via the Youtbue.. and just search " Xterra & Moab". Should be lots of good Video's, with Built up Xterra's and how they can climb steep sections.

If you strike a deer, your damage will be Deer goo on bumper. Factory bumper Deer Goo and damage.

Damage to your front end, is less. Vs impacting Vehicles. Would bet Photos are in the Cyber space.

Same for Rear bumper with a Maxterra?. Rear impact. will crumple the offender... your damage Paint scuff.
 

1L19

Bought an X
Location
Sacramento
Yeah. That is a Shrock. @1L19 when I say hoop I mean the upper tubes on this bumper. They'll actually protect the front end as opposed to collapsing and causing more damage.

As far as brands, Shrockworks, HeftyFab, Coastal Offroad, Expedition One, Hardcore Offroad. To name a few. All small businesses that make stuff for this truck.
Roger that so do the hoops protect better than the "can openers" because they are anchored in the bumper? Or maybe because the bumper gets hit first and sucks up a bunch of the energy before the hoops are affected? Thank you!
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I love my Shrock. My X is my DD and I've driven it all over the country. Plus it provides a nice high mounting point for a winch.

My only gripe is having to pull the skid plate to change the oil filter. Which I'm hoping to change at my next oil change by adding an access panel that will drain where my extended oil filter ramp ends.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I love my Shrock. My X is my DD and I've driven it all over the country. Plus it provides a nice high mounting point for a winch.

My only gripe is having to pull the skid plate to change the oil filter. Which I'm hoping to change at my next oil change by adding an access panel that will drain where my extended oil filter ramp ends.
I just use a plastic bag and remove the filter into the bag. No muss. No fuss.
 
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