Brush guard for LX470 Unsafe? (1 Viewer)

[The Godfather]

I wanted to get a brushguard for my '00 LX470. A guy I know told me that they bolt onto the frame. He works at a bodyshop and tells me that he sees many trucks come in with bent frame due to minor fender benders. Any truth to this? Should I be worried or would I be better off w/o one?

Also, which ones would you suggest? This is my daily driver/ occasional off roader, so I need something not too wild like Im going on an expedition

Thanks

 

[80and100cruisers]

Most people here will tell you that all a brush gaurd does is cause more damage in a front end crash. It can be bent into the grill/hood/lights/etc and cause more damage than if it had not been there. This is from reading threads here, I have never had a brush gaurd. As for bending the frame, I haven't heard of that.

I know www.performanceproducts.com has some brush gaurds, but the if you wanna be really cool check out www.arbusa.com or www.sleeoffroad.com and get you a whole new front bumper.

-Matt

 

[ace10]

those things will extend the damage to the grill, hood, lights, fender, bumper and corner markers. it's like a perfect storm.

 

[OZCAL]

I'm sure he didn't mean bent frame, maybe dented body etc. But they are called "damage multipliers".

 

[macneill]

I'd go for a replacement bumper too.

 

[calamaridog]

I agree with the "damage multiplier" statement.

Stay stock or replace the whole bumper with an ARB or TJM bullbar.

 

[dclee]

I doubt any "brush guard" is strong enough to damage the frame in any accident. All it will do is be driven back into the grill and cause more damage than might otherwise have happened.

ARB and TJM bullbars / replacement bumpers, at least, are engineered to work with the airbag. In the case of the ARB (don't have a TJM so can't speak to that), this means an accordian style crush zone in the mounting points to the frame. In other words, it will deform long before bending the frame.

I agree with others, stay stock or get an airbag approved complete replacement bumper (e.g. ARB or TJM).

 

[SINCITY100]

Ditto on ALL of the above comments...Virtually every "brush guard" is a series of flimsy tubes, just waiting to be pushed back into what would have been perfectly good sheelmetal.

With my ARB bull-bar..I am just waiting for some poor sap to pull out in front of me !

 

[OZCAL]

Also I don't think they actually provide any protection against brush, which would just kind of pull back along the brush guard then "slap" the sides of the car even harder than it might have if the brush guard wasn't there.

 

[The Godfather]

Alright guys, thanks for the tips!!! I'll look into those bumper replacements.