You Guys Were Right!!

So I bought a bull guard and installed it on my new 2014 DCSB Tacoma a few months back. Before I installed it, I read about a lot of people on here saying not to do so. Then, about four weeks ago, I noticed it was pushed against the bumper, so today I broke out some wrenches and backed it off the bumper. It was then I thought though. Not a big deal, but lesson learned, and not even a scratch on the guard.


Jay

 

100% for "looks". It gives the little truck a tougher, bigger look. I have one on my own Tacoma, but it's kinda useless. It would be hard pressed to move a shopping cart out of the way. However, whenever an old lady cuts in front of me, it adds to the terror in her mirror...

 

Poser.

 

FIFY

 

I have been more than happy with mine.

Sure its no 300 pound steel bumper

but im not looking for that type of protection.

just extra protection against the small stuff, like deer.

Plus it does look good!

 

I have seen quite a few deer strikes and I would say a large majority of hits happen no where near the bull bar. At regular ride height, a bull bar would take out the deer's legs, but the body would do most of the damage to the upper grill/ hood. That is assuming that the strike is head on; most of the strikes I have seen happen on one of the corners like the picture below.

I would say, if your main concern is protecting against deer steer far away from these cheaper bars. I think looks are the only thing those are good for, but its your truck, so if looks are important than it is worth the money.

 

x2

 

X3.
Bullbar = Damage multiplier. Good for moving shopping carts at the mall though.

 

^^^ agreed. had the avid light bar....when it did hit something, the bar pressed back and bent the tabs they were mounted on but no damage to the plastic bumper. after that i've moved to a plate bumper.

 

This

 

i have never seen them hold up to deer! and our deer are small than the ones you have around you! does are around 95 to 100 field dressed around here. bucks are like maybe 130 average. deer around WNY are probably a good 20+ pounds bigger than our deer.



considering most those “brush” guards i can flex the light “gaurds” with my hands. they don’t hold up to hitting 100LBS+ deer at 30+mph.

 

they are called "brush guards" for a reason, they can only keep the brush away from the front (and not even that good)

brother got hit by a deer back in Dec, 5k+ dmg for lights, fender and door fixing (he didn't even have it a year).

 

Understand all that has been started, except disagree with the damage multiplier.

But I killed a deer head on with my last truck,

and the only damage to the the truck was minor fender damage.

It would of been totalled if not for the bull bar.

and there was that nissan I rear ended. $2300 damage to the nissan

I just pulled the bull bar back out.

Plus Im sure the quality of the bull bar is a major factor

Seeing mine are 1/4 inch steel plate sides, I think I will be just fine

 

This is whats sucks, The body shop wants the truck for 2 days, remove, prep, prime, dry, reprep, dry, paint and install

Jay

 

It was bent back by what, another car? I'd like to see the damage if it wasn't there.

 

If your lucky enough to impact a deer/animal directly to the bull bar, sure it will take the blow, but that is a very rare situation. The only real protection against deer is not hitting them period.

 

^^ That helps.

 

sounds like the bolts wern't torqued

 

I had one on my dads old explorer and I used to run through snow / ice banks push cars etc with it all the time

 

How does having a bull bar affect the physics of the crumple zones?

Does the engine still angle down/breakaway in a major head-on if you bolt steel bars to the frame in the front?

My 2004 had a bull bar, and--as was mentioned--all I saw was (surprise!!!) this giant black eyeball coming at me before doing $8k in damage to my left side/front end/pulleys/AC/alternator/hoses/belts...

And then I had to shoot the poor damn thing as it was trying to hobble away.

This is why we should stop eating so much beef and start eating more deer. They are all out to get you, or someone you love.

Take a stand. Eat a deer. Save a life!