Deer protection

Try these had them on every vehicle I've owned & they always stop dead in there tracks & watch me drive by. Deer are very thick around here. Put them up high & they scream! Only like $5 at Walmart

 

People here who have had metal grill guards before have complained that when they do get into a fender bender or small bumps or accidents, the grill guard has caused more damage to their trucks than it would have without. That it would wrap or hit for areas as opposed to just localized damage. So keep that in mind too.

 

I got my winch off a member here. Depends how much money you want to spend. But you could get the bumper and hold onto a tow strap if you want to save some dough

 

That's like two chicks at the school dance. I'm picking the svelte one in red.

 

Maybe. Everything is a compromise.

A plate may help with a deer/large animal if you hit it right.

It may help with light bumps/bruises in town.

It may make things worse with a heavy hit on another vehicle or immovable object like a stump. As in bend your frame, because there is no absorbsion factor. Like when you get rear ended with a hitch in place. The frame is going to bend if the hit is hard.

 

I had a deer smack into the side of a car once. I added those things until they fell out. It does make a whistling sound.

 

Here's a great thread that shows how a bumper can save your bacon. After reading through the whole thing, pretty much all bumpers act the same and will protect your truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/plate-bumpers-after-impact-with-pics.379600/

 

Thanks for the advice guys. Im leaning towards the Westin HDX Grille Guard. Gives me the option add a winch tray to the guard that fits most winches, light bars, and has full cover of the lights and grill itself. Anyone know of issues with Westin guards?

 

I have a photo somewhere of a smashed front end of a car (after hitting a deer) with those hanging down on a broken piece of the grill.
I love irony.

 

That's why you put them up high by the roof rails with nothing blocking them. Mounted on the grill the sound just goes into the engine bay & runs the effect.

 

Maybe something like this?

 

The best protection is comprehensive insurance with an affordable deductible. In addition slower speeds within 2 hours of dusk or dawn will help in trying to avoid strikes and minimize damage from the ones you cannot avoid. They will go over big bumpers, into the hood and windshield too.

 

Where do you live?

 

Eastern Washington, and when the incident happened I was already driving under the speed limit, and had full high beams on. I actually had so little time to react to the deer entering the road the breaking assist on my truck didn't even activate.