Front end protection

In the last month, I've had two assclowns hit the front end of my truck. One was just enough to re-aim my OR lights for me and the other was enough to push the bull bar back into the bumper and of course, re-aim my OR lights for me. This crap is getting old. What's out there that looks good and will protect the front end AND cost as far below $500 as possible?

I love the thought of a plate bumper but damned if I'll pay the asking price on those and I don't want to upgrade the springs either.

What are my options boys n girls?

 

build something? maybe 4x innovations?http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/4x-innovations/



edit: nevermind you're a 2nd gen

 

Its plate bumper or nothin' man. Bull bars kind of help IMO but many on here say they don't. They're only gonna help in seriously low speed hits. The Avid light bar MIGHT be a bit tougher than a bull bar, but if it is stronger I'd say not by much.

 

Blueberry, the bull bars ARE worthless as far as protection from impact goes. Mine is more for a light bar/brush guard than anything and it does that job admirably.

 

I figured as much. I don't know the material used or the mounting locations. But they don't look that rigid.

 

Unrealistic expectations for $500. I'd double the budget and consider getting an ARB bumperb if serious about protection.

 

That may be but I have a budget to work with and the plate bumpers aren't worth $750-1000+ TO ME.

Perhaps I should have said best level of protection for less than $500 and looks good. I don't expect it to be deer or bomb proof, I just need it to help protect from "bumps" like the two I've gotten in the last month. Something I'm willing to consider would be the Aries modular brush guard or similar but I'm open to other options as well.

 

First-time poster here, and I'm going to bump this one to see if there's any more in the way of recommendations.

I have less budget constraints, but the bigger issue for me is that I'd prefer not to have to do any additional modifications (e.g. springs) just for the bumper.

I don't really plan on doing any heavy off-roading, but I'm about to buy my first 2012 Tacoma (still driving the pickup my dad handed down to me) and I plan on keeping it for quite some time. So I'm looking for something to help guard against trash-cans, shopping carts, boxes in my garage, etc. And while a brush guard would probably do that nicely, I'd rather not have the liability of a "damage amplifier" if I do end up getting in a fender-bender.

It sounds like tube/hybrid bumpers would be good, but will those all pretty much install without major modifications? Is there a particular brand that would be good for just some minor added protection?

 

i know im digging up a 19 day old thread but tjm is having a sale on their t15 bumper 500 then shipping, dont know if u heard about it already