Brush gaurds

[mkk]

For those of you that have hit deer or other substantial critters, are they worth it or just an expensive ornament.

Lets use Ranch Hand/Tough country as a standard for weight/quality

[txhoghunter73]

Yes, 100% worth it. Granted they were both only around 35-40 mph impact. I need to get on on my new f150 bad. I can't imagine what a deer would do to all my plastic on the front end.

[DoubleGProstaff]

I have a tuff county front end replacement on its way.

[ldoyle]

Yes !

[Ruark]

I would definitely put one on my truck, but I seldom drive that old clunker off the ranch or over 40mph. We've hit deer several times in our cars and done close to $5,000 damage each time. Some guys here on TBH with heavy-duty grill guards say they hit deer at 70mph with them and they just splatter off. I'm not sure exactly what make and model they were talking about, but if I had a nice truck, I'd sure want one!

[jefandaward]

Ranch hand grill guard on my f250 worked great pushing a mule deer off the road at about45 mph and the full replacement ranch hand on my Duramax cut a deer dang near in half. All with no damage to my trucks

[texasdeerhunter]

I will never own a truck without one in the future. I've hit two deer, both with a Ranchand guard. The first one was in north Texas, hit a doe, and I never saw her until 5 seconds before impact, I was still going about 85 when I hit her. Splattered her, but she busted up my passenger side quarter panel. Did $5000+ in damages.

Second one I hit, I was only going 55, but it still messed up the hood (buck whose head slammed on the hood when I hit him and his shoulder slid thru the bars of the guard).

Both of these times causes body damage to the truck, but my brush guard prevented major damage to the truck, especially on the one I hit while driving fast. For $500 or so, they are a great investment.

[Bucksaw]

My dad can correct me if im wrong, but he had a Ranch Hand on a Dodge half ton and he hit 3 deer at varying speeds up to about 65mph, I think. Traded that truck later with no body repairs.

I prefer a front end replacement. I hit one doing about 70 with no damage to my truck other than a slightly bent frame rail (at the mounting point, which I fixed with a little hammer tapping) and a busted blinker (no guard on my replacement, just the bumper). Have had one on every truck since then, and am making plans to build my next one for my new truck.

[Boomer57]

I hit a buck at 70mph, Ranchhand on my 1/2t, scared the heck out of me. Grill guard flexed in enough to curl the leading edge of hood down, pushed the left fender back just enough to I lead opening the door. But all lights still worked, the radiator was fine and I continued to the lease.
It would have been really bad without the guard. I could have been hurt or the very least stranded on the side of the road with guns and gear in the middle of the night.

[Pullersboy]

Never hit a deer w/ mine, but I do use it as an actual brush guard the keep limbs and such from punching a hole in my radiator while driving through the lease. I have run over countless mesquite trees that were in my way and don't have go worry about damage to the grill of my truck out radiator.

[sqiggy]

Last deer I hit, I was at 55mph. I had a full replacement bumper and no damage to the truck.
Hit a few deer with my half ton with just the brush guard. Only one cause body damage, but unless you looked really hard, you couldn't see it. Just put a slight buckle in it.
Well worth the money.

[kumathebear]

I'm sure there are comparable brands, but Ranchhand is all I have ever owned. It's saved my trucks several times over the years.

[.270]

I never hit a deer with mine, HOWEVER in my old 99 F150 I hit a speed bump I didn't know was there at about 45 mph driving to a golf course I never played before. Well I hit the speed bump then nosedived into a dip in the road, ( I think the speed bump was protecting you from the dip). Ranch Hand took the lick, bent a little, but no damage to my truck.

[Ruark]

I've seen some grill guards that looked REALLY heavy duty - they stick out about a foot from the front of the truck. Seems like that could take just about anything. Could a deer still damage your body if you hit it with one of these?

[Bob G]

Grille guards help you move on down the road once you hit something. Folded diamond plate is an upgrade from a grille guards. The pipe front end replacements has saved many a life. The important part on any of them is point of impact...

tending the fire