Grille guards and deer

kc5deb · January 15, 2006

I am a reserve deputy sheriff for a county near where I live, and I trashed one of our patrol vehicles last night less than 10 minutes into my shift after hitting a deer going 65mph. Didn't have any grill guard on the vehicle, so it tore the grille all apart, put a hole in the radiator, and pushed the driver side quarter panel so far towards the back of the vehicle, I had to literaly bend the door to get it to open.

On the way home, I dang near trashed my own truck 3 times by deer, and I wasn't even going 50mph.

Here's my question. I see a lot of cheap grille guards on the market that I know wouldn't hardly stand up to hitting a chihuahua, much less a deer. I know that ranch hand makes some nice stout grill guards.

But, does anyone know of a grille gaurd out there that will actually keep a deer from causing damage to your truck? Ranch hand also makes a grill guard/bumper replacement that looks stout enough, but, even so, would it still be stout enough to survive impact with a deer at 60-70mph?

Really looking for some advice from you guys out there in deer country that have had experience with these things (deer AND grille guards).

asilverblazer · January 15, 2006

I thought of adding a gaurd to my truck to protect the bumper, grille, etc, that was til I saw I guy tap a concrete wall with his. It was less than 5mph. It ruined the gaurd, so to fix it would cost a new gaurd, 250$ at least. Without it probably about 125$ for a new bumper. It might protect the truck but if it was damaged it would be more expensive to fix the gaued than it would be to fix the truck. Well in some respects at least.

kc5deb · January 16, 2006

I've been searching all over the net, and have yet to come up with a grill guard and/or bumper replacement for a GMC that I thought looked strong enough to stop a deer from trashing the front end.

ARB seems to be the best and strongest, but, they don't make a product for GMC.

RanchHand are expensive, and while they do look nice, and probably would help if you hit a tall dog, they don't look like they'd do anything other than push up into the engine compartment if ya hit a deer with it.

Any hints fellers?

Wingnut · January 16, 2006

I would think that if you had a grill guard that is capable of completely deflecting a rabid deer attack at 65 mph...It would also stop your airbag from going off in a rabid Honda attack.

But that's just me.

MS3DALE · January 16, 2006

Since I work with the body shop here at the dealership to get them all there parts and we also have a lot of deer around here I see quite a few trucks in our body shop that have hit deer and also have grille/brush guards,we just had one last week,an '01 Silverado Z71 with a Manik brand guard. It would have been better off not having a grille/brush guard on it at all.

From all the deer hits I've seen it seems that the grille/brush guards just do more harm than good.

lrymal · January 16, 2006

Built correctly and mounted well, they can help deflect a deer or any other large animal. The guard I have listed in my sig below is a good guard. It is mounted at four points: underbody frame, and at the frame below the radiator, just above the bumper.

I used to have a Manik, but it was mounted ONLY at the bottom frame and would flex. That thing was terrible.

Frankly, the truck in the sig no longer has its guard. I removed it because of the gasoline costs, gaining 3 MPG. It definitely contributes to the aero drag.

gmcjoe · January 16, 2006

I've been searching all over the net, and have yet to come up with a grill guard and/or bumper replacement for a GMC that I thought looked strong enough to stop a deer from trashing the front end.

ARB seems to be the best and strongest, but, they don't make a product for GMC.

RanchHand are expensive, and while they do look nice, and probably would help if you hit a tall dog, they don't look like they'd do anything other than push up into the engine compartment if ya hit a deer with it.

Any hints fellers?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LOL true

At 65 MPH there isn't much that will prevent damage. If there is, the weight would cause a nice loss of MPG the other 99% you were driving around and not hitting a deer

busta · January 16, 2006

My brother in law has the ranch hand replacement front bumper and grill guard on his truck and that thing is VERY stout (also very expensive)...now i dont know how it would hold up at 65-70 mph with a deer...i dont know of any other brands that is a one piece unit...i used to have a guard on mine and it was like a 3 piece bolt together type...next one i buy if i buy one will be a one piece unit

boakes · January 16, 2006

There are some bumpers out there called Buckstop bumpers that were supposedly designed for this purpose, they are a little pricey $1200-1500. Web page is www.buckstop.biz.

Elwood 2000 · January 17, 2006

I have a Manic grill guard and I do like it. Yes, it is only mounted at the frame, but in all honesty, I don't think you are going to find any grill guard that will deflect any deer so that you can just wipe off a little fur and drive away.

Personally, I bought mine for two reasons. First, I like the look, second, IF I do hit a deer, I hope that it protects my truck enough to keep the radiator in tact so that I can drive or limp to somewhere instead of being stuck along side the road. Hopefully, the frame mounts will hold and when it folds back against the hood, it will be solid enough to keep from damaging my radiator.

If I hit a deer, I could care less about the damage to the truck, as long as my people are OK and my truck can limp away from the scene. Beyond that, it is just iron, it can be replaced.

PaulieK · January 17, 2006

I bet this guy wish he had a brushguard.

And the same with this guy.

Machine · January 17, 2006

I've got the RH front end replacement on my HD, and a couple of RH GG's on my Subs. I also have a ranch in the heart of S. Texas big buck country - about 40 highway miles SW of the King Ranch

The RH's are strong / solid, but hitting a whitetail at 65 will still cause damage. How much, I don't know, but I don't think they weren't designed around a high speed impact with a 160 pound buck, or a 120 pound doe. However, I hit a coyote (about 45 pounds) doing about 40 and i had no damage at all. So, it's fair to say that the RH is strong enough but only to a certain point.

04-silver · January 17, 2006

I would think that if you had a grill guard that is capable of completely deflecting a rabid deer attack at 65 mph...It would also stop your airbag from going off in a rabid Honda attack.

But that's just me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good point!

Let me know if you decide to challenge this J/K

John

Halen5150 · January 17, 2006

I bet this guy wish he had a brushguard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I doubt a brushguard would've stopped the deer from falling through the roof.

And the same with this guy.

That'll ruin your day....muahahahaha, that's so effed up!

srlbotanical · January 17, 2006

I've been searching all over the net, and have yet to come up with a grill guard and/or bumper replacement for a GMC that I thought looked strong enough to stop a deer from trashing the front end.

ARB seems to be the best and strongest, but, they don't make a product for GMC.

RanchHand are expensive, and while they do look nice, and probably would help if you hit a tall dog, they don't look like they'd do anything other than push up into the engine compartment if ya hit a deer with it.

Any hints fellers?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We all need to email ARB and tell them to start making GM specific products, they make stuff for everyone else! ARB bumpers/guards are some of the nicest I have seen. My buddy has ARB on his Jeep and it is rock solid.

Steve