Grille Guards / Bull Bars

Looking for recommendations on a wrap around guard or a stout bull bar but not the full ARB style bumper replacement. The good the bad and the ugly. More concerned with wildlife aka deer strike protection after losing two vehicles in the last 4 months. Any insight much appreciated!

 

Gonna lose more vehicles with a bull bar.

You want wildlife protection get a full bumper.

 

Loosing 2 vehicles in last 4 months? Wow, That's lot of deer activity and bad timing to drive. Sorry to hear that

 

I bought a Westin grille guard and it is great for protecting against tumbleweeds, road debris, and large birds like pheasants and owls, etc. It has protected me in plenty of situations.

However, it will not protect against a deer at 60 mph. The forces involved in hitting a 150-220 lb animal at highway speeds is simply too much.

When I was a teen, my dad had an `82 Chevy 1-ton crew cab 4x4 diesel with a Warn winch bumper installed. This was old school iron. He hit a deer at 60 mph broadside and it exploded the deer and still bent the bumper a little.

There are very view bumpers available for the 4Runner that are built stout enough to withstand the forces of a deer strike at highway speeds, and they will cost around $2000, before installation.

I lived in Iowa for a few years and hit a couple of deer after having grown up in Idaho and never hit one. I learned to slow down in certain areas and be more aware.

 

Maybe, maybe not. I hit this dead center between the headlights at 55 mph. I didn't hit the brakes til after I hit the deer. Damn thing bent my license frame. No other damage. I think it would have come into the radiator without the bull bar. It was delicious and tender.

 

You don't have a regular bull bar.

 

Brain fart on my part. I hear "bull bar" and this where my brain goes.

Yeah, if you're referring to the bolt-on-bull-bar-monstrosities, they will not help much. As you said, gonna lose more vehicles. The OP definitely needs a bumper.

 

Thanks for the input...

 

Yikes, that is horrible luck! If I wrecked two cars in 4 months I’d be buying an ARB or similar. Then I’d put huge deer antlers on it…with a sign written in deer that said “Come git some!”