JAG Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I have searched around and didn't find anything.....so here goes. I am posting this in the general section as I figured it wasn't specific to the R50 but if required mods please move tks. I have an 01 SE that I am considering putting a brush guard on, my drive to work has a high deer strike pottential and it woudl be nice to minimise any damage to my front end. I have found a used one locally for a decent price that needs a little TLC (paint) Was thinking that while I was cleaning it up I would try and improve the overall strength of it as this seems to be the major knock against them. Here is what I was considering: 1) remove the ugly (at least i think they are ugly) bars over the light 2)on the outside of the bars that rap around the light/fender add a 1/2" strip of 1/4" steel to stiffen it 3)possibly add re-enforcement to an assembly behind the bumper similar to the one done by keelhaul to mount his winch 4)as an alternate to #3 maybe add stiffiners to the curved verticle portions. Is this completely a waste of time or a worthwhile endeavor? Thanks in advance Joel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Buy and mount deer whistles. As for beefing that thing up, I have not examined one first hand so I do not know how feasible it would be. Generally, those guards are pretty feeble to hold up to striking a 100+lb animal at 50+MPH. the biggest problem that I know of is the tendency for them just to fold back due to not having any support higher up, but perhaps that center tab helps with that on the newer models. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nytrosfinder Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Talk to kingman, He got in a wreck a while back and his stock brush guard saved the front of his pathfinder... he would know best right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Yes, but he was hit from behind, correct?? B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nytrosfinder Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Yes, but he was hit from behind, correct?? B Yes but he was pushed into the back of a prius... I looked for the post but can not find it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Kingman had the winch-mount wd21 version.....which mounts to the frame AND the factory tow points.....even then, hitting a rear bumper is different than a deer...... those plastic rear bumpers crumple and puncture, deer is like a projectile, 100 lbs going 50mph hitting YOU, whereas kingman was stopped, and pushed into the dude in front of him.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoPathyGo Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Yes but he was pushed into the back of a prius... I looked for the post but can not find it... Low speed and some of the energy was transferred into the Prius. While I like the looks of my Nissan brush guard, 3 bolts each side torqued at 40 ft-lbs with no upper support ain't real strong... Force = Change in momentum/Duration of impact Assume a 100 lb deer, 50 mph vehicle speed and an instantaneous impact (0.2 seconds though you can be more scientific). The deer is going to be accelerated to the vehicle speed very rapidly. I simplified and assumed that was instantaneous too. I used metrics (45 kg and 22 meters/second) but converting back from Newtons to lbs it works out to about 1125 lbs. That's a lot to ask of a brush guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 Wow....thanks for all the responses. From what I gather attempting to beef it up doesn't appear to be too worth it. I may grab it just for asthetics and to mount some lights on....just have to decide if I like the look or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) Yes I did get rear ended at 45-45mph and plowed into the vehicle ahead of me. As you can see from my thread, little was done to the front of my rig. Edited October 28, 2009 by Kingman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 IMO fatory brush guards are just that. BRUSH GUARDS! they stop small branches, saplings and bushes fine. If you want deer protection look into a bullbar or a guard that actually replaces your bumper in the process. then it will have the advantage of the best mounting points, the best integrated material and no inferior parts to pivot arround. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Exactly. Sometimes it's possible to make your own (or have it made) and end up spending less money than a full on bumper and guard from a manufacturer, and plus it'll be custom. The little eye guards we have that stem off the main piece don't do much for any kind of a heavy impact. They will bend and do more damage in most cases when hit on something solid. The only real part of ours that are worth a damn is the middle piece, but how often do you plow things head on? Well, unless you plow a Prius, but that's not the point... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Look into a smittybilt bumper like slike as on mimime and have some buddy weld some angle iron on to it to protechet the front.Or you can get a texastuff front bumper and brush guard,these bumpers are both tough as nail(the smitty built I know from my mud truck that it can hit 4-6 trees and not bend the bumper,just plow the trees over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 LOL well it is all a moot point now....the brush guard has sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJim Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I had the same brush guard on my Pathfinder before the ARB and it actually saved my bacon just as it came from the factory. I had one major goof in the past 10 years where I misjudged a landing area for a jump. I ended up going over the side of a cliff high in the mountains and hit a tree on the way down that kept me from really falling a long way down. I was fully in the air and hit a tree that smacked me backward like a spring board onto the side of the mountain. I was sure the front of my rig was going to be totalled and I was afraid to look, but when I did I saw that it only caused a small amount of damage on the right fender where the wrap around hit the fender. It was a small dent and I could not complain. When I replaced the brush guard I decided to go with the ARB winch bumper which is indestructable, but it was spendy too. I am 100% happy with the ARB bumper but it does add allot of weight to the front of the rig. The guard you have will give you some protection like it is. I don't know what all you could do to really beef it up but its better than nothing and I love the look.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJim Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Yes I did get rear ended at 45-45mph and plowed into the vehicle ahead of me. As you can see from my thread, little was done to the front of my rig. Wow, that is harsh. I know you were sick to see your Pathfinder in this condition. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerranoNZ Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I had one major goof in the past 10 years where I misjudged a landing area for a jump. I ended up going over the side of a cliff high in the mountains and hit a tree on the way down that kept me from really falling a long way down. I've seen that video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 That Prius got raped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 If the fear is deer strikes, don't get a guard, get a winch bumper (ARB, TJM, ETC.). Something stout, that has less chance of bending back into your bodywork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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