If you’ve been out on the road, especially in more rural areas, chances are you’ve seen plenty of vehicles equipped with brush guards. They’re most prevalent on trucks, SUVs, and law enforcement vehicles, and tend to give those vehicles a more rugged, heavy-duty look. But they’re usually not just for show (although many people buy them for just that) – they can be a valuable addition to a vehicle for several reasons.
But there’s also plenty of debate surrounding brush guards, their usefulness, and their safety. So if you’re thinking about fitting your vehicle with a brush guard or you’re just curious what they’re all about, you’re in the right place. In this article, I’ll go over everything you need to know about brush guards.
What Is A Brush Guard & What Are They Used For?
Brush guards are designed to protect a vehicle’s front end from damage in low-speed vehicle collisions, animal collisions, and off-road conditions. They also provide aesthetic value and aid in aftermarket lighting installation. Different types of brush guards offer different levels of protection.
Different Types of Brush Guards/Grille Guards
There are several different styles and designs of brush guards, many of which go by different names and serve different purposes – but damage prevention is the common denominator.
For instance, “bull bar” is typically a single horizontal bar that protects only the center of the bumper and grill. “Push bars” are similar in the area they protect, but instead feature two vertical bars, often faced with rubber.
Brush guards (sometimes called full grille guards) typically combine these two designs but the bars also extend outward to cover the headlights and most of the front end. Some also have a grate or mesh panel over the grill to help prevent damage to the radiator. Brush guards offer the greatest amount of protection due to the larger area they cover.
Common Uses
As the name suggests, brush guards protect against damage from thick brush, branches, and rocks while off-roading or navigating narrow back roads. They also offer some level of protection against animal collisions. This is why they’re so popular among ranchers, off-road enthusiasts, and those who frequently drive on rural roads and highways.
Many tow trucks and law enforcement vehicles are fitted with some form of brush guard or push bar to help avoid damage when pushing disabled vehicles or in other situations where a deliberate collision is necessary.
Brush guards are also often used for mounting light bars or spotlights on the front end of the vehicle – some are even designed with this purpose in mind.
Do Brush Guards Help In Accidents?
Brush guards can help prevent front-end damage in many low-speed accidents such as fender benders and parking lot collisions, as well as some moderate-speed accidents. They are much less effective in high-speed, high-impact collisions. In some cases, they may even cause more damage.
Brush guards are typically bolted to the vehicle frame in multiple places, essentially making them an extension of the frame. The way brush guards prevent damage is by acting as a barrier between the vehicle body and whatever object it collides with, absorbing the force of an impact and channeling it into the vehicle frame.
This is effective protection in most low-impact collisions, but it can make matters worse in some situations – namely, high-speed collisions. Most importantly, it can mean a more violent impact for the passengers in the vehicle.
Vehicle bodies have “crumple zones” designed to absorb the force of impact in a collision, for the safety of the passengers. Bypassing these built-in safety features and sending the impact force straight to the frame can make the vehicle stop more abruptly on impact, increasing the risk of injury. This is more of a risk in high-speed accidents, but it’s worth considering.
Brush guards can also bend backward with a hard impact, potentially distributing the damage from a single point of impact across the entire front end. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the nature and speed of the impact.
One final note everyone should be aware of is that brush guards pose an increased risk of severe injury or death to pedestrians. This is because, unlike a vehicle body, they have virtually no “give” – a pedestrian, if struck, will bear the full brunt of the impact rather than some of it being absorbed by the vehicle’s crumple zones. This is one kind of accident in which a brush guard definitely does not help.
Do Brush Guards Protect Against Deer?
A brush guard can protect against deer or other moderately large animal, especially at low-to-moderate speeds. It likely won’t do much to prevent damage at top speeds or against larger deer – though some brush guards offer more protection than others.
Just as it does in other kinds of head-on collisions, a brush guard transfers the impact energy from a deer collision into the vehicle frame, leaving the grille, headlights, and body panels unscathed – or at least relatively unscathed. However, the same limitations and risks apply in the case of animal collisions as they do in any other collision – high speed and high object mass reduce the effectiveness of the brush guard and increase the likelihood of damage and/or injury.
In addition to bearing the brunt of the impact in a deer collision, brush guards also help prevent the deer from flying up over the hood and into the windshield. Instead, they will often deflect the animal down or to the side, which can drastically reduce the severity of the damage or injuries sustained.
Brush guards also tend to be most effective in this regard when used in combination with a heavy-duty steel front bumper, which helps reinforce the guard and provides additional protection to the lower front end. These aftermarket off-road bumpers are often sold separately or as a one-piece bumper/brush guard assembly.
Are Brush Guards Universal?
The majority of brush guards are not universal but are instead designed to fit a specific make and model of vehicle – a mismatched build may interfere with sensors, headlights, or air intake. However, some brush guards (usually smaller, simpler ones) are made to fit a wide range of vehicles.
Naturally, the most effective (and best-looking) brush guards are the ones engineered and built to perfectly fit a particular vehicle. Some may look good and fit snugly across a range of model years, but if they were designed for an older model and they’re being used on a newer model, it could block proximity sensors, cameras, or intake vents. It could even obstruct the headlights, creating a safety hazard.
And for obvious reasons, trying to install a brush guard designed for a small Toyota Tacoma on a monstrous Ford F-450 probably won’t give you the results you want – if you can even manage to mount it!
Some companies do make brush guards – or more accurately, bull bars – that can fit multiple vehicles, even from different makes, such as this bull bar from AUTOSAVER88. Of course, before purchasing any major car accessories, it’s always best to make sure they’ll fit your specific vehicle.
Are Brush Guards Legal?
Brush guards are legal in most parts of the U.S. and North America. However, they are regulated and in some cases prohibited in the U.K. and the European Union due to the increased risk they pose to pedestrians and other motorists. Many local laws may also prohibit certain types or modifications.
Although they are legal in the U.S., in some areas brush guards may be required by law not to have sharp edges, loose parts, hanging wires, or any other features that may pose a risk to pedestrians or other vehicles. In addition, it’s usually illegal to outfit them with flashing lights, particularly if they resemble those used by law enforcement or other emergency vehicles.
Of course, the rules are different everywhere, so it’s a good idea to check your local laws before installing or modifying a brush guard.
Do Brush Guards Affect MPG?
Some types of brush guards can have an effect on a vehicle’s MPG – though it’s typically very slight. Smaller models will generally make little to no difference, but larger, heavier brush guards can create slight wind resistance and add weight to the front end, both of which can hurt fuel economy.
In most cases, the effect on fuel economy will hardly be noticeable. After all, they’re made to be as aerodynamic as possible. But a massive and blocky steel brush guard that weighs 100+ lbs. may be a different story, especially if connected to or used with a hefty steel bumper. But even then, the loss isn’t likely to exceed 1-2 MPG.
How Much Do Brush Guards Cost?
Brush guards typically cost anywhere from around $200 to $1,500, depending on the size, type, material, and brand. Small bull bars/push bars are the least expensive, while larger high-end assemblies are the most expensive. Basic full-grille brush guards fall in the middle, at around $650 on average.
Of course, you’ll also want to factor in the cost of having your brush guard installed. This will depend on your vehicle, the brush guard itself, and where you take it for installation. You may be able to install it yourself, but if you don’t have experience modifying or working on cars, you’re probably better letting a pro handle it, to ensure that it’s mounted safely and securely. If it is applicable to you, you may also want to factor in the cost of lifting your truck into your overall calculation if it so happens that the brush guard you purchased does not fit your truck.
Are Brush Guards Worth It?
Whether or not grill guards are worth it depends on your situation and personal preference. They can help prevent damage to your vehicle in animal collisions, low-speed accidents, and rough terrain, but may put pedestrians at risk and do more harm than good in high-speed collisions.
If you live in the city and mainly use your vehicle for errands and commuting, a brush guard may not be very useful or even prudent – particularly if your drives put you near a lot of pedestrian or bicycle traffic. You may simply want to take your chances with your vehicle’s built-in safety features, do your best to avoid collisions, and hope that no rogue shopping carts plow into your front bumper while you’re in the grocery store.
On the other hand, if you live in a rural area or small town with a minimal amount of pedestrian traffic, or you do a lot of off-roading or driving on highways or back roads where encounters with brush, flying rocks, or animals are more likely, a brush guard may be a hugely beneficial addition to your vehicle.
Or, no matter your circumstances, you may simply want to mount Rally lights on your front end without permanently altering your vehicle. Or maybe you just really love the rugged and beefy look that a brush guard can lend to your ride.
Conclusion
All in all, there are many factors to consider if you’re thinking about putting a brush guard on your vehicle. Ultimately, unless your city just started regulating or prohibiting them, the decision is yours.
I hope this article helps you weigh the options and figure out what’s right for you. Thanks for reading!