Does anyone have experience with these smittybilt predators for the front and rear? They have full bumper protection plus the look of a bull guard. Any pics of them installed? Will they take a hit or are they cosmetic only?

Dan

 

Bump

 

No experiance with that particular gaurd, but in the past their products were purely cosmetic. They held up fine if the only wheeling you did was the curbs at the mall. But I read that they were recently reorginized or bought out, and they were going to now focus on durable functional products. So it would seem if it is a new product it may be good. what wall thickness and material are the tubes. .120 wall HREW or DOM tubing would be fairly stout.

EDIT: After reading that product description, all it says is 2" tube, doesn't specify wall thickness. The part I didn't like was that it states they are just bolted onto the factory bumper. IMHO I would want them frame mounted

 

No experience with grille guards or bumper guards on these trucks, but I have used some of SB's products and Westin's. The grille and bumper guards are good for keeping light brush away from the front or rear, but that is about it. The one on my Tahoe took a full impact from a 140lb deer 2 years ago, and it was horrible what it looked like afterwards, plus it sent on side of the headlight protector bar through my radiator. You want protection that will hold up look into RanchHand or RoadArmor bumpers. There are also others out there like ARB, etc. But for light brush, attahing lights, and cosmetic purposes I like the bolt on guards and they are what they are. Hope this helps. Some may of had better luck with theirs.

 

It says it attaches over the front bumper. Unless your driving through light brush....it won't do anything to protect the vehicle if you hit a deer. I'd be willing to bet that if you did hit a deer...that front piece that is suspose to protect the grill....would smash into your grill and go right thorough the radiator.

Edit: I just read MoJo's post after I typed this...great minds think alike.