A good grille guard can be quite the versatile tool for your truck or SUV. In fact, grille guards better your driving experience with the following features:
- Tough looks that add a serious dose of attitude or style to your front end
- Protection of delicate, expensive parts with rugged steel bars that deflect potential hazards
- A number of shapes and styles, from standard push bars to sleek euro-shaping that follows your vehicle’s lines
- The versatility to hold auxiliary lighting or a winch
The basics of grille guard shapes and styles - breakdown!
Whatever grille guard shape and style you want, AutoAnything probably has it. We showcase every kind of grille guard, from full front end beasts to small nudge bars to intricate winch grille guards. Plus, there’s standard-shaped utility designs and euro-inspired sleek models that reflect your vehicle’s styling lines.
Full front end grille guards
The original front-end protector boasts solid uprights bolted to your frame. Some grille guard models feature padded uprights for damage-free pushing. Bolted to the uprights are typically a bar for mounting auxiliary lights, a top hood guard bar, and shaped headlight guards.
Nudge bars and sport bars
Crafted primarily for subdued looks and style, nudge and sport bar grille guards offer solid low-speed impact protection. Their short design, however, prevents these grille guards from protecting your upper grille and headlight areas.
Bumper guards
Laying low to guard against a vehicle’s most frequently hit area, bumper guards boast padded uprights and steel tubing to stop minor fender benders from creating a $2,000 damage tab. Plus, they’re the ideal safeguard against oblivious parking lot drivers and disaffected municipal workers. Front and rear bumper guards are available for duty.
Skid plates
A few of AutoAnything’s full front end grille guards and center guards can be ordered with a skid plate. These tough guards, crafted from steel sheets or tubing, attach to the bottom of the grille guard for ground clearance protection. Anything you drive over - from tree trunks to parking barriers - will hit the skid plate instead of your sensitive underside parts. Not to mention the looks. A skid plate is the exclamation point on your vehicle’s frontal attitude.
Taillight guards
Ever had to replace a taillight on account of a stray rock, wayward baseball or misguided vandal? Taillight guards surround them with a durable steel tubing perimeter and rolled steel crossbars. Taillight guards match the look of your front grille guard, and add to the tough style package on your truck or SUV.
Mounting accessories to your grille guard: quick advice
A grille guard can be a great utility station for your vehicle. There’s a multitude of lighting options which can be mounted to the center bar. Or, for off-road enthusiasts and the perpetually prepared, many grille guards can be equipped with winch mounting plates.
Most of our full front end and center grille guards come pre-drilled for attaching auxiliary lighting to the center bar. This includes driving, fog and high-beam lights, which fit in a prime position for brightening the road and wiring to your vehicle’s electrical system.
Winches can be rigged to most any grille guard, but they’re best used with winch-specific grille guards and mounting systems that maximize pulling power. Winch-specific grille guards require more solid mounting to your vehicle’s frame , a task that can require cutting, drilling, two or more extra people for help, and several hours time.
Which finish color looks best with your truck or SUV?
Grille guards come in two distinct finish looks: durable black powder coat and highly-polished. Polished models are either chrome plated over steel or feature a mirror-polish of stainless steel. Each of these finishes is available on front end grille guards and taillight guards.
- When you want the original tough grille guard look, go with a powder coat black finish model
- For extra shine that matches your chrome and other trim, pick a polished grille guard
- If you want the best coverage against corrosion, select a stainless steel or chrome plated polished grille guard
With many to choose from including grille guards from westin and Manik, you will surely find the grille solution without having to cook your pocket load in the process.
Andrew Bernhardt is a writer and aftermarket accessory and performance part specialist for AutoAnything.com. Visit their site for a grille guard such as Westin grille guard or Manik grille guard.
