Grille Guard vs Push Bar

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

knightjp

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Posts
795
Reaction score
835
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Over here in Dubai, we don't have issues with wildlife or animals although I did have a narrow escape with a small antelope long ago. I don't like look of most of these Off road bumpers with the hoops and front protection and since I drive in the city most of the time. Thinking about it, I would like some front end protection on my truck; especially when after what happened with my previous truck. Plus it would be a good place to mount off road lighting.
I don't like the standard "Bullbars" that I see. Don't think those can really be called bull bars. They more like skid plates IMO. For me traditionally a bull bar is what most would call grille guards these days.
Recently I watched a couple of youtube videos on customized Police vehicles. I like the look of the front and rear protection on those and wouldn't mind them on my truck. My granddad was a cop before joining the Air force and he used to customize his bike to look like the Police bikes.
I guess I caught that bug from him; hence why I like the look of the Agents Of Shield SUV.
Screenshot_20221029_142155.jpg
Looking through American Trucks website, I like the look of this..
https://www.americantrucks.com/black-horse-off-road-grille-guard-black-0917-excluding-rebel.html
However I'm confused over one thing.. Looking at the side profile, it loops from under the front bumper and I'm not sure how strong that is, as opposed to mounting where the front tow hooks are..
I like the look of the Westin bumper in the picture. Not sure where to get that. The only Westin guard on the site is the HDX and I'm not a fan of the mesh in the centre.
Also I notice that even though they look similar, they called different names. One is a grille guard and the other is called a push bar. What is the difference?
 

Docwagon1776

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Posts
2,201
Reaction score
3,630
Location
Midwest
Ram Year
2012, 2021
Engine
5.7, 6.4
A push bar on a police vehicle is designed to, as the name implies, push. It's not armor in the traditional sense, it's so you can push a stalled vehicle off the roadway without damage to your vehicle and little risk of damage/marring to the disabled vehicle.

Many of the grill guards are really cosmetic only or offer little extra protection from anything significant. Do your research on any individual option you consider, but remember that any significant protection comes at the cost of increased weight.
 
OP
OP
knightjp

knightjp

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Posts
795
Reaction score
835
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
@Docwagon1776 thank you for the reply. I completely agree with you about the weight and it seems to me that most grille guards won't give me as much protection as the bumpers you see from companies like Ranch Hand or ARB. However I still feel those bumpers are overkill for my usage and I actually prefer the Police armor look.
Looking at the one I've linked from DarkHorse, do you think that it would the same protection as the HDX from Westin or the Ranch Hand Grille Guard?
 

Dave Haddon

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2020
Posts
1,033
Reaction score
1,281
Location
Saskatoon SK. Canada
Ram Year
2021
Engine
5.7
Had a nasty encounter with a full size momma moose way back. The thing is most of the encounters seem to be up on your hood or at least rthe high spot on these "Guards"..hence of little value as that is the weakest support point for these guards..They just flex and bend into your vehicle and you!
 

GTyankee

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Posts
10,117
Reaction score
12,721
Location
El Cajon Calif. 92021
Ram Year
2016
Engine
3.0 ecodiesel
I may be wrong, but i would not think that there would be large stray animals in the UAE ?
maybe a stray antelope

I would have to guess that either a Push or Brush bumper design would be different as far as the bumper type goes
:ie metal or plastic

1667104580018.png

1667104628055.png

1667104788340.png

1667104866013.png

1667105003665.png
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
knightjp

knightjp

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Posts
795
Reaction score
835
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
@GTyankee To be honest the worst case scenario we could have with wildlife are camels. It is quite unlikely as most places are fenced. Even areas where people go to play on the dunes, so that the animals won't come near. Roadsides are also fenced off to prevent issues with them crossing. But you do hear of the odd incident every now and then. Other animals are small antelope and oryx. Which are even rarer than camels.

I've got a chrome bumper on my truck. What does that say about my choices in a grille guard.
I came across this video.
Grille Guards vs Brush Guards
 

Luau_Pig

Senior Member
TOTM Winner
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
Posts
218
Reaction score
145
Ram Year
2019 Classic
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I'm running the Westin Sportsmen grill guard on my truck. It mounts through the tow hook locations and under the bumper as you mentioned. Picked it up off Amazon a few years back.
 

cityredneck

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2018
Posts
215
Reaction score
242
Location
arlington, tx
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
i've got the ranch hand summit bullnose bumper. i love it, havent had to use it thankfully, but it seems to be alot sturdier than the oem bumper.

 
Top