Utility of a Cattle Guard

[Tim Rey]

Hi there...

Though I have done long distance trips to the Rockies and Appalachians without one previously, we are going on a 3 month trip to Alaska via Canada and I am thus considering mounting a cattle guard (heavy duty brush guard)....what are your thoughts? Do they really provide extra protection?

Tim

[Kenny kustom]

Depends on what you hit!

Deer.. Maybe.
Moose? No way.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

[Oaklevel]

Depends also on the guard some are much better than others

[Tim Rey]

Amen....Moose, elk and beer probably not much help.....not sure about the return on the investment....

Thanks

[4mula1fan]

When you hit a deer, you get to replace the guard and repair what the guard smashes on your vehicle. You have to get one like on a semi before it does any good. IMHO.

[tjm]

"Brush" guards help with brush not collisions with animals. One that will stop an animal would have to be pretty heavy duty.


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[MillerTime]

I agree with the Above.
Being in the collision industry, most "brush guards" are nothing more than a cosmetic accessory. I won't put one on any of my vehicles.....the reason....they usually cause even more damage than whatever you hit would have done without one.

But....they look kinda cool on some trucks!

[drittal]

The big bumper replacements with sturdy bars add a ton of weight to the front end but I know of guys who have hit deer at highway speeds with little, if any, damage to their truck. That's a cattle guard. The other things are brush guards.

[RangeMaggotBob]

We always called them "Cow Catchers"- like the front end of trains. Most of the better ones will help if you hit a deer, but that's about it. A real one is integrated into the front bumper; in other words kind of all-in-one. But still, not much help if you hit anything larger than a deer.

[bababooey]

I grew up in Alaska, the chances of hitting a moose in the summer are very slim. Most people hit them in the winter, why?

1. It's dark 3/4 of the day, hard to see them jumping out of the ditch and onto the road in the dark.
2. There is 5' of snow for a moose to walk through or they can walk on the nice plowed road or train tracks.

You hit one, it just falls through your windshield or lands on your hood or roof. You may have some legs stuck in the brush guard but most of the animal is laying on your windshield in your lap.

[AquaMan]

Have a friend that lives in MT, installed a heavy guard on the front of his truck. He crept up on a Buffy on his way into town and thought he would just help move him along. It got a little PO'd, turned and in the space of about 10' charged the truck and did $3500 damage.

[DreiHunde]

Now this is a "brush" guard.....

[WVFR3]

When I got to Alaska I was told of a guy who drove up the Alcan and he was told if "After dark you come up on a moose in the road, after you stop be sure to turn your headlights off." Well, He got his Int. Scout stop but forgot about the lights. The last time he saw the front grill was attached to antlers heading into the brush.


2015 FR3 30DS
2014 Sonic Toad

2015 60+ camped
2016 30 camped 120 reserved

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

Now this is a "brush" guard.....

That's NOT a "Brush Guard" that is a Brush decimator!

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

That's NOT a "Brush Guard" that is a Brush decimator!

Considering the whole thing is 1/8" plate steel....yea! I am still trying to find the guy who owns it to ask how much it weighs!

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

Considering the whole thing is 1/8" plate steel....yea! I am still trying to find the guy who owns it to ask how much it weighs!

Enough that I bet they used an overhead crane to hook it up....

[fander]

I have hit deer with a llight weight brush guard and it was worthless. Had a heavy cattle guard for a while but cost me a mile per gallon.

[DocRob]

A brush guard is one way to secure a piece of hardware cloth across the front to protect the lights and radiator from stones. Can also extend the hardware cloth up a bit to try to deflect stones from the windshield.

[twiggw]

We used Rhino guards on the front of our emergency vehicles. They seemed pretty tough but mine never got tested! Two comments, one, many of our deer vs vehicle incidents involved the deer jumping into the side of the vehicle and two, the guard will hopefully protect vital systems (radiator, trans cooler, etc.) so you can at least get to the next wide spot in the road.

[Auscon]

Originally Posted by Tim Rey

Hi there...

Though I have done long distance trips to the Rockies and Appalachians without one previously, we are going on a 3 month trip to Alaska via Canada and I am thus considering mounting a cattle guard (heavy duty brush guard)....what are your thoughts? Do they really provide extra protection?

Tim

Don't listen to them. As a Canadian I tell you they are madatory!! Here is my truck



My car




and my motorycle