2004 Liberty grille guard suggestions

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RobbWis

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We just bought our 2004 Liberty to replace my wife's truck. She had hit two deer with her truck with no real damage. With the Liberty being a little shorter and lower in the front end, she doesn't feel as safe. So, I am wondering if if anyone has a good suggestion for a grille guard that can add a little extra protection.
 

tommudd

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We just bought our 2004 Liberty to replace my wife's truck. She had hit two deer with her truck with no real damage. With the Liberty being a little shorter and lower in the front end, she doesn't feel as safe. So, I am wondering if if anyone has a good suggestion for a grille guard that can add a little extra protection.

Full bumper like the ARB, hit 4 Deer with mine ( at different times over the years plus a Toyota Camry ) and never even got a scratch
Most of the so called grill guards are like aluminum foil , just for looks , no protection

The Matrix Brush Guard from jeepinbyal would provide some protection but with a full grown Buck running out even it would bend back some I'd say. Thankfully I haven't had to test it out yet on my 2003
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My ARB on my 2004 that hit 4 Deer and the Toyota
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JasonJ

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What's the ARB cost nowadays? About $1000 ish I think, the last time I looked? Real honest question (and yes, I could look it up, but that would add little to the conversation).

I'm just thinking... because the damage done to the front end of a Jeep caused by even a small deer impact, is going to be huge. I hit a 40lb doe with the front of my Grand Marquis.... it's bad. Headlight, corner light, grille, header panel, core support bent, etc.

With the recent damage I did to my Jeep losing it on some ice... $2300 ish, an ARB bumper that protects from any further damage is actually a smart buy at around $1000 or so.

Even with insurance, two collisions and a $500 twice pays for the ARB bumper that would have prevent much, if any additional damage at all.

After new suspension/lift, that's the next thing on my list for my 03.
 

tommudd

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What's the ARB cost nowadays? About $1000 ish I think, the last time I looked? Real honest question (and yes, I could look it up, but that would add little to the conversation).

I'm just thinking... because the damage done to the front end of a Jeep caused by even a small deer impact, is going to be huge. I hit a 40lb doe with the front of my Grand Marquis.... it's bad. Headlight, corner light, grille, header panel, core support bent, etc.

With the recent damage I did to my Jeep losing it on some ice... $2300 ish, an ARB bumper that protects from any further damage is actually a smart buy at around $1000 or so.

Even with insurance, two collisions and a $500 twice pays for the ARB bumper that would have prevent much, if any additional damage at all.

After new suspension/lift, that's the next thing on my list for my 03.

The Deer I hit all would of taken out the grill, light(s) possibly hood, maybe fender , bumper etc so I'm figuring that each one would of been at the very least 2000-2500 , I have 500 deductible, so 500 times 4 is 2000 dollars. PLUS thats not even counting the Toyota :icon_lol: so yes the ARB paid for itself more than once !
By the way why did I sell that??
 

Hockeygoon

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What is the pipe made out of? To be honest it doesn't look heavy enough to not bend back into the vehicle when it hits a 200 pound object at 60 MPH. The center section would be fine but the outside section by the headlights does not.


At one time we tried grill guards on our fleet trucks (3-5 deer strikes a year). All the grill guards did was ad to cost of the repair as the body shop had to cut them off the first before they could get to the body damage. I doubt you could get a good enough front "guard" on a Liberty to protect it without it being to heavy. The only really good ones I've seen are integrated with the bumper like the ones from Reunel.


http://www.reunel.com/products.html
 
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tommudd

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What is the pipe made out of? To be honest it doesn't look heavy enough to not bend back into the vehicle when it hits a 200 pound object at 60 MPH. The center section would be fine but the outside section by the headlights does not.

Thats what I have said before a deer hit right on the side would bend it back some
 

tommudd

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What is the pipe made out of? To be honest it doesn't look heavy enough to not bend back into the vehicle when it hits a 200 pound object at 60 MPH. The center section would be fine but the outside section by the headlights does not.


At one time we tried grill guards on our fleet trucks (3-5 deer strikes a year). All the grill guards did was ad to cost of the repair as the body shop had to cut them off the first before they could get to the body damage. I doubt you could get a good enough front "guard" on a Liberty to protect it without it being to heavy. The only really good ones I've seen are integrated with the bumper like the ones from Reunel.


reunel extreme heavy duty bumpers

Trust me the ARB does a number on a Deer, one I hit found part of his rack 3 days later still lodged up in the roof rack:icon_lol:

My 04 sits the right height with an ARB to catch one in the mid shoulder area and suck em underneath quickly
 
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blue_kjR417

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ARB's are great but no reason to the front of the liberty being weak. I plowed this Nissan Altima doing 45mph and as you can see it was significantly more damaged than my KJ.

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