So, I finally decided to beef up my truck with a new brush guard, and let me tell you, it was quite the adventure. I went with an Aries brush guard, ’cause I’d heard good things and, honestly, they just looked tough. Figured it was time to share my experience, in case anyone else is thinking about doing the same.
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just browsing online, trying to figure out which one to get. Ended up on a website, and after a bunch of back and forth, I placed my order. Now, I’m no mechanic, so I was a bit worried about the installation part. But, I figured, how hard could it be, right?
A few days later, this massive box showed up at my door. I’m talking huge. I managed to wrestle it into the garage and started unpacking. Inside, there was this shiny, heavy-duty brush guard, along with a bunch of bolts, brackets, and instructions that might as well have been in a foreign language.
I started by trying to make sense of the instructions. It took a good hour, and a few YouTube videos later, to get a general idea of what went where. I laid out all the parts, trying to match them up with the diagrams. It was like a giant, metal jigsaw puzzle.
- First, I had to remove the old bumper, which was easier said than done. Some of those bolts were rusted solid.
- Then came the fun part – attaching the mounting brackets to the frame of my truck. Let me tell you, crawling under a vehicle with a wrench is not my idea of a good time.
- After a lot of sweat, and maybe a few choice words, I finally got the brackets on. Next up, hoisting the brush guard into place. It was heavy. Really heavy.
With the help of a friend , we managed to lift it and line it up with the brackets. Bolting it on was a whole other challenge. It took some serious effort. Some of the holes didn’t quite line up, and we had to do some…persuading…with a hammer.
Finally, after several hours, a few minor injuries, and a whole lot of frustration, it was on. I stepped back to admire my handiwork, and I gotta say, it looked pretty darn good. The truck looked tougher, more rugged, ready for anything.
I’ve had the Aries brush guard on for a few weeks now. It’s definitely changed the look of my truck, and I feel a bit more confident driving through brushy areas. Haven’t hit a deer yet, thankfully, but I’m pretty sure this thing would do a decent job if it came down to it.
Would I recommend it?
Yeah, I would. But be prepared for a bit of a project. If you’re not handy, or you don’t have the right tools, might be worth paying someone to install it. But if you’re up for a challenge, and you want to give your vehicle some added protection and a tougher look, then go for it. Just make sure you’ve got a buddy to help, and maybe a first-aid kit nearby.
