Are There Different Types of Grille Guards?
Are you interested in a grille guard for your pickup truck or semi? In your online search, you may have seen different names and terminology for grille guards that have left you a bit confused. You may be asking – are there different types of grille guards? We are here to help answer your questions at RIGGUARD and help you find a grille guard that will fit your truck and your needs.
Different Types of Grille Guards for Your Truck
When you start your search for a grille guard, you may find more than a few different terms that include — brush guard, bull bar, cattle guard, and bumper guard. With all of these terms for similar products, you may be asking yourself — what is the difference? No matter what type, brand, or name you choose, these products are designed to protect your truck from debris, accidents, and animal strikes on the road, they may just use a different design.
We know that this can make a pretty simple purchase more complicated and we want to help you find the right grille guard for your truck. Here is a quick look at the basic types of grille guards available on the market and different designs that you may find.
Grille Guard
Grille guard may be the most common term you encounter in your search for front-end protection on your truck — but may also be known as a brush guard. Grille guards are most often manufactured with steel, aluminum, or stainless steel and are built to protect the front-end of your truck from brush, debris, animal strikes, and traffic accidents. There are three primary types of grille guard — Push Bar Grille Guard, Full-Coverage Grille Guard, and Modular Grille Guard — that are available as standalone guards or modular bumpers with a grille guard integrated into the design.
Push Bar Grille Guards
The standard push bar grille guard employs a more basic design that is put in place to add an extra layer of protection to the bumper and headlights. Push bars are often more affordable and are available for large semis, standard half-ton pickup trucks, and even larger SUVs.
Full-Coverage Grille Guards
Do you need more protection than the standard push bar design provides? Full-coverage grille guards will check all the boxes when you are on the road. This type of grille guard extends protection to the entire front-end of your truck and is ideal for tractor trailers and fleet trucks that want to protect against traffic and animal collisions on major highways. A full-coverage grille guard can help reduce the damage in the event of an accident and help trucking fleets avoid downtime.
Modular Grille Guards
Modular grille guards are an affordable option that are intended for standard pickup trucks and SUVs. A modular grille guard provides added protection to the front-end of your truck compared to a standard push guard and is a versatile, customizable option that is ideal for light trails and city driving.
Bull Bar
The second main category of grille guard is called a bull bar or bull nose grille guard. These grille guards employ a U-shaped tubular steel design manufactured with steel or aluminum that is mounted on the top of a steel bumper and provides added protection for the grille of your truck. When you choose a bull bar for your truck, you will benefit from added protection on the grille and engine compartment — but you will sacrifice protection for your bumper and headlights. Bull bars are common on baja-style trucks to prevent damage to the engine compartment and help keep trucks in the race in the event of a collision. This type of grille guard is typically available in single-, double-, and triple-tube designs.
READ MORE: Top 3 Reasons Why Your Truck Needs a Grille Guard
If you are looking for ways to protect yourself, your drivers, or your truck, you may be asking — are there different types of grille guards? We hope that this quick breakdown by the RIGGUARD Team has helped answer your questions. Contact RIGGUARD today to learn more about our grille guards!