Deer guard question

Depends, I've hit my fair share of wildlife running MT and WY. Some of the deer guards are just for looks. Fold up and do as much damage as not even having them. Others took the smack well. The freight train guards are probably the best. No matter what, if you hit a moose, cow, bison, or grizzly at speed, something on the truck is getting broken. Be it brake lines when it goes under, alignment, radiator, etc.

I've turned deer into red mist a few times at 70mph with 8 axles getting a chance at playing the role of meat grinder. Deer usually don't do much. Same with big horn, speed goats, turkeys, and black bear. All of which I've hit at least once.

They're worth it though, the bigger/meaner the better. But the one in the second pic is probably best cost/benefit ratio. The really short ones just usually knock the animal up into the radiator.

Have a gun or bolter ready if you hit an elk. Those things are unkillable.

 

Sorry to hear it Dune. I run a big Exguard on my 21 860. I like how heavy and beefy they are but they make the Volvo front end even heavier. I can only trust Michelin tires due to the weight.

That said, I run one just as much for cars and stupid people as I do for wildlife. Had an old man in a line of trucks let off his brakes just a couple weeks ago and roll back into me. Just put some crease lines on the coating on my Exguard. Without it coulda been bodywork. We parted on speaking terms, sort of.

And this couldn't be any more accurate.

 

If your driving on a lot of roads that are notorious for having deer crossing the highway yes, just be thankful you only have to contend with deer, personally coming from a nation that has a lot of various animals to be on the look out for crossing roads a deer guard, is well worth the money spent. In oz the main issue is Kangaroo's however with a heavy "bull bar" as their known as here you virtually don't slow down and the roo's literally bounce off the "Bull bar" The roo's usually don't cause any damage though the problem here is the live stock like Cattle, horses, and in some places camels. On some roads like the North west highway running from Perth to Port Hedland many farmers do not fence along the highways so cattle are roaming freely across the highway, ever hit a cow weighing 1500 lb at around 60 mph without a "bull bar" (deer guard)? Believe me its well worth the expense, but again it depends on how heavy the traffic is.

 

live stock on highway

 

Get the bigger, better, guard. Don't go without one. The perfect hit can also take out your condenser, oil cooler, and radiator. Long down time and out lots of $$$.

 

I had an ali arc deer guard on a Volvo. I had a big deer doing 65 mph and there was no damage whatsoever.B

 

I've got one of these. They go for about $1100, plus the mounting kit, which can cost half again as much. I took a solid hit from a deer once and all I got was some poop on the fender.

ProTec Stainless Steel Grill Guard

 

I haven’t seen them in a while but we use to have little plastic whistles that mounted on top of the bumper. A deer would hear it and you could see them turn back off into the woods. Never hit a deer or anything else except a few cats.

 

How Effective Are Deer Whistles to Avoid Vehicle Collisions?

 

Mount those things right next to your Airtabs.