Grille/Brush Guards

[89 MJ]

Because I am replacing my winch bumper with an OEM style one, I want to put a grille guard on my truck for some added protection. So far, I have only found two aftermarket options that work with an OEM front bumper, The Tomken piece and an Aries Automotive piece (along with some near-copies of the Aries).

Tomken:

https://www.quadratec.com/products/72013_850.htm#&gid=2&pid=4

 

Aries:

https://www.morris4x4center.com/aries-automotive-grille-guard-for-86-00-jeep-xj-carbon-steel-semi-gloss-black-powdercoat.html

 

Does anyone have any experience with either of these? I think I prefer the Tomken one, but I haven't seen any images of one on an 84-96 front end, only on the 97-01 front ends. I'm thinking that the Aries is a little too modern looking for me.

I would rather run an AMC-era OEM brush guard or a Warn Trans4mer piece, but it doesn't look like I'll be able to find either for a reasonable price in decent condition (at least that I have found so far).

[eaglescout526]

I almost bought both at one point but I held off until I found my AMC one. You could very easily make an AMC era one if you wanted to. I’d be willing to work with ya on getting pics and measurements if you’re good at welding and metal working. 

[scguy]

The Aries hasn't always been priced that high. I looked into them a while back and they were more like $2-300. 

[Andy in Pa]

Are you sure the Tomken one fits on a factory bumper?  I would verify that with Tomken if you haven't already.  I had the Tomken grill guard on their bumper for a while.  the headlight surrounds are not that strong.  I can see a deer hit bending it back, right into the headlight/grill.  SOmeone sat on one of mine and bent it down.  I was able to just bend it back up by hand as well.  Honestly, I was not impressed with the whole thing.  I had to set up and "keep straight" the main mounting points on the guard, because they were slightly tweaked, and since it all bolts together, you kind of need to keep it all loose until its mounted to the bumper.

 

On the other hand, we just hit a deer with an OEM style grill guard on our MJ, and besides the factory bumper getting pushed in slightly (hardly noticeable) it did absolutely NO damage to the MJ.  It looks like the main portion of the Aries type, without the headlight surrounds.

[89 MJ]

51 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

I almost bought both at one point but I held off until I found my AMC one. You could very easily make an AMC era one if you wanted to. I’d be willing to work with ya on getting pics and measurements if you’re good at welding and metal working. 

We don't have a tubing bender, but I'll keep it in mind.

 

49 minutes ago, scguy said:

The Aries hasn't always been priced that high. I looked into them a while back and they were more like $2-300. 

That is crazy how much it has gone up.

19 minutes ago, Andy in Pa said:

Are you sure the Tomken one fits on a factory bumper?  I would verify that with Tomken if you haven't already.  I had the Tomken grill guard on their bumper for a while.  the headlight surrounds are not that strong.  I can see a deer hit bending it back, right into the headlight/grill.  SOmeone sat on one of mine and bent it down.  I was able to just bend it back up by hand as well.  Honestly, I was not impressed with the whole thing.  I had to set up and "keep straight" the main mounting points on the guard, because they were slightly tweaked, and since it all bolts together, you kind of need to keep it all loose until its mounted to the bumper.

 

On the other hand, we just hit a deer with an OEM style grill guard on our MJ, and besides the factory bumper getting pushed in slightly (hardly noticeable) it did absolutely NO damage to the MJ.  It looks like the main portion of the Aries type, without the headlight surrounds.

This Tomken one is for the Jeep bumper, you can get it both ways. Thank you for the honest review.

[eaglescout526]

5 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

We don't have a tubing bender, but I'll keep it in mind.

Fair. That would help. 

[Pete M]

16 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

We don't have a tubing bender, but I'll keep it in mind.

 

 

 

neither do I.  never stopped me from doing projects that involved bending.   just gotta outsource that part to a shop or local enthusiast.   

[dasbulliwagen]

I'm not sure if this is in the realm of what youre looking for, but I modified a Smittybuilt light bar to mount on a stock bumper for mine. It follows the same curve as the stock bumper and lined up good with the factory over riders. Trimming was required though, and I added the two smaller down support bars to existing holes in the bottom of the bumper. 

 

[89 MJ]

2 hours ago, dasbulliwagen said:

I'm not sure if this is in the realm of what youre looking for, but I modified a Smittybuilt light bar to mount on a stock bumper for mine. It follows the same curve as the stock bumper and lined up good with the factory over riders. Trimming was required though, and I added the two smaller down support bars to existing holes in the bottom of the bumper. 

 

I’ve seen that, and I do like it, but I’m not sure that is what I am after. Thank you. 

[gogmorgo]

I've got some variation of the Aries on my MJ. It looks alright, but if you're looking for protection from wildlife strikes I don't know how sturdy it'll be. It's pretty thin wall tubing. The centre section is strong enough I've used it as a push bar to nudge a couple other cars around, but the headlight guards won't take much of a hit. And when they do, the wraparound section dents the fender. Ask me how I know.

[89 MJ]

12 minutes ago, gogmorgo said:

I've got some variation of the Aeries on my MJ. It looks alright, but if you're looking for protection from wildlife strikes I don't know how sturdy it'll be. It's pretty thin wall tubing. The centre section is strong enough I've used it as a push bar to nudge a couple other cars around, but the headlight guards won't take much of a hit. And when they do, the wraparound section dents the fender. Ask me how I know.

Thank you, after seeing that picture, I don’t think that is the style I am after now. I don’t think it would suit my truck. 

[fiatslug87]

Hold out for OEM. The question is which type do you want, the older AMC style (1st photo) or the later MOPAR style (2nd photo).

 

[89 MJ]

30 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said:

Hold out for OEM. The question is which type do you want, the older AMC style (1st photo) or the later MOPAR style (2nd photo).

 

I’d settle for either style, but if I had the choice, I’d go with the AMC one. 

[fiatslug87]

Just keep looking one will turn up. I found mine in Ohio and had it shipped to California.

[89 MJ]

11 hours ago, fiatslug87 said:

Just keep looking one will turn up. I found mine in Ohio and had it shipped to California.

Was it fairly reasonable to ship?

[fiatslug87]

This was several years ago so from what I recall it was about $100-$120 UPS for the AMC one. It was shipped bare with just the shipping label, it’s just under the oversize limit, the seller (fellow member) had to show the UPS guy how to measure it correctly, he originally wanted to charge oversize pricing.

[89 MJ]

12 hours ago, fiatslug87 said:

This was several years ago so from what I recall it was about $100-$120 UPS for the AMC one. It was shipped bare with just the shipping label, it’s just under the oversize limit, the seller (fellow member) had to show the UPS guy how to measure it correctly, he originally wanted to charge oversize pricing.

Thank you

[knever3]

I cringe thinking I scrapped my OEM AMC brush guard, and the OE LUND visor.  Oh well can't take it back now!

[eaglescout526]

42 minutes ago, knever3 said:

I cringe thinking I scrapped my OEM AMC brush guard, and the OE LUND visor.  Oh well can't take it back now!

That’s ok, probably what I did isn’t as bad but when I first got my truck I scrapped my spare tire winch like an idiot thinking “it’s a Jeep, there ought to be new carriers out there”. Nope I was wrong and it was that moment on I started hanging on to stuff.