• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Sitemap
  • Earnings Disclaimer

Rugged Driving

Your Guide to Off-Road Driving

Bull Bar Vs Brush Guard

October 21, 2022 by chumaroz

Bull Bar Vs Brush Guard Comparison Guide (Legality and Effectiveness.)

Brush Guard with Winch Mount

As of September 2022, truck and SUV and truck sales increased by 10.3%, increasing the market share to 78.9% vs.  a 21.2% market share for passenger vehicles in the USA. With their increasing popularity, SUVs and trucks are now more mainstream, being driven by Wallstreet bankers, soccer moms, and ranchers. Therefore, it’s no surprise the demand for aftermarket parts to enhance truck appearance and protection during collisions, has increased.

In these harsh economic times, what wouldn’t you do to guarantee your truck drives off with minimal damage after an accident? The costs saved on potential truck repairs alone are a major selling point for the installation of aftermarket bumper guards.

The only question that remains is ‘what’s the difference between bull bars and brush guards?’

Although similar, there’s a big difference in size and function. Brush guards are larger equipment that covers the entire truck grille, including the headlights, and offer more protection during a collision. A bull bar is smaller than a grille guard and only covers the grille providing limited bumper protection in collisions.

Bull bars are perfect for truck or SUV owners after a rugged aesthetic, while brush guards are ideal for those needing ample protection during collisions.

To help you make an informed decision, I’ve prepared a comprehensive comparison of bull bars and brush guards, complete with pros and cons. We’ll also dive into questions of legality and effectiveness.

Difference Between Brush Guards and Bull Bars

Let’s discuss the differences between the two in detail.

Aside from their differences in appearance, brush/grille guards and bull bars serve different protection purposes. Brush guard protection is broader and wraps around the headlights. They protect the vehicle’s front end from long grasses, branches, rocks, and wildlife offroad.

On the other hand, bull bar protection is limited but still protects an important part of the vehicle – the engine. With thick metal tubes and rugged skid plates, bull bars can better withstand the impact of debris and ricks. They are designed mainly for minor or moderate collisions with deer, cattle, and other wildlife.

Differences Between Bull Bars and Grille Guards

Brush GuardsBull Bars
Have a complex design with multiple vertical and horizontal bars of different thicknessHave a simple design
Some have metal meshes on the main grilleTwo vertical and horizontal bars and have an A shape
Contoured and wrapped around the side fendersNarrow in height and width
Greater coverageProtects the lower half and center of the truck/SUV grille.
Brush guard tubing isn't as thick as bull bars'. Usually have a diameter of 1.5 to 2 inches Thicker tubing. Usually have a diameter of 2 to 3 inches

Brush Guards Pros and Cons

We Like
  • Headlight protection against airborne debris and branches
  • They sell the entire front end from moderate collision
  • Deflect animal away from the hood of the vehicle during a collision and prevent windshield damage
  • Supports installation of auxiliary lighting
  • It can be modified for winch installation
  • Improve the appearance of a vehicle
Keep This in Mind
  • Doesn’t protect the vehicles underbody from rocks
  • Some brush guards need tow hooks to remove
  • They can worsen the damage to the engine and radiator during a minor collision
  • It can block engine access and can be costly

Bull Bars Pros and Cons

We Like
  • Provides protection where its most needed
  • The skid plate offers protection to the underbody compartment
  • Easy to install auxiliary lighting
  • Doesn’t interfere with operating the engine compartment or hood
  • Compatible with factory-installed tow hooks
  • Improves the look of a vehicle
Keep This in Mind
  • The headlights are left exposed to damage
  • The skid plates can block the license plate
  • Severe and moderate collisions can damage the engine compartment
  • Higher-end models are expensive

Can You Install a Bull or Grille Guard Alone?

Despite being large, heavy, and bulky, you can install brush guards yourself but with some help mounting them. The same is true for bull bars, although they are lighter than brush guards. Every kit usually comes with every piece of hardware they need for installation.

As for the skills required, provided you have wrenches and a sharp and level knife, you are good to go. The biggest installation challenge is lifting and positioning the hardware while fastening the bolts.

Regardless of the equipment you choose, the number one goal is to attach the bar or guard under the vehicle.

Are Bull Guards Legal?

Bull bare are legal in the US. In fact, many law enforcement vehicles have one installed. However, it's worth mentioning that installing a bull bar on your vehicle can cause problems with your insurance provider. In light of this, you should review your policy before installing it on your SUV or truck.

Do bull bars and brush guards affect MPG?

This is a valid question, especially for heavier brush guards. Most are made from heavy metal and weigh over 100 pounds. But their weight brush guards and bull bars have little (if any) effect on a vehicle's MPG.

Do Bull Bars Function against Deer?

Given its design, it's unlikely that a bull bar will provide you, your passengers, and the vehicle with ample protection if you strike a deer. Depending on the angle of impact, the bull bar will take most of the impact, but the truck will still suffer some damage.

Do brush guards work against deer impact?

Unlike bull guards, brush guards are more effective in case of a deer strike. This is mainly because brush guards wrap around your vehicle's front bumper, providing sufficient protection.

Note: at high speeds, the vehicle may still experience damage.

Will bull bars interfere with vehicle parking sensors?

Yes, the bull bars may mess with the front parking sensors. Although the sensors may not be completely unusable, the bull bars will feed the sensors with wrong obstacle information or block them from sensing real obstacles.

Do Brush Guards Affect Airbags?

Another concern motorists have is that bull bars or brush guards may affect airbag deployment. Their concerns are valid since airbag deployment is triggered by the impact and crumpling of certain spots on the front of the vehicle.

Depending on your vehicle, the spot of impact, and whether you have a brush guard or bull bar installed, airbag deployment might be unsuccessful.

If you want to avoid this problem, consult with the vehicle's manufacturer regarding types of brush guards or bull bars that won't interfere with airbag operation in your vehicle. It might be a complicated or lengthy process, but it's worth it to have your airbags during a collision. Their deployment will ensure you sustain lesser injuries, and the insurance company cannot wiggle out of compensation.

Do They Cause Rust?

Grille guards and bull guards are made of stainless steel and mild steel and come in different finishes. Gloss, Chrome, and matter are the most common choices and are treated with rust-resistant coatings to preserve their finish. Manufacturers recommend periodic applications of car wax to protect the brush guards and bull bars to maintain their appearance.

Since brush guards are mounted on brackets, they attach to key structural points on the vehicle's body or frame without drilling. As such, there's little risk of rusting.

Conclusion

For a long time, pickup trucks were utilitarian and were often found in ranches. Today, they frequent offroad and city streets, too, as they are sportier and sleeker, appealing to many people.

With the truck/SUV’s growing popularity, bull bars and brush guards are becoming popular too. For offroaders, it's more about protection, and for city folks, it's more about the beauty they add.

chumaroz
+ postsBio
  • chumaroz
    https://ruggeddriving.com/author/chumaroz/
    Ford F150 Brush Guard with Winch Mount

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Post

  • Bull Bar Vs Brush Guard
  • Fab Four Bumper Lights
  • How to Pick the Perfect Bumper for Your Truck
  • Badland ZXR 5000 Winch Review
  • Ford F150 Brush Guard with Winch Mount

Rugged Driving is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program
designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Amazon and all related Marks are Trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates
Copyright © 2025 · Rugged Driving

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject All Read More
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

How can I help you?