fitting Front Runner steering guard (steel)

[ngarigo]

hey guys...

anyone here fitted a front runner steering guard to a defender...? the black steel type...?

i just received one in the mail and i guess i figured it would just bolt on... seeing as it says its made for the defender!!

after looking at it it lines up with nothing hole wise.... and looks like i have to drill four holes, two on the existing tube steering guard and two in the bumper...

so... just checking anything i should know/be wary about...? seems straight forward...ish ;)

cheers...

[Loubrey]

The all steel one is the "budget" option and you're correct, it needs the holes drilled in the existing tube steering guard.

The alloy/steel combination one uses the same holes the orginal tubular one uses when you remove it and therefore bolts straight on.

[Dutchy65]

send it back !

[flagg]

Yeah I had the same problem.

A lot can happen when you are making them which allows them to warp a little, combined with the rather large tolerances that Defenders in the geometry where they bolt up means it isn't aways a lift and bolt solution.

Mine was warped a little (twisted, I assume from when it was welded together) and the holes didn't match up. I ended up using my high lift jack to open it up a bit and then doing up one bolt, then levering it so that an other hole matched up, then I re drilled the other two.

It was a rather unnecessary PITA, but the guard itself was not very expensive.

IMO alloy ones are silly as they dent to easily and don't provide the protection needed.

[Loubrey]

Flagg,

I've got the alloy/steel combination one from Front Runner and I can assure you that the alloy section is tough enough to do what it's designed to do. I've had 2 roo strikes, shared in the bulbar and steering guard and on both occasions there was no evidence other that blood that I've hit anything.

There is a number of scrapes and scores on it now and no evidence of any bending. I can't vouch for any of the other brands, but both the Dolium supplied Front Runner and the Rovacraft supplied Mantec alloy and steel combination steering guards are worth the money spent on them.

[flagg]

Hi Loubrey,

Good to hear. I don't remember the brands of the ones I looked at but I could not imagine them taking a hit well. My big concern was coming down on a rock with weight and momentum.. I've got some pretty big dents on the chassis rails from this by previous owners.

I've heard good things about all the Dolium stuff...

[Loubrey]

The FR (Dolium) one is good and I've not got any complaints. The design allows free draining after clearing a bog hole and as I said it's stood up to what's occurred to date.

To be honest though, I still think the Mantec one as fitted to the Camel Trophy vehicles is even stronger. It’s got an actual steel cross member that runs along the fold in the aluminium. I’ve managed to do just like you said, weight and momentum onto one of those with no damage to it or the car.

I chose the FR (Dolium) one mostly to marry up with the same brand bulbar as they work well together.