I got a brush guard today (traded that insane speaker in my pics for it) and need some input, advice, scolding, whatever on it. Also, I need to know if the brackets that are on it (there will be pics) will work to install on my '96 XJ. I already have a bit of bending to do since it came off of a totaled jeep and the mounting plates are a tad bit bent.

 

imho good trade

 

me likey

 

Not a bad trade but the weren't made very strong so don't every trying using it as a revocery point on anything. But good deal either way.

 

looks like it has a bracket for tow hooks to attach to in the 2ed pic

 

No way, I've seen what can happen if you use those as recovery points...

Got it for these tight trails where limbs and downed trees are not friendly to headlights or turn signals, and roads on the way to work, mining roads are notorious for having baseball sized rocks chucked out from under an 18 wheeler and doing damage. This guard isn't tough enough to use to pull or anything, but it's plenty strong enough to take a few rocks and sticks.

 

SCORE! That would be an expensive brushguard if you had bought it new...
Do you already have towhooks? If not, you should get some, because it would be easiest to install them at the same time. (I'm just sayin' 'cause I don't like to do the same job twice..)

When I was installing my J/Y brush guard, I found out that the hole centers were 36" apart, IIRC. (Hopefully this info will save you some time underneath your rig trial fitting...)

It will also be helpful to have a friend hold it in position while you're bolting it up.
I did mine by myself, and don't recommend it, unless you're a Chinese acrobat...
(For the record, I'm not, I'm just very determined.)

Good luck, and can't wait to see PICTURES!

 

I had one very similar to it. It was a jy rescue. I cut out the bottom tube, put in a piece of 2x4 rectangular tube and put a couple of shackles on the front of it. Of course it wasn't good for recovery, but it looked cool! Those brackets should mount up fine underneath the bumper brackets. If you use a jack with a 2x4 board on it, you can mount it yourself, but it isn't the best way. It can be done, but it probably won't be straight. You also have to balance the gaurd on the board, so be careful.

 

BTW, the reason I don't have it anymore is that it hung down lower than I wanted. I tried to go up a rock that my wrangler buddy did and it just scraped and then stopped me solid. It looked really good though, imo.

 

Thanks for the info! Broke out the body grinder today and cleaned it up, I'll probably take it to my buddy's shop to let him straighten it back out for me so I can install it. I'll put up more pics after it's straightened, before and after I put it on (SanDisk camera cards are BAD).

 

Hi,
Just want to clarify that the towhook mounting holes are 36" apart...not necessarily the brackets.
HTH!