Page 1 of 2
Grill Guard
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:06 pm
by photo_van
Hey Astro fans. Can't say this was high on my list of mods, but after seeing Crawlers photo
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=3535&start=15 I thought I'd check it out. Well Amazon has this guard for $89 free shipping. With $60 Amazon rewards, it's in the mail for $39!
http://www.amazon.com/Aries-4063-Black- ... &carId=001
Well now, I guess I've got another project.... And maybe a HiLift point on the front?
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:16 am
by CaptSquid
The Amazon price I saw was a bit higher than $89 -- more on the order of $319.00!
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:44 am
by photo_van
Wow, I just clicked on the link, the price went up last night! I just checked my charge; $34.16. I'm not usually the lucky one on this sort of thing. We'll see if they ship it.
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:37 pm
by photo_van
Just so you all don't think I'm pullin' your leg, the guard shipped today;
![Screen shot 2011-08-26 at 4.27.19 PM.png](./download/file.php?id=1380&sid=c67340775381faa45759a2aac9ac688e)
- Screen shot 2011-08-26 at 4.27.19 PM.png (24.32 KiB) Viewed 11535 times
I'll post some pics re the install here when it happens.
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:52 pm
by OKflyboy
Yup, shows up as $319 for me too, but if you got it for $96 thats awesome! Perhaps they realized that they mis-priced after you bought one.
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:33 pm
by 97CargoCrawler
Gonna be a PITA to install. Expect to do A LOT of measuring and cutting on the bumper fascia if you plan to keep it (looks better if you do). Make SMALL holes first...then test fit and cut them bigger. Otherwise it'll look like $hit if you cut too much out. Not sure what parts you will get with your guard...but I was able to take what they gave me and repurpose all of it to work for me. At the time my welding skills sucked, someday I will pull it off again and weld some of the brackets to make it more sturdy. I would never use a hi-lift jack on my guard...it seems beefy enough but I doubt it could hold the weight of the front end. Good luck! I am very happy with the way mine turned out. I have yet to put some proper lights on it. Mine was for a 2500HD series truck.
As usual I have an assload of pix from my install if you need ideas. Both with and without the bumper fascia.
Just gimmie a shout!
![Rock on! :supz:](./images/smilies/icon_super.gif)
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:57 am
by photo_van
I was hoping you were still around. Thanks for the heads up. While I'd like to use it for the Hilift, it's not imperative, tho that's kinda why I was getting it (but for the price...
![Dancing \:D/](./images/smilies/eusa_dance.gif)
). I've got lift points along both sides and the rear, thought it might be nice to have in the front also.
The guard is an Aries for a Sierra 2500, from the pics looked exactly like yours. I would certainly like to see install pics if at some point you have time (I definitely plan on keeping the facia) . I probably won't be able to get to it until this fall. I figured it was going to be a PITA, hopefully not as much work as the rock rails were!!! Ya, and my welding skills STILL aren't that great.
No lights? No winch? Sig pic Photoshopped?
Thanks
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:25 pm
by Astrophysics
I am trying to find grille guard to fit on my 2003 AWD. When i did the 2" OV lift i installed a 35" wide steel cross bar of square tube to create surface to mount the grille guard brackets. I don't weld yet, so used Simpson Strong tie HL57 welded heavy brackets to bolt it in.
I will send photos soon from pc, my kids got me this iPAD but i dont know how to attach photos with ipad
AP
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:50 pm
by 97CargoCrawler
Oh yeah, the lights and winch are photo-shopped. I always do that to see how it will look before I try it. This was the intended look for the front of my van but of course $$$$ is always an issue. The main center uprights on my guard are 1/4" maybe 5/16" thick and so are the brackets. If the brackets were welded to the guard then I would say a winch might be possible. But a hi-lift point maybe not. All depends on if you have two bolts attached to the frame per side. BUT, on mine at least, the cross tubes on the guard are not beefy enough to take the weight. I was going to weld a heavy duty square tube in between but never got to it...and didn't want to melt off the powder coating welding it in.
I will dig up some pix in a bit for you. Once you see how my brackets are attached you'll see why I have my doubts. But once you break out the welder anything is possible!
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:23 pm
by photo_van
Thanks guys, I'll keep a look out.
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:18 pm
by 97CargoCrawler
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:58 pm
by photo_van
Thanks for posting those, they will be VERY helpful. Does look like a bit of work, might make me finally fab some bumper brackets while I'm at it.
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:48 am
by unrreal
theres a few different ways you can mount the grill guard, you can check out my pics on the other forum.. but here's one for ya:
![astro.jpeg (3.55 MiB) Viewed 11479 times avalanche guard on astro](./download/file.php?id=1381&t=1&sid=c67340775381faa45759a2aac9ac688e)
- avalanche guard on astro
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:08 am
by photo_van
Thanks, looks good. My guard arrived, looks like it got nailed by the forklift driver; now I get to deal with returning it. No wonder it was cheap
Also, Crawler: this one is for an 03-06 Sierra 2500 and it's way different than yours. The only one I see similar is actually for 99=02. This one won't work without serious modification!
Re: Grill Guard
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:58 pm
by doyoulikeithere
Yup, Such a good deal, almost too good to be true eh?
Good luck with the return.