landybear Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Gents ad Ladies, Went off roading for the first time on Sunday, had an awesome time but need to sort my vehicle out so i can attempt some more challenging things. Firstly i am looking at a steering guard. What is best steel or aluminium i am guessing aluminium because its lightweight and stong (around 8mm). Secondly do i go for 1 piece or 3 piece perforated or solid?? and also where do i get them from? i know everyone does them but what company do you use/ has a good name for reliability etc. Secondly is it worth buying a sump guard aswell and?? i am getting diff guards front and rear and rock sliders then working my way up to snorkel and lights!!! What other neccesities should i have?? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 From personal experience I would go for a 3 piece steel steering guard of good quality, something like the Southdown one. [url="http://www.southdown4x4.co.uk/SteeringGuards.htm"/url] For diff guards I would recommend the half-moon ones simpy because you will not lose any diff clearance (and it will make a huge difference on the limit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I agree the half moon are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I've got a Rebel 4x4 alloy steering guard which to be honest will take most knocks even if it isn't the same shape afterwards a half moon diff guard which I have had for ever and now a Southdown towing/tank guard on the back. That's my underneath finished, ain't going to bother with a rear diff guard as I don't often reverse into rocks at high speed (famous last words...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I've got a Rebel 4x4 alloy steering guard which to be honest will take most knocks even if it isn't the same shape afterwards a half moon diff guard which I have had for ever and now a Southdown towing/tank guard on the back. That's my underneath finished, ain't going to bother with a rear diff guard as I don't often reverse into rocks at high speed (famous last words...) I too would advise getting a 3-piece steering guard (in fact I've just ordered a new one from Southdown) because if you need to get at the steering components behind it's easier to remove just the blade rather than have to take off the whole guard. Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 My dad just got a cheapy 3-piece steel steering guard and some half moon diff guards, perfectly adequate. Looking where you're going helps too Aluminium is bling but it's also expensive, weaker, and is more of a pain if you bend it. You can beat a steel one straight and weld a bit of bar to the back to stop it bending again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 My dad just got a cheapy 3-piece steel steering guard and some half moon diff guards, perfectly adequate. Looking where you're going helps too Aluminium is bling but it's also expensive, weaker, and is more of a pain if you bend it. You can beat a steel one straight and weld a bit of bar to the back to stop it bending again. I quite agree that looking where you're going is the best protection; unfortunately sometimes you don't end up where you intended! Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I go off road too, but my 110 has no underbody or steering guards, never found the need to justify fitting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 ^^^^^ I thought that too till I split my diff cover skirting a fallen tree on a green lane and hitting a rock hidden in the bracken! To be fair it was only a dent at the time and it took another 2 years before oil started coming out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I think it depends on where your driving if it all soft muddy stuff then ok, but harsh rocky the need for underbody protection. But the hidden stuff is always a worry........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 but on rocky stuff get the tyres on high points to keep diffs clear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landybear Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 I guess if you can see it then you can avoid it as others have said its the hidden bits that scare me. I went out to a P&P sunday and ploughed into a mud bank luckily it was all mud, cracked my number plate mind, just glad it wasnt the steering setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Lucky you.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Aluminium is bling but it's also expensive, weaker, and is more of a pain if you bend it. You can beat a steel one straight and weld a bit of bar to the back to stop it bending again. It depends on the Aluminium. You've not tried cutting 20 gauge LM82 with a pair of tin snips have you mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Make one out of some AM2 Harrier plate, you wouldn't bend that in a hurry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bull Bar Cowboy Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Mine is made from 6mm Stellite plate ………………… borrowed from a gas turbine ……….. that wont break or bend in a hurry ………. Si, …………. Drop into OEC and have a word with Anton ……………… he keeps a few in stock Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaty Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 I am not a fan of the half moon diff guards, they dotn really protect it from much in my opinion. If something hits it hard its still only attached to the axle/diff housing so will more than likely still get busted. I have a southdown front axle/diff gaurd, i do loose some ground clearance but i make it up with the tyres but i have had some bloody hard hits and it just takes it with a smile (drawn on). Other than that i agree with 3 piece steering gaurd but it all depends upon budget and what sort of driving you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 I am not a fan of the half moon diff guards, they dotn really protect it from much in my opinion. If something hits it hard its still only attached to the axle/diff housing so will more than likely still get busted. I have a southdown front axle/diff gaurd, i do loose some ground clearance but i make it up with the tyres but i have had some bloody hard hits and it just takes it with a smile (drawn on).Other than that i agree with 3 piece steering gaurd but it all depends upon budget and what sort of driving you do. My guard has some pretty damn deep scars in it and I have yet to bust a diff pan! Technically it is a weakness, in practice apparently not, though I suppose it depends on how careless your driving is. I drive so as to not smack expensive metal bits on solid rocks, and fit a diff guard in case I make a mistake, I don't fit a diff guard to be able to bounce off large rocks regularly with impunity. So I suppose it depends on what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaty Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 i dont aim for rocks etc. Sometimes things just get the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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