Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

OK guys and girls,

I was out wheeling with Travis (aka Rubberduck) this weekend at Kinzalow's. I asked him what it would take to get a serious "Treehugger" brush guard made for the H2. He told me he would need 5 commited buyers. Well I am No. 1 We need 4 more.

The Treehugger is the most sought after brush guard available for the H1 as its by far the most durable option out there for the H1's.

The problem with the other over the hood brush guards for the H2 is that they are not pinned at the top of the hood and if they are the fiberglass hood is not designed to take the loads of pressing a 7K# H2 up against a tree. And we all the the factory one bends without much effort. This product will be pinned at the top just like the H1 Tree hugger is by building supports that are connected to the frame of the H2.

For the H2 it will look very similar and will most likely have an similar price point.

If you are interested get at me. When I have 4 more interested parties I will go to Travis and get more info on how we get this done. Here are some pics of the H1 Treehugger.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

What price point are you talking about?

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

http://www.rubberduck4x4.com/h1/exterior/treehugger/

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

AH!..... yeah... I think I'd get RoadArmor for that kind of money.
Too much for me boys.:OWNED:

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

You can count me in, depending upon how it is to come out. I am tired of this weak GM one, and I can't seem to get a better one, so why not. Keep us posted, Joe.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

:iagree:

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Road Armour is $3K. We are talking roughly half of that. So Im a bit confused by your statment.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

This seller on ebay usually runs them for about 1500 if not less.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/roadarmo...__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

PM with info sent. Keep me posted, and thanks!

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

:orly: Thats just for the bumper. And thats not even H2 bumpers.


Ok an update. Talked to Travis yesterday. Design will begine the first week of July. The protype will be built and photos will be shot etc.... If we all like we put 50% down and then 50% on delivery I think I have 5 now so these original 5 will have input on the design.

Eric

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Not to change the subject too much but speaking of the RoadArmor bumper check this out..... http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...nity=roadarmor

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

How is the prototype coming along? So far I have been leaning toward the Real Wheels black powder coated stainless steel two-tier with inserts, but at a similar price point to what you are describing here, I am very interested to see the prototype mounted. It isn't specifically mentioned, but I assume that this treehugger will be steel, not stainless steel, correct?

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Next week the H2 goes to Rubberduck to start designing/building the prototype. I will be sure to post a TON of pix of it. It will be made of steel and powdercoated with a rough finish for easy touch up and durability. If you wanted it to be a smooth powdercoat it would not be a problem to have that done eighter.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Can't say I'm committing myself at this point, but I'm definitely in on this thread.

Keep us posted!

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Update:

I will be dropping the H2 off to Rubberduck on friday July 17th. Travis is slammed with work etc... So we had to push it back.

Eric

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

UPDATE!! UPDATE!! UPDATE!!

Took the H2 to Rubberduck last night to start putting some ideas together.

The bad news is that Travis needs to finish a couple trucks that have turned into much bigger jobs than original expected. So we are going to try and get this done by the end of August. Also keep in mind he just had a newborn baby.

Anyway we think we have figured out a suitable way to build the H2 Treehugger. The mount will be similar to the way the SMA bumper mounts in that it will be bolted to the frame of the truck in the front and not to the Hood Hinges. This will offer far superior support to the brush guard.

According to Travis this mounting to the frame alone should provide more than enough support the the guard to knock down some serious brush and small trees.

He was thinking about making the hood pins optional. However they will come through the black plastic hood louver and the mount would overlay the entire radiator core support for added strength.

The bad news is that Travis needs to finish a couple trucks that have turned into much bigger jobs than original expected. So we are going to try and get this done by the end of August.

I will keep you all posted as this comes to fruition.

Eric

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

you mean kinda like exactly the one I built?

http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=37899

cuz that's exactly what I did....:D

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

You did a nice job with that. But this one will be quiet a bit different than yours.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

GAH.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I hear yah man...... Good things come to those who wait.

Also on the Realwheels brush guard.... They look really good dont get me wrong but, I would not try and push over anything larger in diameter than your pinky finger. Also it bolts to the factory location. So if you slam something large with it like a Deer your looking at some real damage. And you are going to spend alot more money on the Realwheels guard than you will on the Rubberduck Treehugger.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I don't mind spending $1.5k on a solid, well constructed guard, Real Wheels or Rubberduck, but I am struggling with my "instant gratification" problem right now. I will be patient and wait for the Rubberduck, not just because of the expected quality, but also because he advertised in Azimuth (using "GO DUCK YOURSELF" -- nice).

Question... will the Rubberduck Treehugger be built using powder-coated stainless steel like the Real Wheels guard? I am thinking that I would like stainless as a base because it's bound to get nicked and dinged all the time and every nick and ding will be a breeding ground for rust.

Oh, I saw a Road Armor guard on a truck the other day, huge and heavy, but rusted all to hell and it looked nasty. Would rather not have to deal with that if possible.

If stainless has faults in this application, please share the reasons why as I would genuinely like to know.

Thanks.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Count me in as a committed buyer. PM me with info please. Thanks

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

The issues of rust that many of the manufact's have is because the poianting/ PC prep work.

Undercaoting before the PC'ing is important. Although the stainless would be my prefered route, the cost savings on a guard that is UC'd for it's PC'd would be fine in my book.

One the reasons the Real Wheels guards are so expensive is due to teh use of stainless. I have had one of thier guards and it was very well built. That one was PC'd black over stainless.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Hey guys as a update I am dropping the H2 off tomorrow night. Travis will have the truck all week next week to build the prototype. We should have pictures ready sometime by end of week and he should be ready to take orders.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Any progress on the guard?

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I should have pictures of the completed prototype by tomorrow night. It wont be powder coated yet but you will be able to see how its shape is comming together.

If you want to see it in person I will have it on my truck at Windrock also I am not too far from you as I live like a mile from Kings Island.

The hardest part of the whole project has been designing a strong enough mounting system that will work with any bumper. Weather you have a winch bumper or a stock bumper this thing will fit. The only thing on the market with compairable strenght would be teh Road Amor Dakar. However That set up will run you over $4K. This will be less than $2K.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I would come see it but I am out of town and probably will be on travel for te rest of the month. Any pics?

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I could have pix as early as tonight. But more likely tomorrow. I am picking up the truck tomorrow as I have some service I need to perform on it this weekend before windrock. So the pix I will have will be Pre-powder coat. The plan is to send it out to powdercoat tomorrow so it can be installed back on the truck tuesday. I leave for Windrock on Wednesday. Its been a long process getting this thing to market. But I can assure you its been done right and no corners are beeing cut with this thing. Afterall Travis has to uphold his Rubberduck4x4 reputation.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

:popcorn:

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I?ve been following this across several different forums and after the buildup,

was disappointed to have not seen any pics yet.

I think HNB is just being a TEASE???.:D :D :D

Come on dude, we are waiting for the big "Reveal".

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Sorry guys. Its not done :( I had to pick up the Truck from Travis friday to perform some service work on it before I leave for Windrock wednesday. I am truly bummmed that it is not done. Travis had the truck for 3 weeks but his customer orders come first etc... So anyway the H2 goes back to him the Monday after Windrock.

The front bar and center loop that runs over the center part of the hood is done. The mounting system is done as well. The mounting system was the most difficult part of the BG to design. It completely bolts to the frame of the truck and at the same time it is completely hidden from site. The other major difficulty was desinging the mount so that it would be compatible with any aftermarket winch bumper or factory bumper.

I was really looking forward to showing it off at Windrock but looks like we are going to have to wait.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Aaaahh dude... that really sucks, I was really hoping to check it out.:(
See you soon bro.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn::popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Any update?

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

I was supposed to take the H2 to Travis last week just after Windrock but.... I had to do some work to it when I got home, I had an idler arm go bad as well as a ball joint. So in my spare time last week I had to install new Idler/Pitman arms and new ball joints and new grease/dust boots on my Fabtech tie rods as they had rips. And I had to take measurement for some new air spring spacers that I am having made.

So the truck goes back to Travis the second week of November to finish up the BG. He is headed out of town on vacation this week. The hardest part of the designing is done (Taking measurements, building the mount, test fitting, building the front bar, the overhood center loop.) I have seen what he does have done on the truck and I gotta tell you its sweet. Just is taking quiet a bit of time to finish. Once the prototype is done He has to use it to build a Jig for reproduction. Once the Jig is done he has to build a guard on the jig and install it on the truck to be sure the Jig is correct. Then they should be ready for sale.

Along with the guard he is going too be doing a couple other prototypes for the H2 while he has it.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

FYI guys, I've seen Travi's work, its top knotch, very nice guy as well, just can't wait to see the damn thing done already, HA!

And Eric that sucks, I have a short video of you trying to cross over a ditch and you can hear 2 loud POPS!.... ouch!... I wonder if its when you damaged one of those, let me know if you want me to post it:D

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Post it! Although I really think that the pops that you hear were my control arm when it was loose. I honestly think the ball joint was bad before I even got to the event. And my idler was worn BAD but not making noise.

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

Almost there......... I don't know how you can look at this thing and think "I don't want that on my truck"

Its not done yet.... but close very close

Re: Anyone interested in a REAL HD brushguard?
 

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!! !!!!
Thanks F"ing awesome dude!
FINALLY! now go run over some Civics!:D