RealWheels Brush Guard

[marin8703]

hey everyone, hope your having a great christmas! um, just got a quick question, or sort of a poll for you guys adn gals. my girl friend wants to buy me a brush guard for christmas, yeah its gona be a late present but better than nothin. anyways she was looking at the realwheels one, http://www.realwheelsacc.com/h3_302-2bp.html. i found them at another site for around 1100, but dont really care im not paying, hehe.

I am kinda looking at the OEM one because it looks like it belongs there, the size and everything is just rite, but i like the beefier look of the realwheels one. the problem with that is i can really see how it looks.

does anyone on here have it installed and would you be able to share some pics? The only pics online are from an angle and i cant tell anything, looks like the realwheels might be a bit big, adn its the same pic on every different site.

I know most of you on here are going with the oem one but what do you guys think of this one? (link above) anyone know where i can see more pictures of it from different angles?

thanks in advance. have a merry christmas and enjoy the rest of the new year!

[f5fstop]

Looks good without the inserts. However, if you want my opinion on front brush guards, that is one thing I will always stay with the OEM. The OEM is required to test their accessories for crash worthiness, and I don't mean will it hold up in a crash, I mean it can't interfere with the air bag system, and the front of the H3 has two front end sensors.
These sensors are not the ones to actually determine the deployment of the air bags, they are used to help the module determine between stage one or -stage two of a deployment. (Stage one=partial deployment-meaning less force; stage two=full deployment-meaning full force.) If the front brush guard does not collapse as designed, the front sensors may not trigger a stage two deployment, thus not allowing for full force deployment, thus causing someone to not be restrained properly in a serious crash.

Will the aftermarket brush guard affect this deployment? I can't say, all I can say is I bet they have not tested this, and they are NOT required by law; whereas GM is for all accessories that might affect crash worthiness.

Then again a winch mounted in the front could affect the front sensors too, and many have winches.

Just something to think about; hopefully, you will never need the air bags or the pretensioners.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Well, if you're going to get it even after F5's doomsday speech , then at least buy it for much less:

http://www.amazon.com/RealWheels-Pow...8&s=automotive

BTW F5, maybe you could show/tell us where the impact force sensors are for reference? I have no idea where they are mounted to be honest.

[Urban Ops]

Looks like it just mounts in the same place and way the OEM one does. Can't see how that would make it differ in a crash.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Urban Ops

Looks like it just mounts in the same place and way the OEM one does. Can't see how that would make it differ in a crash.

Not how they mount, how do they collapse in a frontal collision. The SDM has milliseconds to determine to deploy or not deploy, and what force to deploy if deployment is warranted. Something too strong, may cause a stage one deployment versus a stage two, and someone may hit something hard.

In no way am I saying an aftermarket bush guard will affect the force of an air bag deployment, all I'm saying is that I know by law, the manufacturers brush guard had to pass tests to prove they would not affect air bag deployment stages. And, all I did was voice my opinion on the use of a non-OEM brush guard. I will use non-OEM equipment almost anywhere else on the vehicle, but not in the front end, in front of those sensors.

I do know if there is a crash, and a 1241 form is filed with NHTSA that states the bags did not deploy correctly, a GM product investigator will note the front brush guard is not OEM, and will notify NHTSA and chances are the case will be closed.

[Urban Ops]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Not how they mount, how do they collapse in a frontal collision. The SDM has milliseconds to determine to deploy or not deploy, and what force to deploy if deployment is warranted. Something too strong, may cause a stage one deployment versus a stage two, and someone may hit something hard.

In no way am I saying an aftermarket bush guard will affect the force of an air bag deployment, all I'm saying is that I know by law, the manufacturers brush guard had to pass tests to prove they would not affect air bag deployment stages. And, all I did was voice my opinion on the use of a non-OEM brush guard. I will use non-OEM equipment almost anywhere else on the vehicle, but not in the front end, in front of those sensors.

I do know if there is a crash, and a 1241 form is filed with NHTSA that states the bags did not deploy correctly, a GM product investigator will note the front brush guard is not OEM, and will notify NHTSA and chances are the case will be closed.

I understand. Thanks.

[f5fstop]

Front radiator support, left and right side. They will have yellow connectors.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Front radiator support, left and right side. They will have yellow connectors.

Cool, thanks.

[The Green Lantern]

If I have to pick another brushguard besides the one I got now (SMA), I'll pick this one ......Manik...