Aftermarket grill / brush guards

[coolbrze]

Getting a grapple for my MX5800 soon & prob. want to upgrade my OEM "grill guard". Any good aftermarket ones y'all recommend?

 

[foggy1111]

I had to make my own. I still find it hard to believe that Kubota does not offer an OEM accessory for this purpose. It's the best money you can spend if you operate in brush or especially if you own a grapple on your loader.

I'm not sure why there are no aftermarket companies that offer such. I used the Kubota factory guard......then found a piece of expanded metal and welded it to the Kubota guard. Already has saved my tractor from a damaged grill. I suppose I have $30 in materials, welding rod and paint......and my time. Not a high cost.....but I would rather have paid Kubota for a factory solution. I think you could fit the JD deluxe guard to the Kubota frame.....but I had already traded my JD for the Kubota
before discovering this.

I did a search for an aftermarket guard....and never did find one. Strange.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have often wondered why BXpanded, Bro-Tek, or other aftermarket maker hasn't jumped on the Kubota 'gravy train' and marketed a functional grill guard! Seems there would be a market. Maybe the grapple guys like Everything Attachments should? Gotta figure they have already considered it though.

 

[PILOON]

I have often wondered why BXpanded, Bro-Tek, or other aftermarket maker hasn't jumped on the Kubota 'gravy train' and marketed a functional grill guard! Seems there would be a market. Maybe the grapple guys like Everything Attachments should? Gotta figure they have already considered it though.

I'd suggest that the many models and versions precludes an 'universal' model.
By the time suitable marketable designs were attained the price would reduce the market down to a very slim one.

I for one made up a simple one using expanded metal and some piping onto which I welded the metal 'screening'.
Works 4 me, but then I weld and have a decent DIY shop.

Tos say it otherwise, how many would be willing to pay some $300. or so for a universal grill guard? plus shipping?

 

[dragoneggs]

I'd suggest that the many models and versions precludes an 'universal' model.
By the time suitable marketable designs were attained the price would reduce the market down to a very slim one.

I for one made up a simple one using expanded metal and some piping onto which I welded the metal 'screening'.
Works 4 me, but then I weld and have a decent DIY shop.

Tos say it otherwise, how many would be willing to pay some $300. or so for a universal grill guard? plus shipping?

Good point... I don't know how 'universal' the attach points are across models. Being a somewhat of a DIY guy myself, I lean in your direction. Maybe that is why the market isn't there. The beauty of capitalism and entrepreneurism is that if there was a market, someone likely is on it.

 

[oosik]

I took my OEM grill guard to the local welding shop. The kid came up with this. Functional and doesn't look that bad.

View attachment 592516View attachment 592517

 

[Turbys_1700]

If you can weld you could make it out of expanded metal. Not really that difficult to add it to an existing grill. No aftermarket that I am aware of.

 

[Smokeydog]

Definitely a need and requirement if doing any brush work. Kubota B20 and old 4500 ford backhoe had factory armor nose cones and radiator guarding that worked great. New stuff not so much. Have had to build several.
Kubota B26. Scrapyard stainless expanded metal. Not hard to do but does take time. Can of Paint cost as much as the metal. If I had to charge to make this custom $350. One offs aren’t cheap. Problem with a aftermarket company making grill guards is differences in OEM fabrication, model changes and end user installer skill set. Think the tractor manufacturer who better appreciates their customer’s use of their equipment and incorporates a better grill guard, is going to beat their competitors. A durable and functional grill/hood guard should be standard with any FEL.

 

[Cavjock22]

Welder some expanded metal onto the factory grill guard.. Very happy

 

[coolbrze]

Thanks guys, expanded metal it is! Those look sharp!

 

[sixdogs]

Whatever you do, do it right because those Kubota grills cost way more than you would believe. .

 

[Lurch]

So do the headlights.

 

[GRTkub]

Definitely a need and requirement if doing any brush work. Kubota B20 and old 4500 ford backhoe had factory armor nose cones and radiator guarding that worked great. New stuff not so much. Have had to build several. View attachment 592962
Kubota B26. Scrapyard stainless expanded metal. Not hard to do but does take time. Can of Paint cost as much as the metal. If I had to charge to make this custom $350. One offs aren稚 cheap. Problem with a aftermarket company making grill guards is differences in OEM fabrication, model changes and end user installer skill set. Think the tractor manufacturer who better appreciates their customer痴 use of their equipment and incorporates a better grill guard, is going to beat their competitors. A durable and functional grill/hood guard should be standard with any FEL.

I did the same for my B2650. But now that I see the hitch receiver on the grill, I think I want to add that too. Nice.

 

[Smokeydog]

Good looking grill guard.
Used a 3x5” angle to enclose the bottom to prevent sticks from coming up into the grill. Also attachment point for the expanded metal. Added the hitch as an afterthought. B26 loader is not removable and have not used the guard hitch. Anything in the hitch would hit the loader so maybe not a good idea. Use the receiver hitch on the bucket more often.

 

[GRTkub]

Good looking grill guard.
Used a 3x5” angle to enclose the bottom to prevent sticks from coming up into the grill. Added the hitch as an afterthought. B26 loader is not removable and had not used it. Use the receiver hitch on the bucket more often.

I really don't remove my loader either and I do have a QA plate with a receiver for moving trailers. But I do want to close off the bottom of the grille guard. And you never can have too many places to attach things - can you?

 

[Smokeydog]

Amen brother!


Use receiver hitches in the shop to attach benders, vises, ring rollers and special tooling. Don’t have the floor space to dedicate to all these tools and sometimes have to go outside and attach to truck or tractor to be able to swing long stock. On the tractor some might need a vise 12’ high ;-)

 

[GRTkub]

Wow for sure. And you just gave me the reason to add the receiver to the grill guard. I have a vise mounted to a 2" draw bar up at camp. I usually put it in the receiver of my truck to use it. If I add the receiver to the grill guard I can use the vise without removing the bucket or moving the truck. Perfect idea.

 

[DaveB2650]

This is my expanded metal improvements (after grill was damaged by a stick).....I also added a double attached loop set up that I welded together. They were from the front end of a truck.

 

[DaveB2650]

This was my solution for moving things with a receiver hitch. I like the grill one too!!!!

 

[fruitcakesa]

This was my solution for moving things with a receiver hitch. I like the grill one too!!!!

I use a similar rig.