Aftermarket grill / brush guards

coolbrze · Feb 19, 2019

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

foggy1111 · Feb 19, 2019

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 · Feb 19, 2019

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 · Feb 19, 2019

dragoneggs said:
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 · Feb 20, 2019

PILOON said:
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 · Feb 20, 2019

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 592516 View attachment 592517

Turbys_1700 · Feb 20, 2019

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 · Feb 22, 2019

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.