The Mall thing is a reference to those who have no/too little off road experiences that would provide a context for what works/doesn't.

A newbie that is buying an X (Or a jeep, etc....) and wants it to have "That Look" that rugged, tougher sort of appearance...will tend to choose that type of option, even though their experiences are more mall based than trail based.

The Mall is used as the reference for not on trails, as in where you see them/where they frequent, etc. IE: Trucks that go to and from malls, not off road.

Soccer Mom Mobiles, Mommy Mobiles, etc are sometimes used in this scenario as well....albeit w/o the implication that they have moddded their trucks to look tougher.

Most of the angst about grill guards involves the irony that the newbies bought them because they assumed that they would perhaps, uh, guard their grill....when in fact they are really just cosmetic affectations, that to complete the irony, actually do MORE damage rather than protecting the grill.

That said...if you ARE at a mall or other similar venue with a parking lot, and an errent shopping cart were to roll into the front of the truck, the decent grill guards would provide a modicum of protection from cart carnage....

So...if the crawling you do is mall based, the grill guard is a reasonable accessory to ameliorate cart based collision carnage.

Out on the road, if you hit a deer, a soccer mom, or visa versa, the guard will tend to fold back and whack parts of the truck that would not have been otherwise damaged.

Off road, the approach angle of the truck is mauled by the low mounted chin of the protruding guard, which hits as you approach obstacles or come down/go up steep hills.

So if doing real off roading...you really can't have a grill guard, and if doing only mall crawling, you can have one, but it's just a cosmetic affectation rather than real protection.



PS - Edstorm - check your WTB section on XOC - You got a bite!