One Hit, $9,500 in Parts: Ex-Guard Brings Class 8 Protection to Pickups and Vans as Deer Season Peaks

The timing matters. Fall is the most dangerous season for animal strikes, and today's pickups and vans carry cameras, sensors and lane-keep systems right behind the grille. One deer can turn into a near-$10,000 parts bill and days in the shop. Ex-Guard is urging fleets to protect their vehicles now, while deer activity is at its height.

Semi-truck engineering for the vehicles that keep businesses moving

For nearly two decades, Ex-Guard has protected Class 8 fleets from front-end collisions, animal strikes and other road hazards. Fleet managers using Ex-Guard have reduced front-end replacement part costs by up to 97% and towable accidents by up to 80%. The HX, FX and CV Series bring those same results to the pickups, chassis cabs and vans that contractors, utilities, ambulance services and delivery fleets rely on every day.

"Ex-Guard has redefined durability and design for Class 8 semi-truck protection in North America for nearly 20 years," said Jeremy Drever, director of engineering for Ex-Guard. "Now we're bringing that same level of protection to heavy-duty pickup trucks and chassis. It's Class 8 protection for Class 2-5 vehicles."

The line was built in response to demand. "After tens of thousands of requests, today is the day we begin production on Ex-Guard for the most popular heavy-duty truck models in America's fleets," Drever said when production started in April 2025.

Start with your own numbers

Fleet managers can quantify the opportunity quickly by pulling 12-24 months of records for their pickups and vans: bumper, headlight, hood, radiator, grille and condenser repairs and replacements, tow bills, downtime days, insurance claims and deductibles, and driver delay or roadside incidents. Compare them with the figures below, or use the Ex-Guard ROI Calculator.

What one hit really costs

Today's trucks keep expensive technology right behind the bumper. The table below shows the average replacement-parts cost of a single front-end collision on an unprotected truck:

*Excludes labor, paint, installation and downtime.

The math is simple. A $2,640 Ex-Guard kit costs less than a third of that parts bill, so one avoided hit pays for the guard more than three times over. Ex-Guard customers have reduced front-end replacement part costs by up to 97%; at that rate, a $9,515.68 parts bill would drop to about $285.

For fleets, the savings multiply with every vehicle and every season. One 330-truck fleet that tracked its repairs cut its front-end costs from $647,000 to $96,247 after installing Ex-Guard, including $250,000 in towing that fell to $76,000.

Animal strikes are only part of the risk: Ex-Guard reports that fleets have nine times more front-end accidents with fixed objects such as bollards, poles and posts than with deer.

Collisions with other vehicles take a toll too.

• Len, Southern Ontario, Ford F-350 dually. Hauling a loaded 40-foot gooseneck trailer, Len's truck rear-ended a car in a four-vehicle pileup. The car was written off and the trailer's steel gooseneck arm was bent. Len walked away uninjured, and his Ex-Guard-equipped F-350 drove away.

Deer season is here
Deer are most active in the fall, and the numbers show it. State Farm counted more than 1.6 million animal-collision claims between July 2025 and June 2026, costing $1.9 billion. Nationally, drivers face 1-in-145 odds of an animal-collision claim, rising to 1-in-46 in West Virginia, 1-in-54 in Montana and 1-in-62 in Wisconsin, according to Carrier Management.

For a business, the bill doesn't stop at the bumper. A damaged radiator, headlight or radar sensor takes a vehicle off the road until parts arrive, and every day in the shop is a missed job or route.

Ex-Guard's pickup and van customers have already put their guards to the test:

• Truck Country, Minocqua, Wis. - Ford Transit parts van. The parts salesman was doing 70 mph on the highway when a doe ran out in front of him. There was no time to brake, and he hit it dead center. He pulled over expecting the worst and found not even a scratch. The van has hit deer twice more since, with the same result. "We highly recommend having an Ex-Guard - it has saved us time and money for not having damage or downtime," said Gene Kosky, parts manager at Truck Country.
• Eric, Western Maryland - Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. Eric lives in deer country, where the wildlife "at times seem to want to destroy your vehicle." When he hit a deer, his truck came away with no damage at all: no body shop, no parts order and no time without his truck. "I am completely pleased with the quality of this beast. Looks good, and when I hit a deer, nothing, no damage at all to my truck. They should be installed at the factory!"

One lineup, three series

CV Series van guards come in two designs: a full-coverage 50 model and a lighter 25 model that covers the lower front end. The RAM ProMaster is offered in the 25 design.

Built like a semi-truck guard

• 11-gauge high-tensile steel - the same tubing approach Ex-Guard has refined over 10 years in its LT series guards.
• EVRCoat™ PVC coating - a layer more than 1/8 inch thick that resists UV, rust, salt and road debris, and self-heals from minor damage.
• ClearZone® compatible - HX and FX guards are designed to work with collision-mitigation systems and adaptive cruise control. Guards may interfere with front parking sensors on some vehicles.
• About one hour to install - every kit ships with the guard and a vehicle-specific mounting bracket. Owners can install it themselves or use an authorized Ex-Guard upfitter.
• Work-ready accessories - the two winch box options accept many low-profile winches, including models from Warn, Ramsey, Superwinch and Smittybilt, and include heavy-duty vehicle recovery points. Stainless steel tow hooks are also available, separately.
• Made in USA - designed, built and finished in Des Moines, IA and Kalispell, MT with U.S.-sourced materials.

Vehicle coverage
The HX Series fits the 2021-newer Ford F-150 and 2019-newer RAM 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. The FX Series fits 2017-newer Ford F-250 through F-600 Super Duty, 2010-newer RAM 2500 and 3500, 2019-newer RAM 4500 and 5500, and 2020-newer Silverado and Sierra 2500/3500 HD, while the CV Series fits the 2013-newer Ford Transit, 2014-newer Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2014-newer RAM ProMaster. Some trims are excluded, including the Silverado ZR2 Bison, Transit Connect, Mercedes-Benz Metris and ProMaster City, so buyers should confirm fitment at ex-guard.com or (888) 902-2777.

Questions fleets ask

What sets Ex-Guard apart from other pickup and van grille guards?

Pedigree. Ex-Guard has spent nearly two decades building guards for Class 8 semi-trucks, protecting fleets across more than 200 billion miles. The HX, FX and CV Series use the same 11-gauge high-tensile steel and the same design approach: absorb the collision and spread the force across the guard, not into the vehicle.

Will a guard interfere with my vehicle's safety technology?

HX and FX guards are ClearZone® compatible, designed so collision-mitigation systems and adaptive cruise control keep working. Some vehicles may still see front parking-sensor interference, and Ex-Guard's team can confirm fitment at (888) 902-2777.

Does it really pay for itself?

Fleets using Ex-Guard have cut front-end replacement part costs by up to 97% and towable accidents by up to 80%. With an average of $9,515.68 in parts for a single front-end collision, one avoided hit covers a $2,640 kit more than three times over. Ask Truck Country, whose Ford Transit parts van has hit three deer without needing a repair, or Len, whose F-350 drove away from a four-vehicle pileup that wrote off the car it struck.

How does it hold up to winter salt and years of hard work?

Every guard is finished in EVRCoat™, a PVC coating more than 1/8 inch thick that resists UV, rust and road salt and self-heals from minor damage. Ex-Guard designs the coating to last for years, even decades.

How fast can a fleet get protected before the next deer strike?

Kits are available within Ex-Guard's standard lead times and ship complete with the guard and a vehicle-specific bracket. Most install in about an hour, and authorized Ex-Guard distributors and upfitters across North America can handle fitment, volume pricing and installation for whole fleets.

Pricing and availability
HX, FX and CV kits are available to order now. Manufacturer's suggested retail prices start at $2,310 for the 25 series kits, while the larger 50 series kits start at $2,640, including the guard and the vehicle-specific mounting bracket. That is less than a third of the average parts bill for one front-end collision on an unprotected truck.

Fleets should work with an authorized Ex-Guard distributor or upfitter for volume pricing, fitment confirmation and professional installation. Individual owners can order online at ex-guard.com/pickups and ex-guard.com/van-grille-guards. Fleet managers can estimate their savings with the Ex-Guard ROI Calculator or call (888) 902-2777.

About Ex-Guard Industries

Since 2009, Ex-Guard Industries has provided fleets and owner-operators with high-quality products made in the USA. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Ex-Guard builds semi-truck, RV, van and pickup truck grille guards known for their durability, versatility and overall value. Visit ex-guard.com.

Media contact: Roger Clarke, Ex-Guard Industries • [email protected] • (888) 902-2777

SOURCE Ex-Guard Industries