The Ex-Guard MAX is available for most over-the-road trucks from all the major OEMs, including Freightliner, Kenworth, Volvo, Mack, Peterbilt, International, and Western Star. Ex-Guard
Front-end protection manufacturer Ex-Guard announced the debut of what it says is the company’s most advanced front-end protection system yet -- the Ex-Guard MAX.
According to Jeremy Drever, director of engineering for Ex-Guard, the MAX is the company’s strongest, highest-rated extreme-duty grille guard, expanding a portfolio that ranges from low-profile bumper guards to full front-end protection models.
Designed for Class 6-8 trucks, the Ex-Guard MAX introduces reinforced guard technology and enhanced steer tire protection, and it's the first grille guard in North America to be independently tested and validated to meet a key international benchmark (UN ECE R93) for front-underrun mitigation.
“We’ve independently tested the MAX to be the strongest, most protective grille guard we’ve ever built,” said Drever. “This guard is effective at mitigating front-end damage caused by wildlife and other vehicles, as well as frequent, minor incidents that often occur around the yard or at truck stops.”
Drever added that the new guards “can help fleets significantly save on maintenance and replacement part costs when incidents do occur.”
The Ex-Guard MAX builds on the legacy of its third generation XG-150 extreme-duty model with three advancements:
- Vehicle Illumination Safety Reinforcement Bar: The company added an 8-gauge high-tensile steel low bar to the design of the MAX, called the VISR Bar. Reinforced with steel plate gusseting, the VISR Bar is built to withstand demanding head-on and angled impact scenarios. The addition also enhances protection around key vehicle components, including collision mitigation system radars, fog lamps, and steer tires.
- Front Underrun Mitigation: The MAX incorporates a Front Underrun Mitigation System designed to help prevent vehicles from sliding beneath a truck in certain collision scenarios, thereby reducing damage, repair costs, and downtime. While underrun protection is not currently required in North America, Ex-Guard took the additional step of validating the MAX against an internationally recognized performance benchmark (UN ECE R93), making it an industry-first achievement, the company said.
- Steer Tire Defender 3.0: With the launch of the new guards, Ex-Guard has introduced enhanced levels of steer tire protection across its product line. Steer Tire Defender 3.0 is available exclusively with the Ex-Guard MAX. By combining the VISR Bar and reinforced steel plate gusseting, the MAX has been independently tested to redirect significant impact forces away from steer tires.
Each guard in MAX line includes tailored refinements to align with OEM specifications, helping ensure compatibility with collision mitigation systems. The new Ex-Guard MAX series guards are now available to order at any of Ex-Guard’s 2,500 dealers across the U.S. and Canada.
[Related: Mack Pioneer, Anthem models' front-end protection options]
