My GF backed into a fire hydrant this weekend with the car, and smashed up my left rear parking lamp. This is the third time I've had to replace it from either hitting something, or someone hitting me. I also have a big crack in my upper right lamp from a tree branch while I was doing some light trails. I looked at the lamp guards for both the upper and lower rear lamps, but they don't seem to offer much protection, although they look cool. So my questions are how much protection do the guards offer, and are the plastic worth the money? Seems to me the metal would offer better protection, plus I could weld a few more bars across it to offer even more protection. I like the look of the plastic upper guards, as they fit much closer to the lamp and offer a cleaner look, so maybe a metal lower (with more welded bars across it) and plastic uppers might be in order. Are any of these guards worth the money, or am I just better off buying a bunch of used lamps for the same price and swapping them in every time I break a light?

 

IDK about the lower guards, but the upper lamp guards are a waste. They mount using the the same screws that hold the lens in place and they're prone to catching things like brush and trees on tight trails. (Ripping the upper tail-light out and breaking it in the process.)

 

Agreed ^

Best bet if this is going to be a continuing issue would be to upgrade to the '03-'04 taillights, this way your brake lights and blinkers are up high, then rewire your reverse lights to a spot higher up out of danger.

...or get a steel bumper

...or a backup camera

...or all of the above