Ex-Guard Generation 3 Pre-Trip Maintenance and Inspection Guide
Before Each Trip
IMPORTANT: THE GUARD MUST BE SECURELY LATCHED BEFORE USING.
Failure to maintain and/or latch your Ex-Guard securely can result in damage, injury and even death. If any of the items below exist in your pre-trip inspection, repair immediately before using the vehicle or the guard:
STEP 1: Check for Handle for Damage
Check Handle for Damage: If the handle is bent or broken, replace immediately. Contact your local dealer or Ex-Guard directly – [email protected] | 888.902.2777.
STEP 2: Keep Latch Clean
Check Latch for Debris: The latch must be clean and free of ice, snow or road grime.
STEP 3: Check Latch Hook for Wear
NOTE: This wearing is a direct result of tension variance between the driver and passenger side latches. Replace U-bolt and refer to Step 6 to correct this.
STEP 4: Check for Handle Movement
Ensure Handle is Securely attached: If the washer spins freely or threads are exposed on the handle bolt, tighten until snug.
**NOTE: Removing the nut completely and applying anti-seize to the threads before re-torquing drastically reduces any chance of a recurrence.
STEP 5: Check Handle to Ensure Guard is Secured
- The handle was not fully raised when opening so the catch didn’t reset, or
- The U-bolts are not aligned (see step 6)
STEP 6: Check U-bolt & Latch Position
Ensure Latch is Engaged in U-Bolt Correctly: If either latch hook is not parallel to the guard when the latch is closed, see ex-guard.com/maintenance.
STEP 6a: Corrective Action
When both sides latched:
- Identify which side is correctly secured.
- Extend the U-bolt (loosen) on this secured side which will correct the tension on the opposite side
- Stop extending the U-bolt when the opposite side is corrected. NOTE: If secured side loses tension and a gap appears, STOP and switch to the opposite side to TIGHTEN U-bolt so tension is even on both sides and latches are secured
