Equipment Tests > Bull Bars

What Kind Of Bullbar Do I Need?
Choosing the right bullbar for your vehicle involves asking both yourself and the bullbar manufacturer a lot of questions. It is important to shop around and find out what is going to suit your vehicle, your needs, and provide the best safety. Choosing the right bar for your vehicle is a decision that shouldn't be made lightly. A poor choice can have a dramatic effect on your 4WD's ability to handle situations it was more than capable of before you had the bar fitted, and ultimately end up costing you a lot more than necessary.
The type of bar you buy should be dictated by your needs. There is no point in buying a lightweight alloy nudge bar if you are going to be winching yourself out of bog holes or over sand dunes. Nor will you need a heavy duty steel winch bar if you intend to use your 4WD to do the shopping and pick up the kids from school. Check with the manufacturer, and ensure that you buy the right bar for your vehicle and your needs. Bullbars that have not been designed to cope with a winch, or worse yet, cannot handle the size and capacity of the winch you require for your vehicle, could place you in the position of having to entirely replace the bullbar on the vehicle at some future date, or find you winching your bullbar out of a bog hole while your vehicle quietly sinks.

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Choosing which material the bullbar you purchase is made from is a crucial part of the decision making process. There is currently a range of materials to choose from, such as steel, aluminium and plastics, each having their own pros and cons.

Steel bars are very strong, but also weigh a lot and, if improperly treated by the end user or due to carelessness in the production stages, can rust. Rust will weaken the structural integrity of the bullbar, and a rusty bar could cause more harm than good in the event of a major collision. If the heavy duty steel option is your choice, an upgrade of the front suspension to deal with the added weight may be in order - check with the manufacturer at time of purchase. Steel bars are ideal for older 4WDs that do not require airbag compatibility, and require a lot of strength for winching and serious off road action.

Alloy and aluminium bars offer excellent strength to weight ratios, and seem to be the most popular choice for the modern 4WDer. Most of the vehicle manufacturers that offer original equipment bullbars are offering the alloy option, as they are durable, not prone to rusting, and for the most part will not require suspension upgrades after they have been fitted. Alloy bars should be able to handle the bulk of any reasonable workout, including winching, and most manufacturers of alloy bars claim SRS airbag compliance in their product. Some manufacturers are currently producing newer style aluminium bars for older 4WDs.

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