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Equipment Tests > Bull Bars
Bull Bars
Words by Gregor Stronach
Frontal protection bars, 'roo bars or bullbars, whatever you call them, they are always going to be a part of 4WDing. Whether you feel you need a bullbar to protect your car in a supermarket parking lot or from a 'roo on Australia's country roads, the decision making process prior to fitting the bar is not one to be taken lightly. From small nudge bars to full winch bars, all have been specifically designed to protect your vehicle, and the occupants, as best they can.
However, bullbars mainly serve to stop your vehicle being immobilised after even a relatively minor accident. A bullbar could mean the difference between a very long walk home and an anecdote about crazed wildlife on the highways in the bush. The basic design of bullbars has come a long way in recent years. Hard, angular designs which pushed obstacles down underneath the vehicle have been replaced by body-hugging, rounded designs which throw obstacles up and over the roof of the vehicle, increasing the chances of survival for either an animal or pedestrian in the wrong place at the wrong time. Current trends in bullbar manufacturing are also moving away from heavy steel bars to lighter and more flexible alloys and plastics.
There is currently a push for greater pedestrian safety from the growing number of people concerned about the presence of bullbars and 4WDs in populated areas. In the UK, tests have been conducted to explore the practicalities of deformable bullbars, in order to try and curb the growing number of injuries sustained in relatively minor accidents. Britain's Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has conducted months of testing to ascertain the best possible outcome for everyone involved in accidents with bullbars. The TRL report states that "deformable bullbars could improve protection for vulnerable road users in an impact."
However, purchasing a bullbar means thinking about more than simply providing a higher degree of safety for you and your passengers. Factors important to vehicle owners, such as styling, performance and functionality come into play. Bullbars provide convenient anchoring and mounting points for several other vital pieces of 4WD paraphernalia. Winches, driving lights and radio antennae can all find homes mounted in or on the bullbar. Other important factors to be considered include airflow over the radiator, headlight functionality and side panel protection in the event of a collision.
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.
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.
Plastic bullbars are by no means a new invention, but recent steps forward in technology have allowed for a resurgence in the popularity of the plastic bar. While most models are unsuitable for mounting winches, plastic bars are the favoured option of campaigners for pedestrian safety, as their elastic and deformable nature can lessen the impact of a collision. However, it is this elasticity that has drawn criticism from some circles, who claim that in certain circumstances the bar can deform too far, allowing any obstacle to come into contact with the areas of the car that the bar has been designed to protect, particularly the radiator.
The Airbag Debate
The next option to consider is how the bullbar is mounted to your vehicle. Some bars completely replace the current bumper from the 4WD, while others incorporate the existing bumper into the design. You'll also need to choose between a bar which uses mounting brackets versus a chassis mount system. Newer bullbars may utilise deformable, impact absorbing mounts to assist with airbag deployment in the event of an accident.
In terms of new car warranty and correct operation of all safety devices on your 4WD, there is no thornier issue than that of bullbars and airbag compatibility. A quick explanation of the airbag concept is necessary to fully understand how an incompatible bullbar could have a serious effect on your vehicle, and your safety.
Current vehicular designs incorporate crumple zones into the chassis, which determines the vehicles 'crash pulse'. The crash pulse is a measure of deceleration, usually taken from the occupants position, when the vehicle hits an obstacle. The front of the vehicle has an almost instant stop, but because the vehicle is designed to crumple, the occupant's rate of deceleration is considerably less. The issue of collision related injury to passengers boils down to the rate of deceleration. The faster an object decelerates, the more load there is on the object and it is this force that can have the most devastating effects on vehicle occupants.
The airbags in a vehicle are designed to deploy at precisely the right moment, timed to the millisecond. Any disruption to the vehicle's crash pulse would have an effect on the timing of deployment of the airbags. With this is mind, it fell to the designers of bullbars, both original equipment and after market, to come up with a system that incorporated the airbag sensors, and didn't disrupt the vehicle's crash pulse. In order for some manufacturers to achieve this goal, it has been necessary to engineer extra crumple zones into the mounting brackets of the bullbars.
Most bullbar manufacturers claim to have incorporated this new technology into their designs, with many of the manufacturers listing this as a feature in their advertising material. However, claims and counter-claims from both sides of the debate have created confusion for buyers.
Many vehicle manufacturers are currently following the line that they cannot guarantee correct operation of the vehicles airbags in the event of an accident, if an after market bullbar has been fitted to the vehicle. On the other hand, many after market accessory manufacturers claim that their products have been strenuously tested to comply with the rigorous airbag compatibility and design standards, and that any such talk is merely a scare tactic used by the vehicle manufacturers to corner a larger share of the 4WD accessory market for themselves.
read on below advertisement
Either way, it is worth talking to a representative from both sides of the debate prior to purchasing and installing a bullbar, as an informed choice with all of the facts at hand is obviously a far better footing for making such a major decision. The industry is currently exploring options under which everyone will benefit, with a new design standard due out in the near future.
Who Is Making What?
Once the decision to purchase a bullbar has been made, the hardest question of all still remains - which bar should you buy? Faced with the sheer variety of style and material, you would be forgiven for worrying about the decision between after market or original equipment.
After Market
ARB
ARB has been producing 4WD accessories since 1975, specifically for the Australian market. Since then, company growth has seen ARB expand to over 200 outlets Australia wide, manufacturing and fitting bullbars for most popular makes and models of 4WD. ARB bullbars feature deformable, progressive mounting systems, which it claims will allow for correct functionality of airbags. They have integrated design points for accessories, such as driving lights and winches, are available in a polished or powder coated finish, and colour matching the bullbar to your vehicle is available as an optional extra. ARB's wide network of retail outlets means that any problems you may have whilst on the road can be easily sorted out wherever you are.
Ph: (03) 9761 6622
www.arb.com.au
Bocar Automotive
Bocar Automotive, based in Queensland, produces a wide range of bullbars for an even wider range of vehicles. Utilising aluminium as the main material, Bocar has been manufacturing frontal protection devices for over 20 years. Bocar also claims that its lightweight bars are airbag compatible, having used the services of Autoliv to crash test their wares. Bocar is also under contract to some vehicle manufacturers to supply 'genuine accessory' bullbars, and as such cannot supply those models direct to the public.
Ph: (07) 5355 5555
www.bocar.com.au
ECB
ECB has been in the business of manufacturing of frontal protection equipment for more than 30 years. ECB offers an extensive range from Nudge and Loop Bars through to Big Tube bumper replacement and Winch Bars. All ECB bars are manufactured from high tensile structural grade alloys and are individually designed to suit the vehicle. ECB frontal protection bars comply with Australian Design Rules and are Airbag compatible on relevant models. These have been tested via both internal and external processes and carry a life-time warranty. All ECB products have provisions for mounting auxiliary lighting and accessories and are available in either a mirror polished or powder coated finishes.
Ph: 1800 069 145
www.ecb.com.au/ecb/
Formula Off Road
Formula Off Road manufactures both steel and alloy bullbars, placing the company in a clear position to comment in the steel versus alloy debate. Formula Off Road offers a range of bars for both 4WD and 2WD vehicles, and offer full accessory mounting on applicable bars, with particular attention to detail taken to ensure functionality at all levels. Older model 4WDs are also catered for, and airbag compatible models have been subjected to rigorous inhouse testing.
Ph: (02) 9833 2333
www.formulaoffroad.com.au
Gitsham
Based in South Australia, Gitsham manufactures aluminium bullbars specially designed for the Australian market. Gitsham bullbars come with all the standard features, such as mounting points for lights and winches, and they comply with Australian design and safety standards. Gitsham claims that the aluminium bars are also airbag compliant, having been tested rigorously since the inception of SRS airbags in 4WD vehicles.
Ph: 1800 182 343
www.gitsham.com.au
Opposite Lock
Opposite Lock distributes a wide range of brands of bullbars, placing them in a great position to walk a buyer through the purchasing process, with the benefit of choice of product. Opposite Lock is the Australia wide distributor of the Outback Accessories range of protection bars. Manufactured from steel, the emphasis of these bars is on strength and heavy duty protection in extreme and commercial applications, such as farming and mining. Opposite Lock go out of their way to recommend that these steel bullbars are not used on vehicles fitted with airbags. Opposite Lock is also the national distributor of the Smart Bar (See Team Poly below).
Ph: 1800 624 444
www.oppositelock.com
Team Poly
Team Poly is a South Australian company which manufactures polyethylene Smart Bars as an alternative to alloys and steel. Light enough not to have a major effect on handling and suspension, the polyethylene bars rely on their elasticity rather than outright strength to protect your vehicle and its occupants. More importantly, it is this elasticity that also protects pedestrians in the event of a low speed collision on city streets. A plastic bar with winch mounting capability is available for the GU Patrol and the 100 Series. With all of the attention being paid to deformable bullbar technology and pedestrian safety overseas, and in light of proposed new legislation in Australia, an increasing number of city bound 4WD owners are looking to this technology as a means to be less harmful to fellow road users.
Ph: 1800 818 947
TJM
TJM produces bullbars for most makes and models, available in either steel or aluminium. TJM claims that its testing procedures, conducted at its own testing facilities and with the help of a university laboratory are second to none, making the TJM range hard to beat in terms of safety, even with SRS airbags. In addition to larger bullbars, TJM also produces a 'city bar', smaller and less obtrusive than some of the larger bullbars on the market. These bars have been specifically designed to protect the grille and bumper area of 4WDs in a city environment, making them ideal for the small SUV market.
Ph: (07) 3265 2877
www.tjmproducts.com.au
Original Equipment
Holden
Holden offers only one full bar and one nudge bar as part of the Holden Spare Parts Organisation (HSPO) line of accessories for the Jackaroo. Both bars are made from aluminium, with the full bar featuring mounting points for driving lights and recessed indicators.
Toyota
As with most of the major players in the 4WD manufacturing industry, Toyota has moved to corner a share of the lucrative 4WD accessory market for itself by forming T-CAM. A specialised accessory department, T-CAM is responsible for producing factory bullbars, amongst other things, for most models of Toyota 4WD. The Toyota factory bullbars are all designed to comply with ADR 69, and where applicable are airbag compliant.
Land Rover
Land Rover offers a large range of different style bullbars for its vehicles, from the small nudge bars available for the Freelander to a full heavy duty bullbar for the Defender, designed for rugged conditions and featuring accessory mounting points for just about anything you might care to mount on the front of a 4WD. For the more sedate, city bound 4WDer, Land Rover offers smaller, wraparound or A-frame bullbars for all of its vehicles.
Jeep
Mopar Accessories is the Jeep in-house accessory manufacturer, supplying a range of different bullbar options for most models of Jeep currently available. Mopar is also responsible for other Jeep accessories such as side steps, driving lights and custom styling accessories. As with all genuine equipment, Mopar accessories benefit from extensive testing at a manufacturing level.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi currently offers a fairly limited range of bullbars for their vehicles, as compliance with ADR 69 has meant that a full range of crash testing has had to be scheduled for each new model. The only vehicle in the Mitsubishi range that has a factory fit bar available is the Triton, with the NM Pajero bar due out towards the end of 2000.
Nissan
Nissan offers a complete range of bullbars for its 4WD fleet, constructed from sturdy and durable alloy, and featuring mounting points for driving lamps and aerials. All of Nissan's bullbars have been extensively crash tested to ascertain ADR 69 compliance and airbag compatibility, where necessary.
Frontal protection bars, 'roo bars or bullbars, whatever you call them, they are always going to be a part of 4WDing. Whether you feel you need a bullbar to protect your car in a supermarket parking lot or from a 'roo on Australia's country roads, the decision making process prior to fitting the bar is not one to be taken lightly. From small nudge bars to full winch bars, all have been specifically designed to protect your vehicle, and the occupants, as best they can.
However, bullbars mainly serve to stop your vehicle being immobilised after even a relatively minor accident. A bullbar could mean the difference between a very long walk home and an anecdote about crazed wildlife on the highways in the bush. The basic design of bullbars has come a long way in recent years. Hard, angular designs which pushed obstacles down underneath the vehicle have been replaced by body-hugging, rounded designs which throw obstacles up and over the roof of the vehicle, increasing the chances of survival for either an animal or pedestrian in the wrong place at the wrong time. Current trends in bullbar manufacturing are also moving away from heavy steel bars to lighter and more flexible alloys and plastics.
There is currently a push for greater pedestrian safety from the growing number of people concerned about the presence of bullbars and 4WDs in populated areas. In the UK, tests have been conducted to explore the practicalities of deformable bullbars, in order to try and curb the growing number of injuries sustained in relatively minor accidents. Britain's Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has conducted months of testing to ascertain the best possible outcome for everyone involved in accidents with bullbars. The TRL report states that "deformable bullbars could improve protection for vulnerable road users in an impact."
However, purchasing a bullbar means thinking about more than simply providing a higher degree of safety for you and your passengers. Factors important to vehicle owners, such as styling, performance and functionality come into play. Bullbars provide convenient anchoring and mounting points for several other vital pieces of 4WD paraphernalia. Winches, driving lights and radio antennae can all find homes mounted in or on the bullbar. Other important factors to be considered include airflow over the radiator, headlight functionality and side panel protection in the event of a collision.
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.
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.
Plastic bullbars are by no means a new invention, but recent steps forward in technology have allowed for a resurgence in the popularity of the plastic bar. While most models are unsuitable for mounting winches, plastic bars are the favoured option of campaigners for pedestrian safety, as their elastic and deformable nature can lessen the impact of a collision. However, it is this elasticity that has drawn criticism from some circles, who claim that in certain circumstances the bar can deform too far, allowing any obstacle to come into contact with the areas of the car that the bar has been designed to protect, particularly the radiator.
The Airbag Debate
The next option to consider is how the bullbar is mounted to your vehicle. Some bars completely replace the current bumper from the 4WD, while others incorporate the existing bumper into the design. You'll also need to choose between a bar which uses mounting brackets versus a chassis mount system. Newer bullbars may utilise deformable, impact absorbing mounts to assist with airbag deployment in the event of an accident.
In terms of new car warranty and correct operation of all safety devices on your 4WD, there is no thornier issue than that of bullbars and airbag compatibility. A quick explanation of the airbag concept is necessary to fully understand how an incompatible bullbar could have a serious effect on your vehicle, and your safety.
Current vehicular designs incorporate crumple zones into the chassis, which determines the vehicles 'crash pulse'. The crash pulse is a measure of deceleration, usually taken from the occupants position, when the vehicle hits an obstacle. The front of the vehicle has an almost instant stop, but because the vehicle is designed to crumple, the occupant's rate of deceleration is considerably less. The issue of collision related injury to passengers boils down to the rate of deceleration. The faster an object decelerates, the more load there is on the object and it is this force that can have the most devastating effects on vehicle occupants.
The airbags in a vehicle are designed to deploy at precisely the right moment, timed to the millisecond. Any disruption to the vehicle's crash pulse would have an effect on the timing of deployment of the airbags. With this is mind, it fell to the designers of bullbars, both original equipment and after market, to come up with a system that incorporated the airbag sensors, and didn't disrupt the vehicle's crash pulse. In order for some manufacturers to achieve this goal, it has been necessary to engineer extra crumple zones into the mounting brackets of the bullbars.
Most bullbar manufacturers claim to have incorporated this new technology into their designs, with many of the manufacturers listing this as a feature in their advertising material. However, claims and counter-claims from both sides of the debate have created confusion for buyers.
Many vehicle manufacturers are currently following the line that they cannot guarantee correct operation of the vehicles airbags in the event of an accident, if an after market bullbar has been fitted to the vehicle. On the other hand, many after market accessory manufacturers claim that their products have been strenuously tested to comply with the rigorous airbag compatibility and design standards, and that any such talk is merely a scare tactic used by the vehicle manufacturers to corner a larger share of the 4WD accessory market for themselves.
read on below advertisement
Either way, it is worth talking to a representative from both sides of the debate prior to purchasing and installing a bullbar, as an informed choice with all of the facts at hand is obviously a far better footing for making such a major decision. The industry is currently exploring options under which everyone will benefit, with a new design standard due out in the near future.
Who Is Making What?
Once the decision to purchase a bullbar has been made, the hardest question of all still remains - which bar should you buy? Faced with the sheer variety of style and material, you would be forgiven for worrying about the decision between after market or original equipment.
After Market
ARB
ARB has been producing 4WD accessories since 1975, specifically for the Australian market. Since then, company growth has seen ARB expand to over 200 outlets Australia wide, manufacturing and fitting bullbars for most popular makes and models of 4WD. ARB bullbars feature deformable, progressive mounting systems, which it claims will allow for correct functionality of airbags. They have integrated design points for accessories, such as driving lights and winches, are available in a polished or powder coated finish, and colour matching the bullbar to your vehicle is available as an optional extra. ARB's wide network of retail outlets means that any problems you may have whilst on the road can be easily sorted out wherever you are.
Ph: (03) 9761 6622
www.arb.com.au
Bocar Automotive
Bocar Automotive, based in Queensland, produces a wide range of bullbars for an even wider range of vehicles. Utilising aluminium as the main material, Bocar has been manufacturing frontal protection devices for over 20 years. Bocar also claims that its lightweight bars are airbag compatible, having used the services of Autoliv to crash test their wares. Bocar is also under contract to some vehicle manufacturers to supply 'genuine accessory' bullbars, and as such cannot supply those models direct to the public.
Ph: (07) 5355 5555
www.bocar.com.au
ECB
ECB has been in the business of manufacturing of frontal protection equipment for more than 30 years. ECB offers an extensive range from Nudge and Loop Bars through to Big Tube bumper replacement and Winch Bars. All ECB bars are manufactured from high tensile structural grade alloys and are individually designed to suit the vehicle. ECB frontal protection bars comply with Australian Design Rules and are Airbag compatible on relevant models. These have been tested via both internal and external processes and carry a life-time warranty. All ECB products have provisions for mounting auxiliary lighting and accessories and are available in either a mirror polished or powder coated finishes.
Ph: 1800 069 145
www.ecb.com.au/ecb/
Formula Off Road
Formula Off Road manufactures both steel and alloy bullbars, placing the company in a clear position to comment in the steel versus alloy debate. Formula Off Road offers a range of bars for both 4WD and 2WD vehicles, and offer full accessory mounting on applicable bars, with particular attention to detail taken to ensure functionality at all levels. Older model 4WDs are also catered for, and airbag compatible models have been subjected to rigorous inhouse testing.
Ph: (02) 9833 2333
www.formulaoffroad.com.au
Gitsham
Based in South Australia, Gitsham manufactures aluminium bullbars specially designed for the Australian market. Gitsham bullbars come with all the standard features, such as mounting points for lights and winches, and they comply with Australian design and safety standards. Gitsham claims that the aluminium bars are also airbag compliant, having been tested rigorously since the inception of SRS airbags in 4WD vehicles.
Ph: 1800 182 343
www.gitsham.com.au
Opposite Lock
Opposite Lock distributes a wide range of brands of bullbars, placing them in a great position to walk a buyer through the purchasing process, with the benefit of choice of product. Opposite Lock is the Australia wide distributor of the Outback Accessories range of protection bars. Manufactured from steel, the emphasis of these bars is on strength and heavy duty protection in extreme and commercial applications, such as farming and mining. Opposite Lock go out of their way to recommend that these steel bullbars are not used on vehicles fitted with airbags. Opposite Lock is also the national distributor of the Smart Bar (See Team Poly below).
Ph: 1800 624 444
www.oppositelock.com
Team Poly
Team Poly is a South Australian company which manufactures polyethylene Smart Bars as an alternative to alloys and steel. Light enough not to have a major effect on handling and suspension, the polyethylene bars rely on their elasticity rather than outright strength to protect your vehicle and its occupants. More importantly, it is this elasticity that also protects pedestrians in the event of a low speed collision on city streets. A plastic bar with winch mounting capability is available for the GU Patrol and the 100 Series. With all of the attention being paid to deformable bullbar technology and pedestrian safety overseas, and in light of proposed new legislation in Australia, an increasing number of city bound 4WD owners are looking to this technology as a means to be less harmful to fellow road users.
Ph: 1800 818 947
TJM
TJM produces bullbars for most makes and models, available in either steel or aluminium. TJM claims that its testing procedures, conducted at its own testing facilities and with the help of a university laboratory are second to none, making the TJM range hard to beat in terms of safety, even with SRS airbags. In addition to larger bullbars, TJM also produces a 'city bar', smaller and less obtrusive than some of the larger bullbars on the market. These bars have been specifically designed to protect the grille and bumper area of 4WDs in a city environment, making them ideal for the small SUV market.
Ph: (07) 3265 2877
www.tjmproducts.com.au
Original Equipment
Holden
Holden offers only one full bar and one nudge bar as part of the Holden Spare Parts Organisation (HSPO) line of accessories for the Jackaroo. Both bars are made from aluminium, with the full bar featuring mounting points for driving lights and recessed indicators.
Toyota
As with most of the major players in the 4WD manufacturing industry, Toyota has moved to corner a share of the lucrative 4WD accessory market for itself by forming T-CAM. A specialised accessory department, T-CAM is responsible for producing factory bullbars, amongst other things, for most models of Toyota 4WD. The Toyota factory bullbars are all designed to comply with ADR 69, and where applicable are airbag compliant.
Land Rover
Land Rover offers a large range of different style bullbars for its vehicles, from the small nudge bars available for the Freelander to a full heavy duty bullbar for the Defender, designed for rugged conditions and featuring accessory mounting points for just about anything you might care to mount on the front of a 4WD. For the more sedate, city bound 4WDer, Land Rover offers smaller, wraparound or A-frame bullbars for all of its vehicles.
Jeep
Mopar Accessories is the Jeep in-house accessory manufacturer, supplying a range of different bullbar options for most models of Jeep currently available. Mopar is also responsible for other Jeep accessories such as side steps, driving lights and custom styling accessories. As with all genuine equipment, Mopar accessories benefit from extensive testing at a manufacturing level.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi currently offers a fairly limited range of bullbars for their vehicles, as compliance with ADR 69 has meant that a full range of crash testing has had to be scheduled for each new model. The only vehicle in the Mitsubishi range that has a factory fit bar available is the Triton, with the NM Pajero bar due out towards the end of 2000.
Nissan
Nissan offers a complete range of bullbars for its 4WD fleet, constructed from sturdy and durable alloy, and featuring mounting points for driving lamps and aerials. All of Nissan's bullbars have been extensively crash tested to ascertain ADR 69 compliance and airbag compatibility, where necessary.
