Alloy or steel????

[tazd]

Now the the decision is to be made weather to keep the shiny alloy bullbar on my 130 or to swap over my arb steel bar with winch and side bars over off my 110. any thoughts?
i thought the weight of the alloy with the winch and all would be kinder on the front springs but the strength and usability is my other thought.
So any help will be good

[JDNSW]

The important thing is the strength of the bar, not its material. You are probably in the best position to judge this, but it is often difficult to assess unless you know how it is made.

What do you expect from the bar? If it is the usual requirement to protect the front of the vehicle from animal impacts, it needs to be fairly substantial. If only to be used as a brush bar, it does not need to be as strong.

(I'm not sure this has helped!)

John

[greenhornet]

I have been having the same thoughts myself re which bar and weight issues.
From my research, it is generally the addition of a winch that will weigh the front end of the vehicle down and necessitate changing the springs?
Generally the bar itself (steel or alloy) will not require alteration to suspension.
We are going to go for a 3 piece steel bar, but not going down the path of the winch…yet.
Also agree with previous comments regarding the purpose of the bar is an important consideration.
Cheers

[spudboy]

I've always thought steel for bullbars and roofracks.

If you need to repair it out in the bundu, steel is so much easier to re-weld etc....

[KarlB]

Other considerations include: the adequacy of the recovery points on the respective bullbars; and their respective impact on approach angle. Weight is important. I think the rule of thumb is: if addition of the bar drops the front of the vehicle by 10 mm or more then you should replace the front springs. The latest edition of Australian 4WD Action has a review of about a dozen bullbars, and while you are not interested in purchasing a new one, the review would still raise significant issues for you to think about. Have you considered whether you really need a bullbar at all?

Cheers
KarlB

[tazd]

The need for the bar is there well and truely. in the past 6 months ive hit 2 deer and countless roo, so yes i do need a bull bar. I do try to avoid them sometimes but hitting them can be the better option.
i agree with the repair in the outback and thats been my thought aswell. and the adding other things to a steel bar is easier.
will do some angle measurements on the weekend just to see which is better.
But the Alloy does look trick i must say. but the black steel looks tough. mmmm decisions

[Perspicacious]

Photos of the alloy bullbar please. I have been looking for an alloy bar and have not been able to find anyone that manufactures them for the Defender.