Defender Bullbars - Pros & Cons

[davidgate]

I've been hesitant to fit a front bar to the MY11 Puma.

Pros
Frontal protection
Somewhere to mount accessories

Cons
Destroys the Defender look!:eek:
Additional weight on front suspension - any mods required?


The one bar I was considering was the Frontrunner bar from SA through Opposite Lock - from appearances point of view this was the most compatible. However, no longer available off the shelf. Three month wait to build one on special order.

For me a prerequisite for travelling western Queensland was a front bar - however, if you're carefull about when you travel (avoid dusk/dawn) is this absolutely necessary? I'd be interested to hear opinions.

Thanks

Dave G:)

[KarlB]

I asked myself the same question when I got my 2010 Def90. In the end I opted for the OEM polyamide A-bar in combination with an OEM winch and winch bumper. No need for beefed up suspension. Provides some frontal protection particularly for the vital radiator. Also much kinder to pedestrians. I replaced the top (plastic) brackets of the A-bar with stainless ones from Mantec and they are more then adequate for mounting aerials and the like. I have also fitted driving lights hanging them from the same brackets.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[SuperchargedSport]

Ive hit several kangaroos with bull bars and without...

I hit one a few years ago with a 3inch aluminium nudge bar dead in the centre on a discovery ($1200 nudge bar) absolutely destroyed the front end of the car at 90km/h....

As i run a parts business, ive bought all sorts of wrecks, full aluminium bars just crumple and smash into the front and the factory wrap around bars although look nice do absolutely nothing, literally you could push them gently into a pole and watch them flex and hit the front of the car, now imagine that with a 6ft roo at 100km/h....

Its probably hard to understand if you havent hit something yet, think about it like this prime mover trucks get flipped over when they hit cows on the road... and a defender is alot smaller than a truck

[superquag]

Ive hit several kangaroos with bull bars and without...



How about steel 'roo and bull-bars, - How do they compare with alloy?

My own experience around town is that they're invaluable in shopping car parks... The Mazda's alloy bar has been hit several times, and I reckon its more than paid for itself on each one.:p

On the other hand, they can be a pain when you need to hang over the engine room, a familiar pastime for Land Rover owners.... :p

[ugu80]

Have a look at this, the ARB winch bumper.

Winch bumper | Products | ARB 4x4 Accessories (http://www.arb.com.au/products/arb-protection-equipment/bull-bars/deluxe-bull-bars/3932400/)

Then there is this.

http://www.fnb4wd.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71


Just a bit out of the ordinary and a bit lighter than the norm.

[SuperchargedSport]

How about steel 'roo and bull-bars, - How do they compare with alloy?

My own experience around town is that they're invaluable in shopping car parks... The Mazda's alloy bar has been hit several times, and I reckon its more than paid for itself on each one.:p

On the other hand, they can be a pain when you need to hang over the engine room, a familiar pastime for Land Rover owners.... :p

In shopping centre car parks we all need armoured cars... haha... rubber door strips and aluminium bars are great for around town. and tow bars.

I have had several discoverys come in with full front aluminium bars, if it has been in a front accident the bar is always stuffed. I had one recently a TJM on a discovery 1 that the whole left hand side had snapped and driven up into the passenger side of the car writting it off. In all fareness he had hit a tree. I havent had one steel one come through that i couldnt sell, even selling them damaged customers take them and have them straightened. Because there never that damaged.

I guess it depends on where you live, i recently was living outside perth and it was regular to come across emus and kangaroos during daylight hours.

I had a customer buy a really nice aluminium front bar last year, it was really nice, this nicest ive seen on a d1, colour coded had led lights in it. A month after having it he hit a kangaroo on his way to the eastern states, and the whole passenger side just was as if it wasnt on the car protecting it, the car was barely driveable, and the cost to strip it and put on a whole new inner wing, front support bonnet lights etc would be worth more than the car... there nice and light but they simply dont stand up to hitting a kangaroo.

[JDNSW]

Just a couple of thoughts.

I hit about one roo per year on average, and that is being very careful and very familiar with them. Having a steel bar the only damage has been one that hit me just behind the back wheel, while I was travelling at about 10km/hr letting his mates cross in front. And it was full daylight.

A couple of years ago I was talking to a local panel beater - he tells me that 75% of his business is roo strikes - almost none of them on vehicles with steel bars.

I would be very cautious about long term use of a vehicle anywhere inland without a good bar.

John

[strangy]

........,Also much kinder to pedestrians. .......

Cheers
KarlB
:)

Planning on hitting a few Karl?

[The Cone of Silence]

DG,

I think you're right in that if you're careful where and when you drive, you can minimise the chances of hitting something...but if you do have to drive somewhere after dusk, hitting something is going to be a whole lot worse for you, your passengers, your car and your wallet.

I have the OL bar on my '08 110 and I actually like the look so that's less of an issue for me.

I've used mine an awful lot in pushing trees when turning around in narrow tracks, breaking up thick branches for firewood (pushing against them when they're wedged between two tree trunks), sitting on and having a coffee, mounting the UHF aerial, protecting the lights, giving me a great visual guide for parking....and they provide a home for a couple of adventurous arachnids.

I hope I never hit anything with it, but should the animal in question and I be unfortunate enough to collide, I'm happy that I'm giving myself the best chance of survival...even if it's at the animal's expense.

Bobby

[Loubrey]

I've also got the Front Runner from OL fitted to my car.

I'm currently in the Pilbara and setting off to Perth usually has a pre-dawn start where the 140mm spotties fitted to the bar comes in very handy.

In the past 15 months I've had daytime strikes with 2 of the local species of Kangaroo (only around 1.2m high), both went under the car after the hit and the steering guard defected them low enough to not do any damage up front.

More significant though was a hard plastic/rubber wheel chock that fell of the back of a road train. It hit the asphalt and came bouncing at me allowing me no reaction time. It hit me just below the left headlight and thankfully the bulbar managed to take the blow. It did take some powder coat off, but no other damage. Picking it up afterwards and feeling the weight I think it might have torn the wing off if it went into the bodywork/headlight area.

IMO if you travel anywhere outside the big cities in Australia (ie 95% of Defenders), frontal protection of various degrees is a must.

[Iain_B]

If you don't have the necessary armour plating, then expect your soft aluminium body to get dents and scratches

So far:

ARB Steel Bull bar 2 - Roo's 0 ( Two medium sized roos committed suicide in seperate incidents by jumping right in front of me when on a recent trip up north.
Rock sliders 0 ( three paint chips) Car doors 3 art least including one woman who said it was my fault her door got damaged when she pushed it full force getting out of her tin box. She hit the rock slider so hard that it bent the edge of her door over. I just drove away with a big smile after telling her to be more careful.
Rear bumpers 0 ( white paint scratch) - White Ute 1 long bent/scratch down the side of his car..

Finally, Large black cow lying on a dark road near Moranbah 0 - Hella Rallye 4000 with HID inserts picked him about 500m away and I was able to stop safely - Cow did not move until I got right up to it.

If you are not properly equipped for outback travel - stay in the suburbs

[ant_schomacker]

Have to agree completely with those saying go the steel bar... I've got the TJM type 13, so far in 18 months out here I've managed to "hit" 6 roos. Nothing bigger than about 1.5m, but only damage in that time was to crack the two plastic mounting tabs on the built-in indicators ($60 to replace both light fittings). I'd hate to think how much damage these would have done without the bar.

Also got to agree with Iain good lights up front are vital!
Large black cow lying on a dark road near Moranbah 0 - Hella Rallye 4000 with HID inserts picked him about 500m away and I was able to stop safely - Cow did not move until I got right up to it.Needless to say I believe a good bar is just as important as the rubber on your wheels!
Ant

Ps. Out here is 400km NW of Mt Isa

[JC Rover]

I have the ARB bull bar with TJM side steps and brush bars connected to the front. Awesome protection, but very heavy. The side brush bars have saved my bacon numerous times in tight tracks. I gotta say the tube A frame bars from the UK look the best. Unless your driving regularly on country roads, then go with what looks tough.

[Naks]

I've got the Frontrunner one:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/655.jpg



In hindsight, I would have gone for one of the Terrafirma tubular one such as this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[roverrescue]

ive held my tongue on this one but the makers mark is talking now ~ if your not sure whether you should really stump up a gorilla for frontal protection. Well chances are you dont need really need it?

I stopped bothering to count roo strikes at 20. More than half have been daytime hits either out of the grader grass or off the cut ins? Side rails and bars make the winch more rigid too.

S

[Nera Donna]

Steel bar 100%. Had my fair share of animal, vehicle, tree and immoveable object (garage wall) strikes over the years in many different 4wd vehicles. Allie bars defiantly come off second best. Better that nothing at all, but not as good as a steel bar. Weight, yes you front end will sag a little. You can up rate your springs, install spacers or just live with it. I’m living with mine slightly nose heave. Yes you notice it, but it’s no big deal. I'll do my suspension modes down the track.
PS. Allie bars go dull after a couple of years and their a bugger to polish up again (mine did anyway). Steel bars, slap a bit of paint on em.

[isuzurover]

x another on the steel bar.

My ARB bar has held up to a couple of roos, an idiot in a camry, and a 6" coppice log (that one was my fault). Because I galvanised my bar I haven't even needed to touch up any paint.

I would have lost about 3 radiators and 10 guards over the years had I not always had a bullbar fitted.

[davidgate]

Thanks for all the feedback - I think the evidence is overwhelming!:)

Dave G

[Scallops]

Steel bar for sure. A Defender, at least for us, is the vehicle we go out to see Australia in, and Australia is full of Roos and other "furs" that will cause big frontal damage if you hit one without a bar.

A stock ARB bar, by itself, does not require suspension mods. As for the Defender "look" - personally I think a Defender without one looks odd!

And Plastic bull bars are for plastic bulls. ;)

[davidgate]

OK since the FrontRunner bar is no longer available (can be ordered on back order at about $1800, 3 month lead time), the choice comes down to ARB or TJM.

Any opinions? Also if anyone can point me to galleries with pics of both fitted to their Deefer it would be appreciated.:)

Some say the TJM suits the Defender better appearance-wise but the ARB has more features.

Any advice welcome!:)

Dave G

[Benz]

Here's a couple of pics of the arb bar I have mounted to my defender

I like the thick bar that runs across the top.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/members-rides/41315d1323131117-touring-defender-making-dsc_7258.jpg
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/members-rides/41316d1323131168-touring-defender-making-dsc_7260.jpg
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/members-rides/41317d1323131209-touring-defender-making-dsc_7262.jpg

it does stick out a fair way though and i think the TJM one sticks out less

[ThoBar]

Big vote from me for a bull bar - after a T-bone vs a new BMW on Tuesday (not my fault).

Managed to bend the left wing of the bar (ARB Bull bar) back onto the body, but my 130 was (essentially) still drive-able. "Essentially" as I wasn't carrying a spare, and the alloy rim got bent.

Everyone was OK, but the relative damage made me glad I had the bull bar - even if it wasn't the intended purpose.

Anything less, and "Spencer" would have been a mangle.

[Chops]

When I get home on the comp, I have more pics to add to this, but here is a pic of my TJM I've just fitted

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/members-rides/47343d1338204846-chops-his-110-crew-cab-puma-camera-043.jpg

[Sue]

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here.. :(

[Drover]

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here.. :(

Hi Sue,

I used an old style ARB and had the bottom bars removed, just above the head light.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/694.jpg

The issue is only that the driving lights are in line with the bottom bar work. With the new style the bull bar sits to far back and actually hits the head light surrounds.

If I had my time over I would use the TerraFirma winch/tube bar and have it modified by Mulgo to suit.

[PAT303]

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here.. :(

Bars from the UK are easy,I have a winch bumper only,I have hit one roo in 20 years and I don't want the wieght up front,bumper with synthetic rope on the winch. Pat

[isuzurover]

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here.. :(

Grover on here makes custom bullbars for less than ARB charge.

[ThoBar]

Grover on here makes custom bullbars for less than ARB charge.

Speaking of custom bars... does anyone know
1. How strong the Terrafirma bars are - I like them but am a little concerned how close to the body they sit, given how much the ARB one bent
2. Has anyone modified one to add loops to the top? - was it difficult?

T

[malsgoing130]

The long story is that I use to work for a TJM store and sold heaps of ali bars, we also sold heaps to panel beaters as replacement afte animal stikes. I also sold heaps of steal bars to those that knew not to buy rubbish (could never work out why they bought tjm and not arb though??)

Steel bars are around 50kgs with out winch etc and probably will require a spring up grade as the front will drop a bit especially with a winch.

I had an ARB on the front of the 130 typical ARB style very practical and strong and well finished off, the bar must have been a late 90's model. When I bought the new Puma I ordered the ARB bar expecting the new shape and to my horrror got the old shape bar with extended brackets to make it clear the grill. Its a bit strange looking side on. The welding is poor and so is the powder coating- all in all though it is solid and does its job.

FYI most bars these days are made in Thailand with some comming out of China- or mine looks as though it was welded up in Burundi:p

thats my say
Cheers
Mal

[PAT303]

I've never seen the point of big bars,some are made of 5mm plate and weigh a ton but all are bolted to chassis made of 2mm sheet,Jap chassis aren't even box section. Pat

[Jeff]

I have steel bars on both my Land Rovers. I travel interstate at night a lot and was worried about being stranded after hitting an animal and damaging a radiator or having no lights. We have only had one hit and it was a wombat that luckily went under without hitting the wheels. We have had plenty of near misses though and I don't regret getting the Defender bar (the D2 came with one).

Jeff

:rocket:

[Tombie]

FYI most bars these days are made in Thailand with some comming out of China- or mine looks as though it was welded up in Burundi:p

thats my say
Cheers
Mal

Oh really ;) And the source of your statement is?

Most = Who????


Pretty broad, misinformed statement....

[Tombie]

Speaking of custom bars... does anyone know
1. How strong the Terrafirma bars are - I like them but am a little concerned how close to the body they sit, given how much the ARB one bent
2. Has anyone modified one to add loops to the top? - was it difficult?

T

Best suggestion is to look at the Terra Firma and similar ilk products as this:

A Winch Mount with minor protective properties...

They may prevent radiator damage, but the rest will be stuffed :cool:

Your quarter panels WILL end up damaged and dented from branches, sticks etc... Just wheeling along...

And in a Roo strike all the panel area above the tube will be smashed...

Either way - you'll be in the repair shop...

With a proper bar - you will often just keep on keeping on :D

[JDNSW]

...... As for the Defender "look" - personally I think a Defender without one looks odd!

...

Not surprising - probably 90+% of Series and Defenders (and most other real four wheel drives) in Australia have bullbars.

John

[Bournie]

Another one for steel bars.

Hit a roo @ 100+ in my Puma with ARB bar. Only damage was plastic lens cover on an IPF light and the globe.

[Blknight.aus]

I've got the Frontrunner one:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/655.jpg



In hindsight, I would have gone for one of the Terrafirma tubular one such as this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I've seen an incident where that style of bar cleaned up a large animal the animal came up past the side fo the radiator panel, crushed back the wing, tore the radiator frame back with it and introduced the fan to the radiator.

[ThoBar]

I've seen an incident where that style of bar cleaned up a large animal the animal came up past the side fo the radiator panel, crushed back the wing, tore the radiator frame back with it and introduced the fan to the radiator.

Hence my query re : adding the loops.. I know of one car with this done, but am not sure if it was for cosmetic purposes only.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[isuzurover]

I've got the Frontrunner one:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/655.jpg



In hindsight, I would have gone for one of the Terrafirma tubular one such as this:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Those 2 bars are probably the least likely to hold up to an animal (roo/cow) strike. I would NEVER fit either, personally....

[PAT303]

Anyone who thinks having a big bar will save you is living in La La land,I've personally been to two accidents with cattle being hit and both vehicles had ARB super dooper bars and both folded back into the bonnet stopping the vehicle,a third one had the roo bounce back in front and go under the wheels sending it into the bush where it rolled over.Driving to the conditions is a better bet. Pat

[JDNSW]

Anyone who thinks having a big bar will save you is living in La La land,I've personally been to two accidents with cattle being hit and both vehicles had ARB super dooper bars and both folded back into the bonnet stopping the vehicle,a third one had the roo bounce back in front and go under the wheels sending it into the bush where it rolled over.Driving to the conditions is a better bet. Pat

Nothing will provide 100% protection, but a decent bar will certainly protect you from most animal impacts, although not cows or horses. And certainly you need to drive to conditions, but this is never going to protect you from all animals, especially kangaroos. These travel fast, and very often attempt to cross in front of you, even in daylight, so unless the country is very open they may not be seen until you hit them. Driving at, say, 40kph wherever there is bush right up the road is hardly practical, and in any case would not prevent all collisions - and even at that speed could disble a Defender with no bar.

Domestic animals such as cows and horses are far more predictable, fortunately, since a bar will do little to help. But they are also far less likely to be on the road.

John

[BigBlueOne]

Has anyone got a Opposite Lock X-Rox bar fitted to their Defender? I like the look of them and was going to get the light guards for the front which would make it look good. Thoughts appreciated.

[modman]

I think arb bars compliment the defender style wise
That is what I have. It is a multi use tool on the front for stopping Roos mounting a winch or opening stubbies.
I like the look of the tube bars terrafirna/xerox (both knock offs) but would only put it ona comp truck
Grover's bars seem to suit the defender and can be used on svx models
I would go down the Grover path in a heart beat if I had a need and $ (still less than arbcost)
Tjm bars have never looked as complimentary as arb bars IMO.
Dc

[PAT303]

Nothing will provide 100% protection, but a decent bar will certainly protect you from most animal impacts, although not cows or horses. And certainly you need to drive to conditions, but this is never going to protect you from all animals, especially kangaroos. These travel fast, and very often attempt to cross in front of you, even in daylight, so unless the country is very open they may not be seen until you hit them. Driving at, say, 40kph wherever there is bush right up the road is hardly practical, and in any case would not prevent all collisions - and even at that speed could disble a Defender with no bar.

Domestic animals such as cows and horses are far more predictable, fortunately, since a bar will do little to help. But they are also far less likely to be on the road.

John

We've lived in rural/outback Oz for 15 years and I've replaced one blinker on the L322 and one mirror on our VW in all that time.Big bars,lift kits,big tyres,roof racks,twin tyre carriers etc etc Blah Blah just makes the vehicle slower to stop,harder to turn and more likely to roll over,I'll go for stability and stopping distance over protection anyday. Pat

[JDNSW]

We've lived in rural/outback Oz for 15 years and I've replaced one blinker on the L322 and one mirror on our VW in all that time.Big bars,lift kits,big tyres,roof racks,twin tyre carriers etc etc Blah Blah just makes the vehicle slower to stop,harder to turn and more likely to roll over,I'll go for stability and stopping distance over protection anyday. Pat

On an L322 I would agree with you - but I would point out this is in the Defender forum! And I would also agree with you on everything else except frontal protection. And anyone who is getting a Defender has already compromised on stability and stopping distance anyway; and so, for that matter has anyone getting a Rangerover!

I doubt that a front bar has a significant impact on either stopping distance or stability on a Defender, certainly less than operating at maximum load compared to driver only, which is inevitable in a vehicle with a high proportion of disposable load like this. It is, after all, a commercial vehicle and must be driven as such.

John

[Sue]

Grover on here makes custom bullbars for less than ARB charge.

Grover?.. I'll have to look him up!

Thanks for all the advice guys (and that's everyone that replied), I'll be looking into all of them! I really appreciate it! :)

[carlschmid2002]

I bought the Terrafirma style bar from Mulgo. I think it suits the 90 perfectly. I was going to get the ARB but I saved about $400 and I think it looks a little front heavy on the 90. Mine doesn't offer too much protection for the lights but it makes a good jacking point, and it is very good mount for winch and lights etc.

[JayBoRover]

I was recently looking into the bull-bar options for my new D90. I quite like the look of the Terrafirma tubular bar and was eying one up pretty closely. Then I looked at the bull-bar on my GU ute and realised that most of the protection it offers is on the rounded tube sections at the ends. Ie the parts the tubular bar doesn't have. Most of the scrapes have been from gates and trees. I haven't hit any 'roos (well, only on the motorbike with no bull-bar option!) or any other large animals. I have used it for clambering on for access into the engine bay and also for climbing onto things, using the bull-bar like a ladder. Both functions the Terrafirma would be left lacking. So I ordered an ARB winch-bar and am on the waiting list for their next production run. Hopefully should have it in a couple of weeks.

[camo1221]

Here's a link to a recent post from Grover. I think I'll go down this avenue when i'm ready to put a bar on.

Cam

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/verandah/150076-defender-winch-bar.html

[4x4envy]

I agree with the fitting of a steel bar, I have hit several roos with a steel bar on the front of a 96 D1, no damage at all, the hit was at about 90k's. I also don't trust alloy bars, like the other comments I have seen lots of broken ones at the wreckers.

[malsgoing130]

Oh really ;) And the source of your statement is?

Most = Who????


Pretty broad, misinformed statement....

well lets see, ARB have bars made in Thailand, MMC=china, TJM- Thailand and china depending on the bar, most "manufactures" have off shore suppliers depending on the product volume. There are some such as ECB, Out Bck and a few others that are produced in Oz.

It has been like this for approx 5 years or so, but as always I stand to be corrected. The overseas gear in most cases is quite good though and some very good.

It is a great shame to see an Australian invention (bumper replacement bull bar ) mad off shore.

Cheers
Mal

[Loubrey]

As with all add ons to the Defender, this will remain personal opinion.

In Africa I fitted bullbars and steering guards (Old style Front Runner) and after a number of game strikes the Defender had nothing worse that a lightly damaged wing (impala head and horns...).

In the UK my Defenders all had tubular bumpers as there is precious little to hit, except for gates and stone walls. Both of which were negated by the protection offered by the tubular arrangements corners.

My current Defender over here in Oz has once again got the Front Runner full bullbar fitted. As written before, it's saved the car from a wheel chock that fell off the back of a road train as well as 3 roo strikes and counting. Admitted they are only the smaller "Euro" type roos, but they happen to be very fast and avoiding them is near on impossible.

[lardy]

If you live in regional Australia then a roo/bullbar is reasonable if you live in the burbs and rarely drive in the country in the early evening then possibly not.
I just had a replacement one fabricated utilising a military spec bumper bar as the foundation see it on the 130 part of the site.
Oh and mine was Australian made in the pilbara for the pilbara


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[schuy1]

Simply put, in the 'burbs an alloy bar or standard bumper, venture outside at night or in the daytime even and a steel bullbar will save your insurance excess from rising from minor dings, and could mean life or death in the remoter parts of Aus. An immobilized 4WD in the outback is not nice when shade temps climb, even in winter! Mine made the difference between the insurance writing off the Deefer and repairing! and that was after a 70kmh hit on a bull!!:eek: and he walked away too!!
So just my 2 threepenny bits worth :D

[lardy]

Well going for a drive even locally (in the scrub) around here at Christmas requires 40 litres of water as a serious consideration whatever else you have that will see you home again is a result (a parachute canopy is useful)perth it ain't!


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[Wal Rat]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I have this bar on my defender and have hit roos and one wombat all have just gone straight under does get a bit hairy no pun intended but only needed re paint as all hit just off center I don't try to avoid if given no option. I also don't want to loss approach angle.

[n plus one]

http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au/product-images/500-tubular-winch-bar-1.jpg.png

I have this bar on my defender and have hit roos and one wombat all have just gone straight under does get a bit hairy no pun intended but only needed re paint as all hit just off center I don't try to avoid if given no option. I also don't want to loss approach angle.

Cool - I've been thinking about getting rid of my ARB to go with one of these bars.

Good to hear they provide a reasonable degree of protection from animal strike.

Would be nice to save some weight and get some approach angle back!

[jakeslouw]

We have various challenges over here in Africa:

- pedestrians
- wild animals
- domesticated animals

Fences in may areas are unknown, and goats and cattle roam freely.

In fact, it's a big no-no to travel after dark if you don't have several hundred watts of lighting up front and to the diagonal sides.

So we use proper bull bars. Because a 450kg Kudu can ruin your day.

Those tubular challenge bars are for the mall cruisers and comp vehicles.

[lardy]

Nice, that's why mine is like a farm gate, going south from here cattle roam the roads, not that I plan on hitting one as a bullock would probably finish me and the defender lol


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[Sith]

Cool - I've been thinking about getting rid of my ARB to go with one of these bars.

Good to here they provide a reasonable degree of protection from animal strike.

Would be nice to save some weight and get some approach angle back!

where/what brand is your tube bar

[n plus one]

where/what brand is your tube bar

I'm guessing you're talking about Wal Rat's bar?

It's from Mulgo (can't remember who make them originally - maybe Rovacraft?)

[Sith]

I'm guessing you're talking about Wal Rat's bar?

It's from Mulgo (can't remember who make them originally - maybe Rovacraft?)

thanks for that , nicest tube bar I have seen :cool:
Mine is an ARB winch bar ... big and heavy :( would love to lose some weight and gain some clearance

[JayBoRover]

thanks for that , nicest tube bar I have seen :cool:
Mine is an ARB winch bar ... big and heavy :( would love to lose some weight and gain some clearance
Hiya Sith,
There's one of those tubular bars on display at Opposite Lock in Jandakot. They do look good.

[Wal Rat]

my bar is made by Terrafirma model number tf001ac also comes as tf001 not air cond. The guard at the front with the holes comes with it,but you need /should fit the swivel recovery points before you mount it takes about 3 hours to remove old bar and mount new one

[pannawonica]

I have a ARB bull bar and it has saved me a quid, to me it is important although who you purchase from is not. I did 13 Roo's in 100k/km with the TD5 Disco:D, no insurance claimed.

[lardy]

Blimey I live just up the road from you, do you actively try and take roo's out or are you just unlucky?
I have only hit one roo ever!


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[Sprint]

Anyone who thinks having a big bar will save you is living in La La land,I've personally been to two accidents with cattle being hit and both vehicles had ARB super dooper bars and both folded back into the bonnet stopping the vehicle,a third one had the roo bounce back in front and go under the wheels sending it into the bush where it rolled over.Driving to the conditions is a better bet. Pat

D22 Navara vs skippy @110: Nissan accessories steel bar. Top of bar pushed back approx 2 inches, skippy went under and scared the hell out of the F250 driver that was right behind me.
D22 Navara vs skippy @110: ARB steel winch bar. No damage apart from a pair of smashed driving lights.
HZJ75 Landcruiser ute vs Skippy @ 140: ARB steel winch bar. Bent numberplate, skippy came tearing out of the scrub, collected the bar under the drivers side headlight, bent the numberplate back to the profile of the bar.
VU Commodore ute vs 2 different roo's @ 110: Tuff Bullbars alloy 2 post aero bar. No damage.

Driving to the conditions is a great theory, but wildlife is a factor that you cant plan for unless you want to stay at home.

As for believing a bar will save me, its better to have one and not need it than to not have one and risk being stranded....

[lardy]

Yeah but what pat is saying is drive to the speed applicable to conditions if you have crap view of the road slow down if your lights are standard land rover defender affairs and appear substandard take that into consideration , the faster you travel the less reaction time you have, I don't mind driving at 90-100 all the super hero's are more than welcome to pass me.
140kmph is pushing it a bit if done at night reaction time has to be reduced.


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[Benz]

yeah I think driving to the conditions is very important.

while I have a big silly bar on the front I still don't want to splatter poor little animals across the front of it... and like pat said a bar doesn't 100% guarantee you will come out unscathed.

even more important is to go back and check what ever you have hit and drag it off the road. roos who may of survived the initial impact but now have broken legs should also be put down. If you cant do that yourself you should get in touch with the local ranger and get them to come out. leaving them there is inhumane.
Have come across roos who have been left to die slowly on the side of the road a number times now and had to deal with it myself.
out of sight out of mind for some people I guess :(

[lardy]

More to that Benz carcasses should be chucked into the scrub because you end up with carrion being attracted to it and makes a fine accessory to your dashboard as they go through the windscreen


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[rrjal]

I'm looking at an ARB deluxe winch bar for my new - one month old - Defender. I want to fit the big Lightforce lights onto it. In my experience they are the best. But ARB say they won't fit. Does anyone have any recommendations for making them for or for any lights that give comparable performance.

[dullbird]

Have a look at fyrlyts

That's what I will be putting on mine when it comes

[spudfan]

Never considered a bull bar before but looking at this photo it might be useful. There we were heading down the main road and we met these.
Tough looking beasts. Then there's the sheep....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/04/189.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/spudfan_2006/media/P7282716_zps4cbd507e.jpg.html)

[uninformed]

I guess most of the current aluminium bull bars are probably weak, but not all bars were made equal ;)

Mal Story of Maxidrive use to make aluminium bull bars for RRC and Land Rovers that were/are quiet strong. With many many kms of testing in true Oz bush and outback, including many roo strikes among other impacts.

I tried finding a pic on the web, but cant. If any one has a pic, post it up.

[AndyG]

I'm looking at an ARB deluxe winch bar for my new - one month old - Defender. I want to fit the big Lightforce lights onto it. In my experience they are the best. But ARB say they won't fit. Does anyone have any recommendations for making them for or for any lights that give comparable performance.


Have a look at my Cibie Super Oscar post as an option, also follow the supplier thread in same.

APT are going to check the big lights will fit their modded bar, no pics yet. Looking seriously at APT, because I can an integrated bar, steering guard, recovery points, and made in Brissie.

Having said that anyone using APT?

Cheers
Andy

[ozrob]

I had the ARB bar fitted to my MY13 110 Defender when I bought the vehicle,
If you live in the country a steel bull bar is a must, I hit three roos last year in my other 4x4 that has a ARB bull bar and there was zero damage.
Last year I counted 14 fresh dead roos on the morning commute to work, so the chance of a roos strike out my way is high.

With the Defender I fitted Terra firma TF018 front springs as the front end started to sag with the standard springs, after I fitted the winch,
the standard springs are a progressive coils spring with small windings at the top and longer windings thus the smaller windings take up the small bumps and the longer windings are for larger bumps and heavier loads, before I changed the front speings the smaller winding coild were fully compressed.