Does Bull Bar Offer Same Protection As Bash Plate?

[Smcconnell]

Hi Gents (and ladies, if there are any),

Do ARB and OL bars protect the car underneath in the same way as a bash plate? In other words, if I get a bull bar, do I still need a bash plate (or does the plate become redundant)?

Steven

[jonesfam]

My ARB steel Bull Bar has a 1/2 bash plate & a large cross beam + a recovery hook.

2009 D3.

Jonesfam

[Stuart02]

Hi Gents (and ladies, if there are any),

Do ARB and OL bars protect the car underneath in the same way as a bash plate? In other words, if I get a bull bar, do I still need a bash plate (or does the plate become redundant)?

Steven

No... bull bars offer protection up to around the front of the sump guard - which is definitely an improvement - but the sump and transmission are where bash plates really come into their own. If you weren't getting a bull bar you'd have the option of/need for bash plates that extend further forward.

Hi Gents (and ladies, if there are any),

Do ARB and OL bars protect the car underneath in the same way as a bash plate? In other words, if I get a bull bar, do I still need a bash plate (or does the plate become redundant)?

Steven

[Smcconnell]

From what I understand, the sump and transmission aren't that vulnerable in a D4 (though this is quite subjective - I realise).

I'm mainly concerned about the radiator, etc - it seems that a bull bar would offer a considerable amount of protection to it in an event of hitting a rock, for example?

Does the ARB bar come with 1/2 bash plate as standard, or is that an option?


Steven

[Stuart02]

From what I understand, the sump and transmission aren't that vulnerable in a D4 (though this is quite subjective - I realise).

I'm mainly concerned about the radiator, etc - it seems that a bull bar would offer a considerable amount of protection to it in an event of hitting a rock, for example?

Does the ARB bar come with 1/2 bash plate as standard, or is that an option?


Steven
Sure - that's a different question. WRT the radiator then yes. And without a guard between the bumper and sump I can tell you the sump guard acts as an impressive mud scoop.

I don't know about relative vulnerability but yes at least the standard sump guard is metal. Also I think the compressor gets relatively more attention as a potential damage point.

Someone (an ARB rep?) will know better than I but I've never seen the lower guard section as an option...

[BobD]

There's no protection plate on an ECB bull bar. I bent my standard thin metal OEM protection plate up into a cooler of some sort, just in front of the cross member, when I first got the car. Gordon made up a special 6 mm alloy protection plate to replace the standard light metal plate. This has been really good and prevented any more issues in that area. I think that ARB have that covered with their bull bars. The front cross member still gets a bit of a pounding occasionally as that is the lowest point at the front of the car.

[Catmatt]

Hi Gents (and ladies, if there are any),

Do ARB and OL bars protect the car underneath in the same way as a bash plate? In other words, if I get a bull bar, do I still need a bash plate (or does the plate become redundant)?

Steven

To answer your question - a bullbar will offer protection for a front or front-quarter impact but a proper bashplate is designed for under-car protection. I have an ECB alloy 'bar and after clouting a large roo dead centre at speed last year, the excellent protection it offered to lights, radiator, bonnet and light bar - I didn't need to think twice and replaced same under insurance.

The OEM bashplates are at best OK but will buckle if you roll over a rock/stump. I've upgraded all bashplates on my D4 including a tailor-made bash plate to protect the compressor and am pretty confident of minimal damage when getting off-road and particularly water crossings where you are not aware what may be under the surface of the creek/mudhole.

The steering arms on my old D2 were vulnerable to damage so I had an ARB steel bar fitted with a lower extension and it worked a treat. Looked good as well as I had it colour coded to the car.

Cheers,