Thread: Bullbars: do they work, and are they necessary?

Hi I had a large Roo jump out in front of me while towing my van back from Alice Springs, The Landcruiser I had at the time had a Smart Bar (Plastic Bull Bar) That I fitted after talking to a few locals one night in a pub.

The Toyota and van was doing around 100-120 klm's per hour on a dead streight road and the roo hit the bar on the lhs. The bar flexed enough to come into contact with the front indicator resulting in a small crack in the lense and then went back to its origional shape.

No panel damage and the crack in the lense was not worth worring about I was really impressed and would get another one if they made them for Land Rovers.

Only prob they don't make a winch bar and the uhf ariel needed a earth wire.

Andrew

Originally Posted by Tombie2

Other factors stopped that "CannonBall Run"

I couldn't find your photos from the CannonBall incident. Sounds like it was horrific.

Originally Posted by Tombie2

Mines hit more than I care to remember and its still going...

[snip]

Ditto.

I really have lost count, it would be several score at least and the worst was a big Eastern Grey. (I never want to hit any of the big Wallaroos around here, they are built.
The worst hit was front and centre of a medium sized Eastern Grey at 90km/h and it was HARD. Luckily I hit him when he was at the very bottom of the hop.
No damage to the Defender chassis, wrecked my fancy little number plate sitting above the roller fairlead and dinged the steering damper as it went under the vehicle.
The bar is still fine.

Have hit nearly as many in the GU Patrol ute, but that aluminium bar is useless. I've pulled too many dents out of it, but at least the bodywork is still OK.
The old GQ one was just as bad, had a $4000 roo hit once in it as everything bent back into the grille/guard/etc but we could still continue driving, sans headlight and blnkers on the drivers side.


Bull bars are worth their weight where we live and drive.

Originally Posted by discomarsh

I couldn't find your photos from the CannonBall incident. Sounds like it was horrific.

Incident wasnt, the luck of the trip was horrific

The impact was HAAAAARD... We hit across the entire bar and then over the top... Rear diff collecting the creature on the way over - lifting the rear wheels off the ground...

Skidded to a stop, checked the driveline / steering.

A bit of flesh and blood on the bar, steering bash plate (if it wasnt there the steering would be gone) and diff guards front and rear.

Everything shunted forward inside the cabin/draws/cargo area... Shook the vehicle hard... I've hit plenty before but this was different.

Wasnt the only hit that night either, including the ones that suicide into the side of the vehicle as you go past.. They're just stupid

umm, near hit an animal with my bar but thats probably because rarely drive at night on country roads

front bars are good for winches and ariels.............i only fitted my first of driving light last year as i got them very cheap, bar is handy for these as well

Originally Posted by rick130

Ditto.

I really have lost count, it would be several score at least and the worst was a big Eastern Grey. (I never want to hit any of the big Wallaroos around here, they are built.
The worst hit was front and centre of a medium sized Eastern Grey at 90km/h and it was HARD. Luckily I hit him when he was at the very bottom of the hop.
No damage to the Defender chassis, wrecked my fancy little number plate sitting above the roller fairlead and dinged the steering damper as it went under the vehicle.
The bar is still fine.

Have hit nearly as many in the GU Patrol ute, but that aluminium bar is useless. I've pulled too many dents out of it, but at least the bodywork is still OK.
The old GQ one was just as bad, had a $4000 roo hit once in it as everything bent back into the grille/guard/etc but we could still continue driving, sans headlight and blnkers on the drivers side.


Bull bars are worth their weight where we live and drive.

In the early 60's I belted a wallaroo in a 10 ton truck fitted with one of those old "Mack" steel bars,stopped the truck in it's tracks and the bloody wallaroo hopped away( probably to die later). Me I had a 14 mile walk back into town at 10PM .My advice is if you have a choice between a Wallaroo and a tree take the tree wallaroos are built like brick ****houses.
Cheers,
John.

I've hit a couple of roo's up around Corryong way and the High Country, both in the day and night,,, the bullbars worth its weight in gold,,, only moved the driving lights.

On a snow/ice covered dirt rd, (Omeo Hwy),, slid into the bank at what we considered walking pace,, took out the light, blinker, guard, has made the front panel (that the radiators attatched to) misaligned to the the bonet etc,,
If I'd had the bullbar on then, it'd be perfect still,,, (too bad about the scrub scratches/dents,, )

With any form of country driving, I think a well constructed bullbar is probably the single best investment you can add to your vehicle. Not to mention the fact extra lights, winch and arials etc, just go hand in hand with what we do for pleasure. Theres nothing like going away for a weekend with the peace of mind that you have it all up the front, and if it is needed, you've got a better chance of getting home,,,

Collected a few in the old Patrol. Yet to christen the Rangie.

Have been lucky in the Falcons (sans bull bar) but my sister did hit the worlds biggest rabbit (it was fooking big!) in our current Falcon!