Thread: Value of bull bars on a D3/4

Depends on how often you hit roos.... I had an ARB Bar on my D1, the last time I had a serious animal strike, 100KM/H impact with a 5ft roo, no damage apart from a broken driving light and I had to re tighten the bar. I have no reason to think my D3 bar is any less effective. I havent hit any roos in the last 5 years so you could say the bar on my D2 was a waste of money.
The biggest benefit of a solid bar is the ability to still drive the vehicle after a serious strike. I used to drive Falcon vans around western NSW for a Govt department. The bars were only alloy and a throwaway after a good hit but I always made it home afterwards. Sitting on the side of the road 200KM from the nearest tow truck isnt much fun....

Regards,
Tote

I hit a roo in my D2 - no b/bar. I was doing 100 kph in northern Vic when it jumped from behind a tree right on the edge of the road then came directly towards me. I hit it just off centre whilst standing on the brakes and down to around 40 kph. The D2 was still driveable but not by much and subsequently off the road for some time being repaired. My D4 bar cost $1600 and I fitted it myself - great insurance!

Well I hit a holden barina and came away without a scratch (just her broken glass).

Hit a wallaby between townsville & charters towers, until yesterday still had some blood on the front ,but no other damage.

Had to push a Tojo 200 out of the way just out of Tully, left a big dent in his rear, nothing on me (shame I didn't hit the wallaby first, it could have been washed off !!). BTW, petrol tojo got a wet ignition in 300mm of water across road. He ask for a pull, but as I had the trailer conected, he only got a push !!

Ashes,

On a recent trip I did with some members of this forum, one member dodged a roo and hit a reasonably substantial gum tree on the side of a steep track (no one else saw the roo as he was tail end Charlie so no one really saw the incident but it make the story better for all involved).

He hit it hard enough to have the front and passenger airbags deploy, bar pushed back into the bonnet a bit and part of the tree feel on the roof. But after a bit of mucking about he was able to complete the trip and drive the 2hrs back to Sydney with nothing more than damaged pride and an interior that smelled a bit like gunpowder.

Without the bar there is no way he was going to be driving out of there. In my opinion the bar saved many thousands, possibly tens of thousands of $ of damage and cost as well as the need the to drag a damaged truck out of the bush etc.

Whilst I do not have a bar it is on the list of desired accessories and if I was planning some long distance touring it would be on the top of my list.

Regards,

George

P.S. The names involved in the above incident have been withheld for fear of reputation risk, theirs, not mine !.

One other factor - is when you drive. IMHO, you're more likely to get a strike if you drive at night, dawn or dusk.

I think a bar also adds to resale value.

Also, I believe that owners with bars are less likely to swerve to avoid animals as they know that they'll win the argument, it's a pyschological thing. I know I've felt that way when staring down a roo at 100km/h. Mind you last time I hit a roo I had a nanosecond's notice as it leaped out of the bush and then into heaven. The 200 I was driving at the time was undamaged...thanks to its bullbar. Just needed a wipe.

I reckon I actually hit a roo once every 2 years, but then it's a few in a row. Plenty of close calls in between times, last one was in a place I've never seen one before so very unexpected.

Took out an emu once. Lots of feathers.

Bars are also great for sand flags, winches and driving lights.

having driven the relo's falcon down the putty road last tuesday night I wasn't game to go over 80km hour in the open areas. no roo bar and lots of wallabys and other wildlife.

not very comfortable.

Hi All,

I wonder whether or not there is a Disco 4 driver with an ARB Steel bar fitted here in Perth.

I would very much like to look over the install and see the thing in the real world rather than glossy snaps.

Pls PM me if there is any one willing for me to look at their bar.

Thanks