Thread: Does Bull Bar Offer Same Protection As Bash Plate?

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

2009 D3.

Jonesfam

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Originally Posted by 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

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

Originally Posted by 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

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...

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.