Thread: P38a factory bullbar

Originally Posted by willem

G'day guys,

I am wanting to put a bullbar on my 99 P38a. I like the Hard Range bar but I can't justify the expense. So I'm looking at alternatives.

One alternative is the factory bullbar/ brushbar. There is not a lot of comment on the site about that bar and how suitable it is for general use. The question is, is it going to be up to fending off a kangaroo, or is it just bunnies that it can cope with?

I've also seen the posts about using a modified D2 bullbar That looks interesting but is a fair bit of work.

Any comments/ experiences would be appreciated.

Willem

The factory bullbar wouldnt fend off much, they are designed to be pedestrian friendly, and not much else. They are a rubber covered thin metal tube held on with 2 bolts at the bottom of the bumper. The rubber splits easily, and from what i have seen, they sell for too much 2nd hand because the alternative is also expensive.


(saying that, i may have one for sale next week if you are still interested)

Andy

I have a factory fitted bar (the full wrap around one).
Ive been driving 20+ years offroad, always had bullbars, but never ever really needed one. Yes, it looks cool, it looks like you mean business, and it sets you apart from the crowd who never ever go bush, but really one should question the need for a bar.

In any case, the factory (yes thin walled rubber coated one), I be;ieve is good enough.


Ok, hands up. Who has been saved by their roo/bull bar?

Originally Posted by karlz

Ok, hands up. Who has been saved by their roo/bull bar?

Well, one morning we left Madura Pass on the Nullarbor in my 89 RRC, heading towards Norseman. I was raining and there were a lot of roos on the road (The section of the Eyre Highway from Madura to Norseman is the worst for kangaroos, and also for eagles who come to eat the dead roos left by cars and trucks.) and as we came round a bend a group of three or four roos crossed the road just in front of us. A bit of hard braking meant I avoided hitting the last one, but only just. The bullbar on the front of the Rangie would have saved us from significant damage if we had hit it.

But I have hit roos several times in cars without bullbars, and the cars have sustained fairly serious damage, which the presence of a bullbar would have minimised. There is enough evidence of dead kangaroos along country roads to show that these are not isolated incidences.

A bullbar is like a seatbelt - a safety device you hope you never have to use but its great if its there when you need it. Its also a handy place to mount driving lights, antennaes, winches, etc.

Willem

Originally Posted by willem

W
A bullbar is like a seatbelt - a safety device you hope you never have to use but its great if its there when you need it. Its also a handy place to mount driving lights, antennaes, winches, etc.

Willem

Fair enough.

G'day guys,

I ended up buying a Hard Range low profile bullbar off eBay, and I will be fitting it today. I am happy with that!

Willem

Bugger - I didn't see that .

Swap you for a proper nudge bar?

Originally Posted by Scouse

Bugger - I didn't see that .

Swap you for a proper nudge bar?

Too late! Its all properly fitted and ready to go!

But anyway, nah, I'll leave the 'proper' nudge bar to you! I'm happy with this one!

Willem

Interesting statistics.

OE Rangie bumper bar weighed 18 kilos.
Hard Range Bullbar - low profile for P38 weighed 25 kgs
Smartbar plastic bullbar for a Nissan GU Patrol weighed 35 kgs

All were weighed on a set of bathroom scales so they might not be 100% accurate, but it does give a good comparison. There is just 7kg weight increase to go to the Hard Range bullbar.

BTW, I did not end up using the Smartbar, but I am impressed with it. A good sturdy bullbar that if one were made for a P38 I would use with confidence.

Also, I've got a good Smartbar bullbar for a Nissan Patrol GU going cheap!

Willem