13
Jul
When most Toyota Land Cruiser owners start thinking about modifying their prised possessions, the bull bar is generally the first major accessory they install. Whether you plan on touring Australia or just venturing off the beaten trail, bull bars are the most important pieces of protective accessories you can get. But with so many different types of bull bars available, getting the one that suits your Land Cruiser best can be quite difficult. Here’s what you need to know in order to make the right choice.
Before I get into the specifics of bull bars, what is a bull bar? Simply put, it’s a large piece of metal that’s specifically designed to protect the front of your Land Cruiser from collision that can damage the engine and its parts. Bull bars are generally used by people who long-distance tour to protect against ‘roo strikes, or those who frequently go off-road to protect their vehicle from upcoming debris, rocks, etc. You’ll also find some models of the Toyota Land Cruiser bull bar called winch bars, which are bull bars that can take a winch. Nowadays, most bull bars are winch bars, but there are some aluminium bull bars that come without a winch and are by definition bull bars. Stock bull bars are also just bull bars.
The first thing you need to decide on is what material the Toyota Land Cruiser bull bar should be made of. Bull bars are typically made of either steel, aluminium or plastic. Each has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Steel is considered the king of bull bar materials, and for all the right reasons. It’s incredibly strong, making it capable of withstanding animal strikes without taking serious damage. This makes steel bull bars ideal for those driving on rural highways in what’s considered peak ‘roo time. These bull bars require little to no maintenance. All you have to do is wash them occasionally. Further, they’re easy to repair and typically cheaper than aluminium bull bars. On the downside, they’re the heaviest type of bull bars, weighting roughly about 30% more than aluminium bull bars.
Aluminium bull bars are also quite strong, but not as strong as their steel counterparts. However, they weigh considerably less, making them the go-to choice for those who want to heavily modify their vehicles down the road, as it keeps their vehicle’s overall weight down. Aluminium bull bars are typically polished, which keeps them looking nice and clean.
And lastly, there are plastic bull bars. Those are generally installed to improve the appearance of your Land Cruiser rather than protect it in the great Australian off-roads. They’re the lightest addition, and are generally designed to lessen the impact on pedestrians.
A lot of it will come down to the looks. It’s important to choose a bull bar that improves how your Land Cruiser looks. However, it’s also important to choose one made from quality materials, and that’s made with perfect bends and welds. If possible, inspect the bull bar before buying it. If it feels thin and the welds don’t look good, skip it and choose another one.
Most bull bars come with high-lift jack points, but it’s best to talk to the manufacturer if you don’t see them on the specification sheet. Sometimes, they may be hard to notice. Different manufacturers use different pads, and they’re generally found near the front face of the bar, at the bottom. These jack points will provide a stable area to lift your vehicle using a high-lift jack should you ever get stuck.
Tow points are one of the best features you can have on the bull bar. Having them means the bull bar has been tested by a third-party engineering firm. If they are on the bull bar, it’s a great plus. So, if you’re choosing between two bull bars and one of them features rated tow points while the other doesn’t, go for the one with the rated tow points.
Speaking of testing, bull bars need to be ADR compliant in order to be considered road-legal in Australia. The standards relate to the shape and form, and the bull bar’s ability to absorb impacts. The bar shouldn’t block the headlights, the bars should be forward-facing, and so should the sharp edges and protrusions. Moreover, the airbags should still be able to deploy. Most of the ADR compliance requirements are focused on pedestrian safety. In other words, if you hit a person with the bull bar, you want them to go on your bonnet rather than under your vehicle, so you don’t run them over.
Australian bull bar manufacturers are unlikely to manufacture a bull bar that’s not ADR compliant. Bull bars from overseas, such as those from China or America, however, aren’t designed with the same specifications as ours. Buying a bull bar that’s not compliant endangers people and puts your life at risk at the same time, as your airbags might not deploy in case of an impact.
