Quintessential or not, the main reason why you know about bullbars is that they offer something that you can't find on most vehicles. Heavy or light, big or small all bullbars offer added protection. Although your vehicle has undergone safety tests and got a rating for it, it definitely wasn't equipped with a bullbar when doing those tests. A bullbar sits at the front grille, protecting the radiator and engine bay components sitting behind it.
But that's not all it does. 4WD bull bars also allow you to add extra functionality to your vehicle. As long as you get one with the right attachment points you'll be able to mount lights, a UHF antenna and a winch in case your 4x4 doesn't come with one. But which bullbar do you go for when there are multiple options?
Types of Bullbars
Single & Triple Hoop
With different styles of bullbars come different designs with the most common ones being single and triple hoop bullbars. A single hoop bullbar has only one hoop of metal tubing going over the front grille. Triple hoop 4x4 bull bars, on the other hand, have two more hoops sitting in front of the headlights. As you'd expect the latter offers better protection but it is also heavier due to the added tubing.
Nudge
A nudge bar is made only for slight nudges or light impacts and it is mainly used to make your 4x4 more aesthetically pleasing. Nudge bars are not mounted to the chassis which makes them easy to install and take off but not as protective.
Bumper
With a bumper bar you can get better protection than both a nudge bar and a stock fender but don't expect too much. Bumper bars are used so that you get a minimal level of frontal protection.
Baja
Despite being similar to a bumper bar a Baja bullbar is nothing like one when it comes to its protection level. Baja bars are reinforced into the chassis which makes them more difficult to remove and install but better at handling frontal impacts. Because of this reinforcement, Baja bars can also be used with high-power winches.
Competition
As the name suggests, competition bullbars are used in off-road competitions. What makes them different from other 4x4 bull bars is that they are made to offer maximum ground clearance with decent protection levels. You can also remove a damaged competition bar quite easily and put a new one which is why they are so popular in off-road competitions.
What to Look For in a Bullbar
Material
What affects the durability and strength of a bullbar is the material it's made of. You have three options here plastic, steel, and aluminium. As you'd expect plastic bullbars are the most affordable but also the least protective since they can break quite easily. But because of that, they are also the lightest which makes them good for fuel efficiency and easy to remove and install.Steel bullbars are quite the opposite since they are the strongest and heaviest bullbars you can get. This makes steel bullbars perfect for heavy-duty winching and driving through the toughest of terrains. But steel bullbars affect fuel consumption quite a bit and can make your 4x4 fuel-hungry. They are also not as durable as you might expect.The middle ground solution here are aluminium bullbars. Why? Because aluminium is a material that is both light and strong. Maybe not as strong as steel but it's close. Aluminium 4WD bull bars are also naturally anti-corrosive which makes them more durable than steel 4WD bull bars especially when exposed to the elements.
Weight
The weight of a bullbar does not only affect fuel consumption. It also affects the way your 4x4 handles on a beaten path. The more weight you have at the front the more difficult it will be for you to steer your vehicle in the right direction.
Compliance
An important factor when you buy bull bars is their compliance with your vehicle's airbags. If the bullbar is not made to work with the airbags it may hinder the work of sensors that trigger them and thus in the case of a collision, they won't go off.
Angle
The angling approach that a bullbar creates once it's on your 4x4 has an effect on your vehicle's turning ability. Especially when driving on hilly terrain, the corner of the bullbar can hit the ground if it sits too low. Make sure the bullbar offers enough ground clearance to protect your vehicle's sides but also to allow you to turn without the bullbar getting in the way.
Accessories
There are different accessories mentioned above that you can put on your bullbar. Amongst the above-mentioned accessories, you can also have recovery points. But no matter what accessories you'll be utilising make sure there is enough space for all of them. When it comes to driving lights you just need to buy bull bars with pre-drilled holes.
