4x4 Buying Overview - Bull Bars


For all the avid 4WD lovers out there, you’ll know that there is a massive variety of 4x4 products and accessories available, however none are more popular than the good old fashioned bull bar. While they may look quite similar, there are countless types of bull bars on offer and choosing the ideal bull bar for your needs isn't as straightforward as it appears.

Lots of people make the mistake of trying to save a couple of bucks, so they'll jump on the web and purchase a cheap bull bar and install it on their own. While this may work in some cases, there's many different variables that have to be considered, and this guide will help you understand bull bars in greater depth so you can make the right choice when purchasing your most vital vehicle protection equipment.


Bull Bar Materials

Bull bars are essentially constructed from three types of material: steel, aluminium, and plastic. Steel is the oldest and continues to be the most popular bull bar given its strength and reliability, however aluminium bull bars are getting more attention these days due to its proportionate strength yet significantly lower weight. Despite this, aluminium bull bars are significantly more pricey than steel bull bars, and have lower tensile strength, so the type of landscape you'll be dealing with will make all a significant difference in your decision-making. Plastic bull bars, on the other hand, are mainly used in and around the city where protection is necessary however the impact on pedestrians is drastically reduced.

Aluminium bull bars are lighter in weight, giving your 4WD room to pack more equipment for your trip, however they are higher maintenance due to its shiny finish. They're also more costly than steel bull bars considering that they don't rust (and perfect for the beach), but you'll use less fuel and likely won't need to adjust your front suspension. Conversely, steel bull bars provide the greatest protection against all types of collisions, however you'll have to take into consideration the weight of the bull bar and adjust your vehicles suspension as necessary.

 Bull Bar Styles

When you've determined the best bull bar material for your needs, the next action is to decide on what style is most suitable. There are many styles of bull bars that are suited for different conditions, and bull bar styles will differ from brand to brand and with the type of vehicle. For instance, the famous TJM Hilux bull bar will differ substantially from another brand.

●     Bumper Bar - The most basic type of front-end protection that only protects your stock fender

●     Single Hoop - A fashionable style of bull bar, the single hoop is affixed to the bumper section and hoops over the radiator, offering an impressive balance between weight and front-end protection

●     Triple Hoop - Covering the entire front-end of your vehicle, the triple hoop is highly recommended when driving in areas that are prone to animal strikes. The downside is that this style of bull bar is rather heavy and suspension will need to be adjusted

●     Nudge Bar - Mainly used for cosmetic reasons, the nudge bar is designed for light impacts and is not suited to tolerate any substantial collisions

The most common styles of bull bars are the single hoop and triple hoop given that they deliver greater protection for vital parts of your vehicle, particularly the radiator and cooling system. The single hoop covers the grill and provides protection to the radiator only, while the triple hoop stretches the whole front-end including headlight protection.

Single hoops offer a better visual appeal since it doesn’t completely hide the front of your 4WD, and therefore better suited to light off-road adventuring. If you intend to show off your 4x4, then the single hoop is probably the best choice for you. However, triple hoops offer much better protection against all kinds of collisions, but does hide the front of your vehicle (which can be a good thing in some cases)!

 ADR Compliance

It's critical to note that it's a legal requirement that only bull bars that adhere to the Australian Design Standards are installed on any 4WD vehicle in Australia. This will make certain that the bull bar absorbs the proper impact, won't block headlights, and guarantee that airbags are deployed successfully. Purchasing a non-ADR compliant bull bar will not only put your life in jeopardy, but will also greatly endanger pedestrians. You can check out the compliance plate by viewing the inside of the bull bar, so be sure you do this before making any decisions!

If you're interested in purchasing a bull bar for your 4WD, TJM are one of Australia's most credible 4x4 vehicle protection brands and have a wide-range of ADR compliant bull bars in over 80 locations throughout Australia. To find the TJM store closest to you, visit our store locator.



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