Bullbar dilemma ...

Apparently they are not in production yet ...

Thanks Jackolux, no need for a winch but we have a lot of "roos" here in Kangaroo Island ... :-)

Thanks for the advice!

+1
There are cheaper bars around that look the same from the outside, but a lot of what you are paying for and don't see is the mounting system to tie the bar to the chassis and carry the weight.

I have seen bars that look solid that have cracked the vehicle chassis because they are only bolted straight to the same mounts that held on the factory plastic bumper.

I also saw an almost brand new bull bar that had fallen off up on Cape York. It is a long way from home and a lot of shaking, but the welds that held the bar to the brackets that bolted to the chassis shouldn't have failed so spectacularly.

I bought a factory second TJM bar, it had a few scratches, it has a lot more now. The attachment system runs about 15" back along the chassis, has weak points so it will crumple, yet is built to carry the weight. This bit is what you are paying the extra for.

My old vehicle is 18 years old and spent most of it's life running to, from and around the farm and is still going, having never had an animal strike and still running the factory bumper, so I probably don't need one anyway.

No argument against all that, sorry mate but what has it to do with my post?

Phil

the 'If you are intending to do some serious off road and remote outback travel then get the dearer ones.' bit

What about it? Are you agreeing with or against "then get the dearer ones"?

Reading your post in the last paragraph you basically say don't bother even getting one.

So are you saying that if you get one then get the cheapest one as it was a waste to put one on your farm car? Sorry your point is still not clear to me.

Phil

I have seen good ones, and I have seen cheap ones.

Cheap ones have a tendency to fail because the mounts are rubbish.

The mounts are where the value is.

I bought a good one at a discounted price because I wanted a bar and didn't want it falling off.

My 18 year old ute didn't have one and hasn't hit a roo/cow/horse. It's a bit like not buying insurance because my house has never burnt down.

Do dot points make it easier?

I give up. I think that you are agreeing with my statement.

Why not just say so.

No worries mate

Have a good day.

Phil

I could see from the outset Hoyks agrees with you Phil :)
The +1 sort of straight up says that.

Very good points re the mount strength, even with modern crumple zone needs.
The only thing that concerns me with posts here is it equates quality / strength with higher price !!
This is certainly not always the case, that's for sure.

A lot of poor to mid quality can be disguised in some products, bullbars included.

But a bullbar has mostly visible ways to check quality . . . mostly welded, not bolted on, hoops, good thick well laid welds (no spatter / signs of ground off / sanded off spatter), good strong mounting brackets, thickness of material weight an indicator to some degree, though there are lighter steels now that are as strong as regular mild steel . . . some hoops are larger dia and probably stronger than others, just have a good look or take someone that is a bit of an engineer type and knows a good product when he sees it.

Thanks,
I finally decided for a TJM bar.
Part of my decision is due because TJM has someone here in Kangaroo ISland who can install and this will save me a trip by ferry to Adelaide ... witch is not cheap!

Sounds like good logic to me.
WBS

Thanks for your advise Bob.
I do not spend $2,600 on a Bullbar only because it will make good looking my 4wd ... I'm a Tour operator in Kangaroo Island and I drive many kms some time ad dusk and at night time as well (we do nocturnal tours also ... ).
I agree with you that if you drive slowly and if you are careful you will avoid them but ... In the last few years I did not hit anything because I have also a good set of spot lights .... hence I need a solid bar so I can install my LED lights ...
A bull bar for my vehicles (I have also a patrol) is not an option but a good insurance ...