Hit a roo, bent the bar. Now what?

Gidday Roomagnet,
Replace the bar as it may have been structually damaged.
Seeya Locallaw

Alloy or steel? Brand? If TJM or ARB, take it to them and have it inspected. May not be structual. Don't spend $800-1000 if you don't have to!

AS above steel can be fixed .Alloy can be a pain to fix !
Bad news is the roo proberly died after wards from shock.

shadow

A steel bar can probably be straightened quite satisfactorily from a minor bingle like this. An alloy bar is a bit more problematic as it could have cracking or serious stress damage. In either case, I'd suggest getting a good welding/fabrication place to take a look at it, especially one that does aluminium welding & fabrication - they'll know what to look for.

If it's declared 'dead', I'd suggest a Team Poly 'SmartBar' as a replacement. I have no relationship with them (other than buying one a couple of years ago). Have a look at this site. They are light, strong and, even thought I've not tried mine in 'anger', I've had several first-hand reports they 'bounce back' after impacts that would permanently deform metal bars.

Send it to harold scruby telling that wank stain that it saved your families life.

Thanks, folks - even truckster :-) Your suggestions have given me a place to start and some perspective over what to expect. Its an alloy bar, so probably bad news there. Wasn't aware they could suffer so much structural damage, but you live and learn.

Still cheaper than having to fix the car (or worse, ourselves). I guess I'm just thankful that I can view this as just an annoying expense.

We went looking for the roo in the bush, in particular to check for a joey, but no luck.
In recent months, I have managed to avoid ducks and ducklings, magpies, emus, eagles, cockatoos, several stupid cows, lizards, sheep, goats, snakes, etc, etc, etc. Luck had to run out sometime.

You have insurance don't you? Replace the bar. Simple.

Yep it's the cows you really need to look out for! Even with a good bar they can spell disaster.

Personally I don't think you can go past a good steel bar. We hit two roo's in a recent Cape trip with no damage at all excpect for a broken indicator in the bar itself.

buy a steel bar anything else is just for show. I have hit 8 roos and it isnt even a particulary big bar. The work utes have steel bars and we often have to use them to knock down sizable trees (when u bounce off you know it is to thick)

I hope you rang W.I.R.E.S.

Karen

roomagnet
Just to clear up a point you made about the airbag thing. I did hit a roo (read smashed it big time) and was concerned about the airbags (99TD jack with dual bags) anyway after it I made some enquiries and was told that the bags work on sensors that detect a change in inertia, ie shock or movement and I don't know about u but I was doing about 110 and didn't feel a thing.
So in short airbags will take a fair impact to set them off.
Tim

Don't be too pessimistic roomagnet - I carried an alloy bar on the front of the 80 series for 6 years before meeting a roo head on at 90 kmh. It cracked the mount, which the maker of the bar welded and reinforced with another plate for $60. Its good as gold and no $500 excess to pay on a new one claimed on the insurance policy.

Max

Replace your roo bar or don't replace your roo bar - your choice but what I would do is invest in about $5 for those little whistle things you you stick on your car somewhere to scare them away before you hit them. I don't know whether they work or not - I just know I never see roos in my own vehicle (98 Prado with steel bar and whistles) but see them all the time in my work vehicle (2001 100 series also with steel bar & no whistles). Today whilst driving out to Coonana (160km east of Kalgoorlie on the Trans Railway access road) in 100 series saw about 30 roos and went very close to hitting several and last weekend driving out to Ilkurlka on Anne Beadell Hwy for their official opening likewise saw dozens. In 9,000 km through Kimberley & Pilbara from Kalgoorlie in July never saw one in the Prado.

G'Day,I don't know if I'm allowed here because I only have an F100 and 32 ft Viscount van.The Transport companies aren't taking the bars off because they have Shuroo's fitted,it's because the transport coppers are pinching them for being 200 mm overlength if they have a bullbar fitted. The length of the trailers now being 45ft + doesn't leave any room for bars ,lights etc particularly if you have a B-double.I know this from firsthand exp as I have just retired after 42 yrs on the road
in trucks. Now looking forward to many years on the road with the van and Effie

Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photos