bullbars, side bars what's best?

I like ARB.

I know my rig pic shows an alloy bull bar but it fell victim to a roo and a Rav 4. I now have an ARB unit which, despite finding a couple of roos of it's own, still looks great.

Also get one that will accept a winch. Even if you don't intend fitting one at this stage you may later. Adapting a bar to take a winch is just hard work that you don't need to do.

Duncs

what about airbags - are these okay with them?

Di

I have TJM outback steel bar and steps, they look great and are airbag compatible

http://www.p7offroad.com.au/gallery/d/427-1/PICT0034.jpg

Gday Bill and Di i would be chasing a winch compatible bar either from arb.oppisite lock or tjm not to sure on airbag compatibility but i would rather have a steel one up front.As for side bars buy the bullbar first,side bars are good for trees and steep inclines where the front end of the vehicle usually scrapes on the side of the bank especially when out of shape coming up a hill.Also when you hit a kangaroo most of the time they will bounce down the side of your vehicle side bars are great for protection.Also people who park next to you will think twice before they open their door and hit their door not much competition there.Just make sure the bullbar and side rails are from the same company as the rails are compatible to the bullbar or the connection on the rails will have to be adjusted no drama just more money usually by re-shaping . hopefully one day i can work out how to post my vehicle and pictures.

Hi Di

Consider doing neither, as I did.
Its very easy to increase the weight of car by 100kg (3%) and
increase its wind resistance significantly adding up to around
2-3% increase in fuel use - more if you do driving lights as well.

Roo bars do work - but are somewhat overated , the car has standard
plastic bar, but underneath , spaced 2-3cm away is a complex steel sub bar
(16kg) which acts very effectivily in conjunction with the plastic outer shell.

I go regularly into a heavy roo area, so much so that one hit me one very
windy stormy night while I was parked !
Unfortunately I hit a medium roo with my GU straight on at around 70kmh.
It was killed instantly, but the car suffered only a 5cm split in the outer
plastic bar as it did the job it was designed to do.

I required no repairs whereas an alloy bar certainly would have.

A bigger harder hit would have done more damage and there clearly is a point
that an ARB etc bar would have done better but I feel the trade offs are worth it
particularly after driving a few with bars that make the already front heavy car
into a real understeerer.

Robin Miller

P.S. fitted a winch at net weight gain of 30kg to my standard bar.

Get a CVT Bullbar and side rails from Mt Isa. That is if you want something that works.

Thanks for all the advice.

I just transfered the vehicle license over and it will be a while before we get the bull bars - steel or alloy - $2074.30 for transfer fees - it's daylight robbery to have to pay that much!!

Di