Alloy bull bars
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 17:30
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Doodle
Just a simple question to those who have a polished alloy bull bar.
Do your headlights reflect off your polished alloy bull bars resulting in night time driver discomfort? Have others experienced this problem?
I had an alloy bull bar on a Pajero many years ago and reflection from my headlights was a problem at night. I fixed it by wrapping the top of the bar with black tape. I am hoping this was possibly just a design problem with that particular bull bar. I have since had a TJM black steel winch bar on a Disco with no such problems. Now I plan to purchase a new bar for my most recent vehicle, an 06 Grand Cherokee. I don’t want to be burdened by the weight of a steel bar. The wife wants polished alloy. I am going to have to tape or paint the top bar mat black or have bull bar designs addressed this problem in the last 20 years?
Cheers….. Doodle
Reply By: Member - Rob S (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 17:49
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 17:49
Hi Doodle
Depends more on the profile of the Bar and the 4wd.
I have an 80 series cruiser and the alloy bar, it is not visible from the driving position no problems with reflection.
I was in a 03 hilux recently with an alloy bar and you could see the bar from the driving position just masked the visible area and sprayed the section matt Black, stops a little glare.
Even black steel bars will give you some sort of reflection back if visible from the driving position.
Rob
AnswerID:
413039
Follow Up By: Bazooka - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 18:11
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 18:11
Ditto for my Jackaroo integrated alloy bumper/bullbar - designed such that it is not seen from driving position so no reflection problems.
FollowupID:
683076
Reply By: Wilko - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 18:09
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 18:09
Hi Doodle,
Ive got a polished bullbar on my Pajero and its got a rubber black strip to stop the reflecting.
If it was there it would definatly cause discomfort( blind me).
Cheers Wilko
AnswerID:
413041
Reply By: Marrka - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 18:54
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 18:54
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Reply By: Baz&Pud (Tassie) - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:15
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:15
Doodle
We have a 100 series LC with alloy bullbar and the top is seen from the driving position and does reflect a small amount of light, but not back towards the driver and there fore no need for black tape.
BUT my wife says i suffer from domestic deafness and blindness so thats probably why it doesn't worry me.
Cheers
Baz
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413045
Reply By: Wrong Way Jon - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:28
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:28
Hi Doodle,
Owned a 88 Hilux many, many years ago that had a alloy bullbar that annoyed the hell out of me with reflected light. Tried black cloth tape that only broke up with the UV and looked like crap. In the end I painted the back of the bar in Flat Black. Made a huge difference. Even with the spotties on, it don't bother me.
My 80 has a black bar so I don't have that problem
these days.
AnswerID:
413047
Reply By: Member - Oggie (WA) - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:40
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:40
Hi Doodle
I have a Triton at
home with a alloy bar, I fixed the glare issue same as some of the others , Masked out the bar and sprayed a strip of Mat Black above the lights
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413050
Reply By: Member - sdr00y (Beecroft,NSW) - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:55
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 19:55
The best thing to do would be to ask the sales people before you buy. Either find out if it is visible/not visible in the first place, then if it is visible make them spray the visible part matt black before they fit it to your car. Some have factory black tape, paint, rubber already, some don't. You as the consumer have the right to ensure what you pay for is what you want before you buy. You are the one paying the bill, get what you want before parting with the cash.
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Reply By: john&thejayco - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 20:04
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 20:04
G'day Doodle,
Some bull bar companies must be aware of the reflection problem , because years ago we owned a ford falcon that we put a bar on and it was made with a black painted side facing the driver on the back right across the top bar.I have an alloy bar on my prado that doesn't seem to be a problem,so it might depend more on bar design.hope this helps.
Cheers
John.
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Reply By: vk1dx - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 20:23
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 20:23
Simply put Yes but not now.
I spray painted the top and rear parts that I could see from inside with undercoat and then flat black.
No shine now.
Phil
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Reply By: Doodle - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 21:23
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 21:23
I thank everyone for the useful advise. It used to be common to see the back to the bar (top portion) painted mat black but I don’t see it so often now. Going by the repliers, the glare problem still exists but most likely to a much lesser degree. I had in mind that I would probably have to do a mask and paint job, if reflected light was annoying.
Sdr00y’s comment woke me up!
Of course the logical thing is to bring up this matter up with the supplier/manufacturer before purchasing. They may be prepared do a professional job in one form or another to glare proof the visible portion of the bar. Keep the co-pilot happy if it also looked neat.
Cheers….. Doodle
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Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 22:50
Thursday, Apr 15, 2010 at 22:50
TJM has special tape for that problem.
.
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Follow Up By: Doodle - Friday, Apr 16, 2010 at 03:02
Friday, Apr 16, 2010 at 03:02
Thanks Doug - I'll keep that in mind.
Cheers...... Doodle
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Reply By: Member - Tony Z (NSW) - Friday, Apr 16, 2010 at 21:27
Friday, Apr 16, 2010 at 21:27
Hi Doodle
I have a NS Pajero fitted with an ECB big tube alloy bar and there has been no problem with the lights at night BUThaving a problem with the sun reflecting off it especially in summer
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Follow Up By: Doodle - Friday, Apr 16, 2010 at 23:08
Friday, Apr 16, 2010 at 23:08
Hi Tony, now that's an interesting point.
It is the ECB big tube alloy bar which I am leaning toward. I have not experienced glare from a bull bar in daylight, but ECB seem proud of the almost chrome finish to their polished bars. Unfortunately, it is the finish the copilot wants and the Jeep is mainly her personal transport as I travel a lot overseas.
I have had my question answered. Light reflection can be a bit of a problem in more ways than one. No big deal. The bull bar does not have to look fancy when we are on the road.
Thanks to all...... Doodle
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