Bullbars: Poly/plastic, steel or alloy?

[nbd73]

As an aside to this topic, what are people's attitudes to nudge bars and 'Sahara bars' (the claytons bull bar)?  Improved approach angle protection, can still hang stuff off them, but limited or no protection against the demon roo.

[Jaysea]

I had planned to get the arb steel bar for the new Prado.  I liked the look of the Sahara bar but after discussing with arb they said the weight was not much lighter as they had more steel reinforcement.  And as discussed no real protection from a corner impact.

But as the car is both a daily work commute as well as our travels it a hard balance.  I hadn't even considered the smart bars as the ones I had seen were ugly but the recent colour coded ones are not that bad IMO.

http://www.smartbar.com.au/Products/Products/Toyota#Toyota-2

Now I don't know what to do 

[GeoffA]

..........Now I don't know what to do 

Go with your original plan.

My 2c........

[crackacoldie]

Go with your original plan.

My 2c........

X2

[briann532]

Just picked up our playdo with its new smartbar..................

Damn it looks good..............It seems to fit the front of the car better than most other bars I have seen.
A lot seem to look like bits are tacked on to finish the join between bar and car.
It also finishes a lot better in front of the wheel than most.
(Opinions are like a-#$%&$*% I know, but I'm just offering mine)

I also know -

But I have to go out for dinner tonight.
I'll post some pics after soccer tomorrow............

Cheers
Brian

[markymark]

We put a Smartbar on our 90 series Prado & can't fault it. Have only hit one roo, a medium size at 80km/hr & I couldn't even see where it hit the bar. No damage to vehicle but then our bar isn't as close to the panels as some of the newer Smartbars. The roo didn't die either, it had a broken back so I had to put it down but stands to show they're probably more pedestrian friendly than a steel bar. I don't think the roo would have survived the same hit with my Triton & steel ARB bar.

Mark.

[singo-26]

Personally I prefer steel, too many rooms around here to buy an alloy bar. Having said that I haven't replaced the alloy bar on my wifes prado and it has survived a couple of roo strikes.

[GeeTee]

Just picked up our playdo with its new smartbar..................

Damn it looks good..............It seems to fit the front of the car better than most other bars I have seen.
A lot seem to look like bits are tacked on to finish the join between bar and car.
It also finishes a lot better in front of the wheel than most.
(Opinions are like a-#$%&$*% I know, but I'm just offering mine)

I also know -

But I have to go out for dinner tonight.
I'll post some pics after soccer tomorrow............

Cheers
Brian

so where are these pics?!!

There seems to be some good experiences with the Smartbars. I like the idea of decent protection with lighter weight - especially as with a second battery, winch and proper tyres a Hilux is - just about - illegally overloaded 

[kylarama]

As an aside to this topic, what are people's attitudes to nudge bars

No issue with me.  We live on Melbournes outer, where there are roos and I'm usally on the road when their most active.  My lux has got a steel winch bar and I've hit 2 near home in the last 5 years and 1 many years ago near the Murray.

My partners NM Paj came with nothing, so I've fitted a 2nd hand nudge bar purely to mount driving lights and uhf whip.  She generally not on the roads and dawn/dusk, plus I can't justify the 2K price for a bar, maybe if we did an extended trip I could, but for the moment I'll pay the $400 excess if we do hit one.
She's lived in a worse roo prone area her whole life and is yet to hit one.

[briann532]

so where are these pics?!!

There seems to be some good experiences with the Smartbars. I like the idea of decent protection with lighter weight - especially as with a second battery, winch and proper tyres a Hilux is - just about - illegally overloaded 

got a pic here, http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=29467.0

but I'm more than happy to put it here as well,



Gave the car a tub yesterday and it it does look good............but I am biased 

[GeeTee]

 

[MY0080]

After having an Alloy bar for years, I now want to upgrade to Steel. My Alloy one contacted a boulder very lightly one day. When I got out to inspect it (expecting a little graze), the boulder had cut it like butter.