Hi all, planning our trip around oz and not sure if we need a bull bar . A friend says its a must but still undecided . Whats your thoughts ? Forgot to say for a Triton.
-- Edited by The Expats on Sunday 28th of January 2018 06:10:48 PM
mezza56 said
06:48 PM Jan 28, 2018
Wouldn't be without one Expat , great in the shopping centre !!! had one on all our 4WD's for last 40 years and haven't hit a thing . Good accessory mate , but if weights an issue keep an eye on the grand total . On our ranger it nearly got us to the line as we had a heavy van and kayaks , plus all the goodies you accumulate .
hako said
07:20 PM Jan 28, 2018
Unless you plan on travelling around sun-up or sun-down you will most probably never encounter a roo so why fit one.
They also increase your vehicles weight and fuel consumption due to spoiling the vehicles aerodynamics. Also cost a bit in $$$ and probably detract from the vehicles resale value.
Not sure what the positives are - handy to hang towels on to dry I guess.
Good Luck.
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:11 PM Jan 28, 2018
Fit one when the insurance company gives you a discount for doing so.
..............won't happen..............
Cheers,
Peter
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:56 PM Jan 28, 2018
Hi David, back in the 80s we had a Subaru Leone 4WD. We hit a big roo late one night at low speed (we had seen heaps on the road) between Kimba & Port Augusta & were lucky enough to escape reasonably unscathed. I fitted an Aunger Flexi-bar & didn't see another roo, so they "work"!
As Hako says, if you drive between say 7am to 6pm, you should be ok, although I hit one a year ago during rain in mid morning on a country road. My car came with the bar, in future I'd consider one of the plastic ones due to the weight saving & fit (if necessary) a LED bar because the adjustments are easier. But they cost a lot more.
Pros - they do provide one of the better places to mount a UHF aerial.
- it is also a good place to place tools when you're working on the car. I forgot I left a screwdriver on mine one day - found it when I got back home after driving some 20kms around Townsville!
- provide an easy point to mount a grass seed barrier when driving through long grass. Nth Qld national parks aren't as well maintained as others in the country.
rockylizard said
10:28 PM Jan 28, 2018
Gday...
I agree that if not usually travelling between 6pm and 6am then a bull bar just may not be that necessary.
But ya never know ... I hit an emu north of Aramac a couple of years ago at 2.30pm in the afternoon .... emu certainly did not come off as well as the bull bar.
No damage to the bar or the vehicle though. If you are in outback, then roos etc are always around even during the day.
And a bull bar is certainly good insurance in city traffic ... slow speed prangs barely affect the bullbar
cheers - John
Possum3 said
10:41 PM Jan 28, 2018
Depends a lot on where and when you are driving - Narrow bush roads in the mountains an absolute necessity - Note NSW Ambulance have them fitted in rural areas. As warren said ideal for mounting Grasshopper screens during infestations, Rarely seen in modern times - the old hessian water bag (tomato sauce lid top) I still put one on for paddock/fencing work keeps water cool.
Dougwe said
10:50 PM Jan 28, 2018
I have a bull bar fitted to the Collie and wouldn't leave home without it. I am one of those that like to leave just before daybreak so heaps of things around that could appear out of nowhere. I also have 'roo stoppers' fitted to the sides of the bull bar. Yep, I reckon they work as I have seen roos look up as I approach and off they go in the bush etc.
I'm sure it has nothing to do with high power rifle fitted the the bar either.
Desert Dweller said
05:35 AM Jan 29, 2018
We wouldn't leave home without one either. We do all of our traveling in daylight hours but have had lots of close calls with wildlife.
Coming to & from QLD - VIC last year via outback QLD & NSW we had at least a dozen close calls. We travel on around 90kph.
The numbers of Kangaroos, feral goats/pigs & in particular Emus on the Mitchell Hwy/Kidman Way between Barcaldine & Cobar was amazing.
The Emus in particular have no road sense at all.
We nearly cleaned up a Bustard that appeared out of nowhere from up a sloping roadside embankment & stood proudly in the middle of the road as well.
The brakes on the van are working well. Pass me my BROWN trousers darling!
Our advise is get a bull bar, you it may get you out of trouble one day.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Monday 29th of January 2018 06:56:14 AM
Thanks for all the comments, next step is which one. Let the shopping begin.
Cupie said
10:10 AM Jan 29, 2018
My bull bar came in handy when I rear ended a Nissan Micro.
I bent one side of the bar & broke an indicator cover. I could have straightened the bar with a chain onto a strong post but the insurance company insisted on replacing it.
Poor old Micro was a sad sight as they loaded it onto the flatbed.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 29th of January 2018 10:10:41 AM
Dickodownunder said
10:36 AM Jan 29, 2018
If you use your vehicle as a Toorak Tractor then you probably wont get much benefit from having a bull bar. If youre using your vehicle in the country and remote areas then one day, somewhere, the bar will go a long way to saving you some grief.
Last roo I hit was between Kimba and Cleve at 3.30 in the arvo. Very slight damage to the bar and no Damage to the vehicle. Without the bar it would have been LH front mudguard, LH front light assembly, Bonnet and standard front bumper bar and worse than that, possible damage to LH front door as well. One of my employees hit a roo north of Cummins at 8.30 am in a company Ute without a bull bar. This vehicle was the only vehicle that I unwisely decided not to fit a bar (I call this pennypinching)
As a result the entire front of the vehicle was damaged including radiator and belts and pump on the engine.
It was off the road for near on five weeks and I had to hire a vehicle to complete work obligations.
If a bull bar saves you from inconvenience with getting repairs done in remote country areas and allows you to have repairs done in major centres then this is a big plus.
I generally fit alloy bars mainly for the weight saving but I hate polishing them.
I have had a couple of steel bars over time but I am really not a bush basher anymore so the alloy is fine.
I have never had a plastic bar so can not comment.
In my opinion the perfect bull bar would be alloy and powder coated to suit car if you are concerned with cosmetics.
I personally have never been game to run the extra cost of powder coating past the minister for finances and housework.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 29th of January 2018 10:43:17 AM
Possum3 said
10:42 AM Jan 29, 2018
Go for Steel buy and get fitted by specialist like ARB to ensure Air bag deployment is not compromised - Steel can be repaired whereas alloy will need replacement after any strike. www.arb.com.au/
Dickodownunder said
10:48 AM Jan 29, 2018
Possum3 wrote:
Go for Steel buy and get fitted by specialist like ARB to ensure Air bag deployment is not compromised - Steel can be repaired whereas alloy will need replacement after any strike. www.arb.com.au/
Unless you dont have insurance then either bar is covered in the event of an accident provided the bar is stated on the insurance policy.
Dickodownunder said
10:58 AM Jan 29, 2018
The Expats wrote:
Thanks for all the comments, next step is which one. Let the shopping begin.
As Possum 3 said above, make sure your supplier is reputable and can ensure that safety is not compromised.
I personally use TJM because of their location to me and a friendship with the franchisee.
Aus-Kiwi said
11:03 AM Jan 29, 2018
I alwYs thought some where making up for other inefficient things ? But having been hit by kangaroo last year . The bar was just pulled back into place and new spot lights . With out the bar it would possibly have been front panel damage including radiator . This on motorhome .
dogbox said
05:11 PM Jan 29, 2018
the bull bar could mean the difference between being stuck out in the middle of nowhere or being able to keep driving if you are in the unfortunate circumstances of hitting some wildlife
msg said
05:28 PM Jan 29, 2018
Have travelled extensively in outback QLD, done the big lap and also down the centre. Wildlife are out and about all day and night. Emus are getting to be a big problem in south west QLD.
I don't have a bull bar.
I have hit two kangaroos. One when I was visiting my home town (outback) where up to the age of 40 had never seen a roo (it was in an 80k zone). and home in ACT where they are a real menace on the roads. One even hopped up my driveway. For a while I thought they were out to get me, I had only just missed one on the road in the traffic the day before.
As for fitting a bull bar? Not essential but might save some grief. Make sure you get the right one. They can interfere with the operation of air bags.
RustyD said
05:51 PM Jan 29, 2018
Hit a big fat white feathered bird yesterday in the Ranger. Has broken my grille. Was doing about 100kph. First bird I've ever hit that broke something. The bang was enormous.
Hylife said
09:50 PM Jan 29, 2018
I would say 'don't go for steel'. They are old tech, heavy and they rust.
The new alloy bars are stronger than steel and are very light, lighter than body work. If you were to weigh your vehicle pre and post fitment your car will be lighter after an alloy bar is fitted.
PLEASE, don't ever watch someone fit a bullbar to your car. The amount of body work that is cut OFF the front of your car with an electric jigsaw is terribly disturbing to most folks.
Don't expect a bullbar to NOT be damaged in an accident or large animal strike. It is most likely going to be seriously bent up in an accident/cow/camel strike, and probably just minor bent in a big roo or emu strike, but that is NOT why you get a bulbar.
The reason for a fitting a bullbar is that your car will remain relatively unscathed, will remain up on the roadway and not out of control off the road, and will still be drivable after an animal strike, with most damage just to the bulbar and perhaps some cosmetic damage to things like headlights and the bonnet. Without a bulbar, if you hit a good sized roo or emu, your first worry is IF you can keep your vehicle from crashing off the road. Then, you will need to call a tow truck, assuming you have mobile reception, because it is unlikely to be drivable, and that can be VERY expensive when you are out back, like up to a $1,000 per 100km expensive!
If a towie has to travel 250km to come get you then expect a $5,000 bill which your accident insurance is unlikely to cover. Insurance will however cover your bullbar. Then if you have a caravan in tow over 7 meters in length, the towie is not legally allowed to pop your car up on the flatbed and the van on his towball, so now you either leave your van on the side of the road or pay for TWO tow trucks at $5,000 a piece.
The biggest voice against bullbars is from stupid pedestrians (sorry but my safety is more important than theirs) or from those that never drive outback or have never hit an animal. First time you ever bounce off a 2 meter tall western grey or emu, at 100kph and you have a bullbar, you realise their value.
And, your car will have far better front angle clearance with a bulbar.
rockylizard said
10:17 PM Jan 29, 2018
Gday...
All comes down to personal choice, what ya want to achieve and how much the appearance of ya vehicle might be.
There is lots of info/advice on Google ... most are pretty much the same ...
I went with Smart Bar , polyethelene, on cruiser in May 2017. Weight was around half of steel, vibration is zero compared with steel ARB. NSW ambulances run this brand. They are now owned by ARB. Polishing alloy ones is a filthy task and their powdercoat is a seriously rough finish, hence hard to keep clean imho.
Smart bar material is the same as poly tanks which have been around for a long time now. cheers Craig
rockylizard said
10:14 PM Jan 30, 2018
Craig1 wrote:
SNIP~~~ vibration is zero compared with steel ARB.~~~SNIP
cheers Craig
Gday...
Do you mean a steel ARB bullbar like this?
Interesting. I have not heard anyone mention/complain about vibration before. I certainly haven't experienced any vibration.
cheers - John
Hey Jim said
10:30 PM Jan 30, 2018
I have been a 2am to daylight driver all 44 years of long distance travel with a boat in tow. I would not ever do it without both a Steel Bull Bar and Side rails. Roo's are so unpredicktable.
Since the advent of ARB. I have had them on all my vehicles. My 1981 Toyota Hi Lux ute had the works. Bull bar and rails plus their pack rack fitted to the canopy.
The reason for a fitting a bullbar is that your car will remain relatively unscathed, will remain up on the roadway and not out of control off the road, and will still be drivable after an animal strike, with most damage just to the bulbar and perhaps some cosmetic damage to things like headlights and the bonnet.
Without a bulbar, if you hit a good sized roo or emu, your first worry is IF you can keep your vehicle from crashing off the road. Then, you will need to call a tow truck, assuming you have mobile reception, because it is unlikely to be drivable, and that can be VERY expensive when you are out back, like up to a $1,000 per 100km expensive!
===============
Hi
This argument puzzles me Why does a bull bar magically stop the car going out of control compared to a standard bumper bar. Just fancifull thinking IMHO. The bar shown on the avatar is so high (approach angle) it would cause an animal to go under it, and then be more out of control.
People with bull bars expect that paying a lot of money to a backyard boilermaker will be better than a product designed by the factory ?? Hmmmm .
Lighter than the standard unit ???
Sucked in by the advertising hype is my take on the "bars". I have hit two animals over the years. Just had to have the light fixed and a bit of panel work. Never been out of control, off the road or undrivable. But I try to drive to the conditions and do not try and push my luck with my driving times or the circumstances. If you drive along and there are dead 'roos every 50 meters perhaps a modest speed and the passenger looking out too is wise, rather than charging on at 100 with the music up full.
Jaahn
Possum3 said
09:43 AM Jan 31, 2018
Jaahn; ARB and TJM (the above mentioned brands) are NOT backyard boilermakers ; Both companies employ senior design engineers, I am also familiar with Old Man Emu (OME) that came into prominence by re-engineering suspension systems (in Australia) for Baja Desert Race in California - Their systems modified mainly Japanese manufactured vehicles to be able to withstand very rugged country that were vastly different to the imagined conditions of vehicle designers concept as they had never imagined any thing worse than a potholed road in Tokyo.
As I stated in an earlier post -Depends a lot on where and when you are driving - Narrow bush roads in the mountains an absolute necessity to have Bullbars fitted, particularly if travel is necessary during dawn and dusk. You are correct in that animal strikes are directed down or to the side - Large kangaroos, cattle and particularly hoses will kill occupants if they come through the windscreen.
One normally doesn't have dead roos every 50 meters except on Highways where trucks are running through the night.
A couple of Nomads travelling between the hours of 10.00am til 4.00pm is far different to those that live or work in the bush - most of whom started driving motorbikes, tractors, trucks and cars from age 5 on rural properties.
rockylizard said
09:45 AM Jan 31, 2018
Gday...
Obviously, each of us have had differing experiences in probably everything - including encountering wildlife on the roads.
I have had the misfortune to have hit roos and emus at varying times over the years - but then again I spend a lot of time on bush roads and in the bush.
I have hit animals in vehicles with and without a bullbar fitted. I doubt I have ever hit a roo when travelling at 100kph - because I rarely travel at that speed in isolated bush roads. Sensibility suggests if roos around etc then 80kph is good enuff.
I agree, I have been able to drive home on a couple of occasions when I have hit an animal in a vehicle without a bullbar. But the vehicle was off the road for some time getting fixed.
I hit a wombat once in a Hilux 4x4. I didn't drive home that time. Having a bullbar fitted didn't help either - it went straight under and bent the left front wheel back sufficiently that I had to get the fourby towed out behind a towtruck.
No matter what experiences or otherwise that have been encountered, it is fairly well documented that the fitment of a bullbar for those who travel regularly in isolated bush roads, or in the bush, and/or between the hours of 6pm and 6am a bullbar is excellent insurance. One's home very rarely burns down ... but the vast majority of us have insurance against that event. One could suggest that fire insurance on the home is money wasted?
Cheers - John
Dickodownunder said
11:37 AM Jan 31, 2018
Some good points John..
Dickodownunder said
11:44 AM Jan 31, 2018
Unfortunately our Aussie wildlife is very unpredictable.
I used to cart out of Lake Tandau to Adelaide with a road train and I would always be loaded at around sunset.
The trip into Broken Hill was the worst stint and you were guaranteed to hit a few Roos every trip.
The silliest one I came across was one that jumped into the space between the dolly and the second trailer and tore the mudguard clean off the dolly. What made him jump in there no one knows..
deverall11 said
02:06 PM Jan 31, 2018
Bull bar is a bit like insurance. Why pay for insurance I never need it.
Why install a bull bar I will never hit anything UNTIL it happens.
Great accessory for shopping centre car parks when some tool reverses into you
an either denies it or takes off without leaving details.
Larry
Hi all, planning our trip around oz and not sure if we need a bull bar . A friend says its a must but still undecided . Whats your thoughts ? Forgot to say for a Triton.
-- Edited by The Expats on Sunday 28th of January 2018 06:10:48 PM
Wouldn't be without one Expat , great in the shopping centre !!! had one on all our 4WD's for last 40 years and haven't hit a thing . Good accessory mate , but if weights an issue keep an eye on the grand total . On our ranger it nearly got us to the line as we had a heavy van and kayaks , plus all the goodies you accumulate .
They also increase your vehicles weight and fuel consumption due to spoiling the vehicles aerodynamics. Also cost a bit in $$$ and probably detract from the vehicles resale value.
Not sure what the positives are - handy to hang towels on to dry I guess.
Good Luck.
..............won't happen..............
Cheers,
Peter
As Hako says, if you drive between say 7am to 6pm, you should be ok, although I hit one a year ago during rain in mid morning on a country road. My car came with the bar, in future I'd consider one of the plastic ones due to the weight saving & fit (if necessary) a LED bar because the adjustments are easier. But they cost a lot more.
Pros - they do provide one of the better places to mount a UHF aerial.
- it is also a good place to place tools when you're working on the car. I forgot I left a screwdriver on mine one day - found it when I got back home after driving some 20kms around Townsville!
- provide an easy point to mount a grass seed barrier when driving through long grass. Nth Qld national parks aren't as well maintained as others in the country.
Gday...
I agree that if not usually travelling between 6pm and 6am then a bull bar just may not be that necessary.
But ya never know ... I hit an emu north of Aramac a couple of years ago at 2.30pm in the afternoon .... emu certainly did not come off as well as the bull bar.
No damage to the bar or the vehicle though. If you are in outback, then roos etc are always around even during the day.
And a bull bar is certainly good insurance in city traffic ... slow speed prangs barely affect the bullbar
cheers - John
I have a bull bar fitted to the Collie and wouldn't leave home without it. I am one of those that like to leave just before daybreak so heaps of things around that could appear out of nowhere. I also have 'roo stoppers' fitted to the sides of the bull bar.
Yep, I reckon they work as I have seen roos look up as I approach and off they go in the bush etc.
I'm sure it has nothing to do with high power rifle fitted the the bar either.
We wouldn't leave home without one either. We do all of our traveling in daylight hours but have had lots of close calls with wildlife.
Coming to & from QLD - VIC last year via outback QLD & NSW we had at least a dozen close calls. We travel on around 90kph.
The numbers of Kangaroos, feral goats/pigs & in particular Emus on the Mitchell Hwy/Kidman Way between Barcaldine & Cobar was amazing.
The Emus in particular have no road sense at all.
We nearly cleaned up a Bustard that appeared out of nowhere from up a sloping roadside embankment & stood proudly in the middle of the road as well.
The brakes on the van are working well. Pass me my BROWN trousers darling!
Our advise is get a bull bar, you it may get you out of trouble one day.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Monday 29th of January 2018 06:56:14 AM
My bull bar came in handy when I rear ended a Nissan Micro.
I bent one side of the bar & broke an indicator cover. I could have straightened the bar with a chain onto a strong post but the insurance company insisted on replacing it.
Poor old Micro was a sad sight as they loaded it onto the flatbed.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 29th of January 2018 10:10:41 AM
If you use your vehicle as a Toorak Tractor then you probably wont get much benefit from having a bull bar.
If youre using your vehicle in the country and remote areas then one day, somewhere, the bar will go a long way to saving you some grief.
Last roo I hit was between Kimba and Cleve at 3.30 in the arvo.
Very slight damage to the bar and no Damage to the vehicle.
Without the bar it would have been LH front mudguard, LH front light assembly, Bonnet and standard front bumper bar and worse than that, possible damage to LH front door as well.
One of my employees hit a roo north of Cummins at 8.30 am in a company Ute without a bull bar. This vehicle was the only vehicle that I unwisely decided not to fit a bar (I call this pennypinching)
As a result the entire front of the vehicle was damaged including radiator and belts and pump on the engine.
It was off the road for near on five weeks and I had to hire a vehicle to complete work obligations.
If a bull bar saves you from inconvenience with getting repairs done in remote country areas and allows you to have repairs done in major centres then this is a big plus.
I generally fit alloy bars mainly for the weight saving but I hate polishing them.
I have had a couple of steel bars over time but I am really not a bush basher anymore so the alloy is fine.
I have never had a plastic bar so can not comment.
In my opinion the perfect bull bar would be alloy and powder coated to suit car if you are concerned with cosmetics.
I personally have never been game to run the extra cost of powder coating past the minister for finances and housework.
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 29th of January 2018 10:43:17 AM
Unless you dont have insurance then either bar is covered in the event of an accident provided the bar is stated on the insurance policy.
As Possum 3 said above, make sure your supplier is reputable and can ensure that safety is not compromised.
I personally use TJM because of their location to me and a friendship with the franchisee.
I don't have a bull bar.
I have hit two kangaroos. One when I was visiting my home town (outback) where up to the age of 40 had never seen a roo (it was in an 80k zone). and home in ACT where they are a real menace on the roads. One even hopped up my driveway. For a while I thought they were out to get me, I had only just missed one on the road in the traffic the day before.
As for fitting a bull bar? Not essential but might save some grief. Make sure you get the right one. They can interfere with the operation of air bags.
I would say 'don't go for steel'. They are old tech, heavy and they rust.
The new alloy bars are stronger than steel and are very light, lighter than body work. If you were to weigh your vehicle pre and post fitment your car will be lighter after an alloy bar is fitted.
PLEASE, don't ever watch someone fit a bullbar to your car. The amount of body work that is cut OFF the front of your car with an electric jigsaw is terribly disturbing to most folks.
Don't expect a bullbar to NOT be damaged in an accident or large animal strike.
It is most likely going to be seriously bent up in an accident/cow/camel strike, and probably just minor bent in a big roo or emu strike, but that is NOT why you get a bulbar.
The reason for a fitting a bullbar is that your car will remain relatively unscathed, will remain up on the roadway and not out of control off the road, and will still be drivable after an animal strike, with most damage just to the bulbar and perhaps some cosmetic damage to things like headlights and the bonnet.
Without a bulbar, if you hit a good sized roo or emu, your first worry is IF you can keep your vehicle from crashing off the road. Then, you will need to call a tow truck, assuming you have mobile reception, because it is unlikely to be drivable, and that can be VERY expensive when you are out back, like up to a $1,000 per 100km expensive!
If a towie has to travel 250km to come get you then expect a $5,000 bill which your accident insurance is unlikely to cover. Insurance will however cover your bullbar. Then if you have a caravan in tow over 7 meters in length, the towie is not legally allowed to pop your car up on the flatbed and the van on his towball, so now you either leave your van on the side of the road or pay for TWO tow trucks at $5,000 a piece.
The biggest voice against bullbars is from stupid pedestrians (sorry but my safety is more important than theirs) or from those that never drive outback or have never hit an animal.
First time you ever bounce off a 2 meter tall western grey or emu, at 100kph and you have a bullbar, you realise their value.
And, your car will have far better front angle clearance with a bulbar.
Gday...
All comes down to personal choice, what ya want to achieve and how much the appearance of ya vehicle might be.
There is lots of info/advice on Google ... most are pretty much the same ...
Here's one
Cheers - John
Smart bar material is the same as poly tanks which have been around for a long time now. cheers Craig
Gday...
Do you mean a steel ARB bullbar like this?
Interesting. I have not heard anyone mention/complain about vibration before. I certainly haven't experienced any vibration.
cheers - John
I have been a 2am to daylight driver all 44 years of long distance travel with a boat in tow. I would not ever do it without both a Steel Bull Bar and Side rails. Roo's are so unpredicktable.
Since the advent of ARB. I have had them on all my vehicles. My 1981 Toyota Hi Lux ute had the works. Bull bar and rails plus their pack rack fitted to the canopy.
Then the Parado.
Today it the same. with the 200TTD.
Jim
Hi
This argument puzzles me
Why does a bull bar magically stop the car going out of control compared to a standard bumper bar. Just fancifull thinking IMHO. The bar shown on the avatar is so high (approach angle) it would cause an animal to go under it, and then be more out of control.
People with bull bars expect that paying a lot of money to a backyard boilermaker will be better than a product designed by the factory ?? Hmmmm .
Lighter than the standard unit ???
Sucked in by the advertising hype is my take on the "bars".
I have hit two animals over the years. Just had to have the light fixed and a bit of panel work. Never been out of control, off the road or undrivable. But I try to drive to the conditions and do not try and push my luck with my driving times or the circumstances. If you drive along and there are dead 'roos every 50 meters perhaps a modest speed and the passenger looking out too is wise, rather than charging on at 100 with the music up full.
Jaahn
As I stated in an earlier post -Depends a lot on where and when you are driving - Narrow bush roads in the mountains an absolute necessity to have Bullbars fitted, particularly if travel is necessary during dawn and dusk. You are correct in that animal strikes are directed down or to the side - Large kangaroos, cattle and particularly hoses will kill occupants if they come through the windscreen.
One normally doesn't have dead roos every 50 meters except on Highways where trucks are running through the night.
A couple of Nomads travelling between the hours of 10.00am til 4.00pm is far different to those that live or work in the bush - most of whom started driving motorbikes, tractors, trucks and cars from age 5 on rural properties.
Gday...
Obviously, each of us have had differing experiences in probably everything - including encountering wildlife on the roads.
I have had the misfortune to have hit roos and emus at varying times over the years - but then again I spend a lot of time on bush roads and in the bush.
I have hit animals in vehicles with and without a bullbar fitted. I doubt I have ever hit a roo when travelling at 100kph - because I rarely travel at that speed in isolated bush roads. Sensibility suggests if roos around etc then 80kph is good enuff.
I agree, I have been able to drive home on a couple of occasions when I have hit an animal in a vehicle without a bullbar. But the vehicle was off the road for some time getting fixed.
I hit a wombat once
in a Hilux 4x4. I didn't drive home that time. Having a bullbar fitted didn't help either - it went straight under and bent the left front wheel back sufficiently that I had to get the fourby towed out behind a towtruck.
No matter what experiences or otherwise that have been encountered, it is fairly well documented that the fitment of a bullbar for those who travel regularly in isolated bush roads, or in the bush, and/or between the hours of 6pm and 6am a bullbar is excellent insurance. One's home very rarely burns down ... but the vast majority of us have insurance against that event. One could suggest that fire insurance on the home is money wasted?
Cheers - John
I used to cart out of Lake Tandau to Adelaide with a road train and I would always be loaded at around sunset.
The trip into Broken Hill was the worst stint and you were guaranteed to hit a few Roos every trip.
The silliest one I came across was one that jumped into the space between the dolly and the second trailer and tore the mudguard clean off the dolly. What made him jump in there no one knows..
Why install a bull bar I will never hit anything UNTIL it happens.
Great accessory for shopping centre car parks when some tool reverses into you
an either denies it or takes off without leaving details.
Larry