Animal crash protection - A-bar or full bullbar

Hello

First of all let me say that where I live and with my Defender in particular, it is fully legal to have a full metal bullbar or a-bar fitted. My registration even includes a bullbar, so lets not worry about it.


Now on the thread subject, I happen to drive a lot in areas where lots of animals roam in freedom, mostly cattle, goats and a small stout breed of horses called garranos. In the mountains, specially during the latter hours of the day, those furry things have a tendency to jump right to the front of the car, and I had my share of near misses.

Which protection would be better? A full bullbar or an a-bar?
Bull barsweight a ton, are getting expensive and I have some doubts about the way they attach to the bumper.
A-bars look like a much lighter and cheaper alternative, but are they any effective?

Thanks in advance for any help

Try driving slower!

here you go have a look

View topic - Bull Bars on the endagerd list again | Australian 4WD Action

I prefer an A bar soley to protect my radiator. The problem with bullbars is that in an accident they tend to fold down and damage the whole front end of your vehicle even when the accident is just on one front quarter.

A proper bull bar , eg ala ARB winch bull bar , will handle fending off even small cars, and frequent kangaroos (personal experience) . They are bolted with plates surrounding the front of the chassis . The type that just use the bumper mountings and sit ontop of the bumper are ok for nudging a cow along but thats about it . They are not much stronger than an "A" bar , other than slightly protecting the wing fronts when being used as mentioned . Even a bull bar wont come off unscathed if you hit a big cow or horse at speed , even roadtrains dont do that HTSH

A bars are not very strong they're really only there for looks / to hold spots (the bolt on type anyway). You would be better off with either a welded A bar or a proper bull bar, but not one of the flimsy look alike ones. You need something like the expensive ARB or a similar winch bumper. Yes a weld on A bar would be cheaper but no where near as strong.

I guess an A-bar is out of question then...

Would a tubular winch bumper with integrated A-bar/bull bar like the ones from FirstFour be effective?
Thanks

I have one of these:

http://shop.challenger4x4.com/ekmps...r-for-land-rover-defender-with-ac--2092-p.jpg

I'm pretty happy with it seems well built

Will that one work with the LR lamp guards (the hinged ones)?

I am not sure as I don't have any guards but I can have a look and measure the distance from the bumper to the light surround (headlamps if that's what your referring too) if you like and if I remember

Just found this pic elsewhere in the forum and looks like if these are the same guards as yours then they'll fit:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/attachments/f7/19627-tubular-winch-bumper-002.jpg#

Just note that when I was installing this bumper, I needed to cut the aluminium metal beneath the grill so that the winch plate could fit on the vehicle. If you don't have a winch you still need to trim it here. If you have a steering guard also you may need some longer cross bolts than the standard t accommodate the extra couple of Cm thickness.

Mine are this type:

Arierep said:

Mine are this type:

Click to expand...

not much protection there, would work for birds

Thor1950 said:

not much protection there, would work for birds

Click to expand...

We where talking about the compatibility of those lamp guards with the tubular bumper, not about the lamp guards providing any protection from animals...

Arierep said:

We where talking about the compatibility of those lamp guards with the tubular bumper, not about the lamp guards providing any protection from animals...

Click to expand...

ok

If you want a bullbar I may have some heavy or medium gauge steam pipe knocking about in the shed of doom

Dr_evil said:

If you want a bullbar I may have some heavy or medium gauge steam pipe knocking about in the shed of doom

Click to expand...

That would work, made one on a 109 last century , with built in jerrycan holders ! (diesel) and was able to push cars without damage





to the 109 i should clarify

medium is 4mm thick and heavy is 7 I think

I should think it would fit with those by looking at it...

Dr_evil said:

If you want a bullbar I may have some heavy or medium gauge steam pipe knocking about in the shed of doom

Click to expand...

you starting to sound like :5bspam: Hawking all the LZ members with your offer to make stuff for them. There are a few others that are professional , and sponsor a thread or are known for there professional skills. That don't hawk potential sales/customers like you