Bullbars for Foresters
in [Aussie Drivers]
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From: PhilD on 7 Nov 2009 19:44 "Je�us" <none(a)all.org> wrote in message news:MPG.25607c3ca6d81056989b58(a)news.x-privat.org... > G'day All, > > Been looking around at what is on offer for an 01 Forester - I'd really > prefer a bull bar rather than just a nudge bar - or at least something > that offers protection to the full width of the vehicle - but having > trouble finding one that both looks good and also retains the use of the > fog lights. > > The Subaxtreme bull bar - > http://www.subaxtreme.com.au/subaru/bullbars/forester97.html#heavyduty > does look pretty good though, despite losing the fog lights. > The quoted freight is close to $600, mind you... > > Anyway, just wondering if anyone has seen some better options, or knows > of a place that can custom make one that is both sturdy and compliments > the vehicle, whilst keeping either the fog lights or retains the > original bumper without the bar looking 'agricultural'. > > I was also thinking *maybe* of something vaguely along these lines: > http://tiny.cc/V03rE - in alloy and without the winch mount, obviously. > > > I've found a few other brands out there in my search but one way or the > other, they just don't cut it IMO. > > The vehicle won't see any off-road use but does live on rough, unsealed > roads with no shortage of Roos and wombats, so I really do need some > protection. > > Thanks for any help, cheers. Have you tried http://www.ecb.com.au/model/Forester.htm PhilD
From: PhilD on 7 Nov 2009 20:10 "D Walford" <dwalford(a)internode.on.net> wrote in message news:007f8d5f$0$26900$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... > Atheist Chaplain wrote: >> "D Walford" <dwalford(a)internode.on.net> wrote in message >> news:0305d5eb$0$1307$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... >>> Je�us wrote: >>>> G'day All, >>>> >>>> Been looking around at what is on offer for an 01 Forester - I'd really >>>> prefer a bull bar rather than just a nudge bar - or at least something >>>> that offers protection to the full width of the vehicle - but having >>>> trouble finding one that both looks good and also retains the use of >>>> the fog lights. The Subaxtreme bull bar - >>>> http://www.subaxtreme.com.au/subaru/bullbars/forester97.html#heavyduty >>>> does look pretty good though, despite losing the fog lights. The quoted >>>> freight is close to $600, mind you... >>> >>> Bloody expensive at about $2500.00 delivered, not sure any bullbar is >>> worth it at that price. >>> >>> >>> >>> Daryl >> >> until you hit a roo at minor speed and it still does $4k worth of damage, >> and half of that is just headlights. >> > > That's what insurance is for, if you hit a roo at any speed its and > insurance claim either with or without a bullbar. > A bullbar might make the difference between being stuck in a remote place > or driving away but the best strategy to avoid hitting roos is to avoid > driving at speed at times when you know they will be about, most country > people I speak do exactly that. > No, that's what a bullbar is for. I've always preferred night drives and would continue that way as it has so many advantages. Roo's are an unavoidable hazard of that and get handled accordingly. I've hit a number of them, mainly because the risk of killing myself and others is higher if you try to avoid them. It amazes me to read of accidents where people tried to avoid hitting animals that would have done little damage anyway and ended up with deaths to themselves and/or others. How animals like donkey's/emu's/horse's/cattle/buffs/camels/wild pigs get treated is another thing. The only animal damage I've had so far was from a Dingo that bent a steering rod. It was bent so badly that the steering went from perfect alignment to instant 90 deg out. Not a nice feeling but recoverable. Insurance is no good to you if you're stranded by the side of a lonely road with little prospects of vehicle recovery taking place in reasonable time and cost. Even one that protects just the radiator area may be what allows you to continue on your journey with little delay. PhilD
From: John_H on 7 Nov 2009 20:15 D Walford wrote: >Atheist Chaplain wrote: >> >> until you hit a roo at minor speed and it still does $4k worth of >> damage, and half of that is just headlights. > >That's what insurance is for, if you hit a roo at any speed its and >insurance claim either with or without a bullbar. >A bullbar might make the difference between being stuck in a remote >place or driving away but the best strategy to avoid hitting roos is to >avoid driving at speed at times when you know they will be about, most >country people I speak do exactly that. Modern bull bars are so flimsy (to comply with ADR) they give SFA protection against hitting anything at more than a walking pace. At best they're somewhere to mount driving lamps. Those who're looking for protection against roos, etc, tend to make their own but they risk prematurely triggering the airbags in the event of a minor collision, which is likely to cost far more than the headlamps. The legality is also questionable if there's an insurance claim (or injury to someone else). FWIW I've got an ECB nudge bar on my ute, I bought it for mounting driving lamps. In standard form it wasn't even rigid enough for that (way too much vibration). Because the ute doen't have airbags I've beefed up the mountings considerably, but it almost certainly wouldn't be ADR compliant. It *might* help save the radiator in a low speed full frontal with a roo (which is what stops most from getting home). -- John H
From: D Walford on 7 Nov 2009 20:57 John_H wrote: > FWIW I've got an ECB nudge bar on my ute, I bought it for mounting > driving lamps. I've got a Toyota nudge bar on mine and I got it for the same purpose as you. In standard form it wasn't even rigid enough for that > (way too much vibration). Because the ute doen't have airbags I've > beefed up the mountings considerably, but it almost certainly wouldn't > be ADR compliant. Mine has airbags so I assume because its a Toyota part it does comply. > > It *might* help save the radiator in a low speed full frontal with a > roo (which is what stops most from getting home). > I wouldn't trust mine to save the radiator, I also wouldn't be all that confident that any alloy bar designed to be ADR compliant would save a radiator either, my old Hilux had a Toyota steel bullbar which might give a reasonable amount of protection. Daryl
From: John_H on 7 Nov 2009 22:49
Athol wrote: >John_H <john4721(a)inbox.com> wrote: > >> If you want something that's air bag compliant and provides some >> protection, the moulded plastic variety are likely to be the best way >> to go. > >That was going to be my suggestion, too, except that it doesn't look >like they make a Smart Bar for any Subarus... > >http://www.smartbar.com.au/smartbar_models.shtml Note that Smart Bar also make plastic tanks. There's now a relatively large number of polypropylene tank manufacturers who also market bullbars (many of whom probably don't advertise online)... a word in the right ear might produce the desired result! :) -- John H |