No love for Bull Bars?

Seems like most of the trucks I see pictured here do not have Bull Bars. What's up with that? How about some Bull Barred Tacoma pics? I've been considering and am interested in my options.

 

J. Beam - you da man!! Thanks for your intervention, this forum needs more of that! jmb

 

Ahhhhhh....... Makes sense. Thanks. If I had not asked I may have wasted money on one.

Thanks for the clean up, btw.

 

good info. Did not know this.

 

I was wanting protection and light mounting options, but not sure that I want the full bumper. I drive 100 miles to and from work every day. Mostly old 2 lane highways through national forest. I leave for work in the dark and get home after dark this time of year. I see a lot of deer every day. Chances are I will hit another one before long.

 

You want a bumper, then. Get one before you have to replace the grill, lights, hood, bumper cover...it'll be more than just the bumper cover that gets smashed. A plate bumper is a good investment in your situation. I have a Buck Stop on my Dodge that has killed a few deer. The Tacoma bumper keeps getting pushed back (pun, I know...) while I do other mods.

 

Do you think it's a good idea to remove the factory tube steps? It's not like my taco is so high I need them on...

 

To a point is correct, Rock. But on a relatively small animal like a deer, you'd have to be on the skinny pedal pretty hard to cross that line. Bending the frame would be the concern, but at that point a stock setup would be destroyed. Now with a full size truck... let's just say I have seen some guys intentionally hit deer in excess of 70 mph in one tons with bumpers. It's pretty dramatic, and maybe a bit appalling - in a kind of humorous way.

 

Factory tube steps are the same, attached to the sheet metal of the cab. You take a good hit to those and they'll bend up into your rockers along with other sheet metal carnage. That's why sliders are attached/welded to the frame.

 

I am not expecting no damage if I hit one. I am looking for damage reduction. It's all about how you hit them anyway. Last one I hit I got him right in the side of the head with the front left corner of my 2004 access cab Tacoma. Hardly a scratch on my truck, or the deer. But the he deer was dead right there without a twitch.

 

Avid light bar works much better than a bulbar. It saved my bumper many times from people who can't park.

 

You got lucky. They often spin down the side of the truck putting dents in all the panels on their way back. Many times breaking glass along the way. A buddy of mine got head butted by one doe he hit in the family's new mini van (he was a new dad at the time). Hitting deer is never a good deal for those involved - you or the deer. Put the odds in your favor.

 

Agreed!

 

I've actually had more deer run into the side of my cars and trucks over the years than I've hit with the front. As you already know correct speed for the conditions, whether that be weather/ road, light, or deer activity, and paying attention is most important.

 

I had one on my 2010. Slid on ice into the rear of a car. Bull Bar crushed right into the bumper, grill, up into the hood. Broke tabs on the headlights and damaged the radiator. This all at about 7-10 MH.

 

I look at the factory tube steps not as protection of the rockers, but protection against door dings. Not an off-road guy, just use my Tacoma for every day commuting. To date, I still remain door ding free.