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Another bull bar/pusher question. Are they all damage multipliers?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by evilcorvette, Oct 11, 2015.

  1. Oct 11, 2015 at 7:49 PM
    #1
    evilcorvette

    evilcorvette [OP] Well-Known Member

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    oderus urungus
    Syracuse NY
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATU-2005-20...fits=Model:Tacoma&hash=item3ab0c32c29&vxp=mtr

    Im looking to add a bull bar for 3 reasons
    1) They look cool
    2) Low speed crash protection. (If I get rear ended and hit the guy in front of me)
    3) Ok, they look cool. (honestly, Im HUGE into function before form, but this is one of those accessories that Ive always wanted, even though I dont have a real need for it. I wont be pushing any cars or cows out of the way)

    Ive shied away from grill guards because of the damage they can do in an accident, and I dont have the 700-1K dollars for a real nice one. Are these bull bars just as bad? If I get hit, Im assuming they will at least absorb some of the damage and possibly keep it off my bumper....worst case scenario, it folds and crushes a part that was already going to get smacked....
     
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    #1
  2. Oct 11, 2015 at 7:53 PM
    #2
    Boone

    Boone Vaginas are rad.

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    Short answer, yes. Lots of people run them but the general consensus is damage multiplier.
     
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  3. Oct 11, 2015 at 8:54 PM
    #3
    Just Dandee

    Just Dandee Well-Known Member

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    Wife bought me one as a gift because I wanted a simple way to mount my Hellas. I did a little modification to get it to sit high and tight to the front bumper as they tend to sit a little low for me. It looks beefy but in reality there is not much weight to it and the two mount points that make mounting easy will also be over leveraged in any type of impact above a light tap.

    Buy it because you like the look! not for any protection other than pushing down some brush- even then I still scraped the front bumper up.
     
  4. Oct 11, 2015 at 9:18 PM
    #4
    Wiggins

    Wiggins Well-Known Member

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    If I was going to buy one, it would be the Avid Off Road one... but I learned my lesson about non-functional brush guards, bull bars, etc... on my first 4x4 and swore them off when I hit a deer and got the full 'damage multiplier' effect. I went Whole Hog on my taco and bought an apex steel plate bumper this time around.
     
  5. Oct 11, 2015 at 10:02 PM
    #5
    TheFang

    TheFang No Big Deal

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    I've got a light bar I'll sell you...
     
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  6. Oct 12, 2015 at 8:50 AM
    #6
    evilcorvette

    evilcorvette [OP] Well-Known Member

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    oderus urungus
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    OK, assuming I now realize that a cosmetic, 'economy' bull bar provides no impact protection, let me ask this about the damage. Suppose I rear end someone at 15 MPH. Without the bar, my entire front bumper is going to take the impact and may transfer impact into the radiator area....wouldnt the bull bar take some of the impact and lessen the transfer? I know the bull bar may wipe out my bumper.....but without the bull bar, wouldnt all the impact go straight to the bumper anyways? I understand how a brush guard could inadvertently take out headlights and a hood, but Im not seeing where a bull bar will cause more damage.

    I really like the cosmetics of the bull bar and Im leaning towards buying one. I just want to be fully informed...
     
  7. Oct 12, 2015 at 9:17 AM
    #7
    ace96

    ace96 Well-Known Member

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    When you take the hit. The bull bar is not going to absorb anything. It is going to be pushed into the front of the truck creating more damage. So instead of the hitting the rear bumper flush, you have this bull bar sticking out there made of thin tubing that will be forced into the front of your truck. If you want something to help with impact but similiar to a bull bar get the Avid light bar like in my avatar. The Avid is fabricated and heavy built unlike mass produced bull bars.
     
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  8. Oct 12, 2015 at 9:46 AM
    #8
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    Here's a similar question. Not trying to hijack evil, but the answer could be valuable to future readers in general.

    I'm assuming the bumper cover (pretty part we see) covers some crush panels or something of that nature, that is installed over an actual bumper. Most actual bumpers I've seen mount with some absorbing fixture, one that might be 'shock like' in action, or self sacrificing in nature. Something that low speed accidents damage, but prevent from getting into other things.

    Somewhere in that arrangement is airbag sensors. They detonate based on some pre determined level of action.

    Now, when you put a bull bar in place, it might offer a bit of tap protection, but I agree, after that, it's a damage multiplier.

    But what about the armor stuff? The full replacement rigs? Everyone raves about killing deer with no damage, and that's ok. But these things have to be frame mounted, right? So an accident of significance, at speed.......... won't it actually run the risk of being a multiplier as well, because you've lost your first level crush zone? And what about airbags? If the sensors are left in place, will the bumper prevent the engineered deployment?

    I'm not being critical of anything here. I'm just asking more of an 'engineering' question. And since I've never installed one, I don't know if there are some installation secrets I'm missing out on that keep certain OE features in place.

    I mean people complain about being rear ended with a frame mounted hitch installed damaging the frame. Seems like the same problem would happen up front?
     
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  9. Oct 12, 2015 at 9:50 AM
    #9
    Steves104x4

    Steves104x4 Well-Known Member

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    BUCKLE UP! It makes it harder for Aliens to pull you out of your Truck.
    If you hit something so hard that it multiplies the damage, I especially think you're better off with it. Other than a bitch to keep looking good (and mine doesn't) I have not been unhappy that it's there. IMO go for it.
     
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  10. Oct 12, 2015 at 9:54 AM
    #10
    Adventurer_Alex

    Adventurer_Alex Generic mall crawler

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    +1 for Avid. His bull bars are incredibly well built, theyre just as solid as his bumpers and sliders. He built and installed my rear bumper and sliders and welded on my frame plates.
     
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  11. Oct 12, 2015 at 9:56 AM
    #11
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    -----------------------------------------
    you say they look cool, fine.

    they look like crap to those who know that they are just cosmetic

    if you want a roo bar (which is what those attempt to be) they need to be able to handle knocking
    a deer on it's ass at 50mph and not geeter your truck

    those won't do that job, they are simply cosmetic, fake, roo bars
     
  12. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:02 AM
    #12
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    Had one on my 2010, slipped on ice pulling in my street. Maybe hit the parked car going 7 MPH. Completely crushed into the bumper, pushing up the grill damaging the hood. Broke tabs on the headlights, and damaged the radiator. Without that piece of shit on my truck, probably just a front bumper.
     
  13. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:06 AM
    #13
    GREENBIRD56

    GREENBIRD56 Well-Known Member

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    If you want to see a "fully functional" bull bar - take a look at what they use on the Aussie "Utes". I had a company "truck" I drove over there for several months - and the "roo-bars" were very capable. Braced so as to knock down a good sized animal with being deflected into the lights and bodywork. To get the strength - without putting the nose of the vehicle right on the ground - they use large section "aluminium" tubing and structural sections.
    The dumb roos seem to have the same coloring and habits as a mule deer - and will hit you just as hard - right out of the bar ditch in a heartbeat.
     
  14. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:08 AM
    #14
    Steves104x4

    Steves104x4 Well-Known Member

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    BUCKLE UP! It makes it harder for Aliens to pull you out of your Truck.
    Straight on hit....ok. If they get hit from the side.... I think you're f'd.
     
  15. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:15 AM
    #15
    rottenpixies

    rottenpixies Well-Known Member

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    Did insurance give you problems due to the bar causing worse damage?>
     
  16. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:17 AM
    #16
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    No not at all luckily. Had a Grillcraft grill too, and they bought all the stuff to do a new one. Which I thought was sweet
     
  17. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:21 AM
    #17
    Old School

    Old School You are ignoring covfefe by this member.

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    Read this thread, It'll give you a good idea of the protection a plate bumper will give you!

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/plate-bumpers-after-impact-with-pics.379600/
     
  18. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:23 AM
    #18
    Unchained 5150

    Unchained 5150 Rick

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    This will be on mine soon when I win the free DeMello bumper. Right @JDEMELLO

    Tacomacollage_zpsczs3fkvz_950e9a6b2e42dd62ae04186f92ee9dd47c7398ac.jpg
     
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  19. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:41 AM
    #19
    diverdale

    diverdale #sosconceptscrew

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    I had one of those Westin piece of shit bull bars on my old frontier. I thought since it attached to the frame with 1/4" steel brackets it would be fairly strong...so I decided to try to pull a small shrub out of the ground with it...attached the rope and backed up...the bar bent 40 degrees forward with very little throttle applied. I can only imagine how easily they would bend into the grill/rad in a collision. Needless to say, I removed it and did not get a replacement...until now..I have my Taco :yes:
     
  20. Oct 12, 2015 at 10:50 AM
    #20
    Warputer

    Warputer Dirt Road Inspector

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    I had one.....I liked it.....a big ass buck came along & didn't like it though. Now I have the ARB bumper.

     

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