Off-Road Accessories for SUVs: Bull Bars and Protective Gear

Every car owner wants to know how to protect their vehicle from mechanical damage. The question is especially relevant for owners of SUVs with various levels of off-road capability, and the more expensive the model, the more you want to protect it. The most common solution is to install metal protective frames on the front and rear of the vehicle, known as "bull bars" or "roo bars." The name gives away where the idea came from: Australia. This kind of protection was developed because kangaroos cause a great many accidents on Australian roads. A full protective kit typically includes a rear bar, a front bar, and additional side steps. With this kind of gear fitted, you can worry less about damaging the vehicle off-road. A well-made, professionally installed front bar protects the front end not only from stones thrown up by the wheels and from branches and snags, but also from impact in a collision. The side steps protect the sides of the vehicle and make getting in and out easier. A rear bar protects the back of the vehicle from mechanical damage. Some rear bars even include a carrier for a spare wheel, which is very handy in case of a flat. But bull bars aren't just about protection. They are also a styling element. Good, sturdy bull bars give an SUV an aggressive look, and their quality depends on the metal used and the finish. Powder coatings are usually used for this. The main advantage of powder coating is that it is a modern, waste-free, and environmentally friendly way of producing decorative and protective polymer finishes. Polymer powder is applied to the surface of the part, which is then heated to a specific temperature for several minutes to cure it. A wide range of colors and textures is used to style the bars. This naturally raises the price, but the surface can be gold or silver, or imitate bronze, silver, or copper tones in an "antique" finish. Bull bars are durable and strong thanks to special manufacturing processes that give them high chemical resistance and good mechanical properties. The elastic, highly adhesive polymer layer provides impact resistance, excellent corrosion protection, and electrical insulation, as well as resistance to acids, alkalis, and organic solvents. The coating is 30 to 250 microns (about 0.001 to 0.01 in) thick. Such bars are fitted to many kinds of vehicles, from compact cars to full-size SUVs. They certainly transform a vehicle's appearance and can improve its protection. A small city car fitted with one can start to look like a miniature SUV. This kind of accessory package is also widely used on SUVs and crossovers such as the Nissan Patrol, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Nissan X-Trail, and Kia Sportage. Kits include bull bars, side steps, and various trim pieces made of polished stainless steel. This look suits the restrained styling of these vehicles well, while also doing its job: protecting the vehicle from mechanical damage. For maximum reliability, the bars are mounted to the structural members of the body. That way, in an impact the body doesn't deform; only the tubes can bend, and how well they hold up also depends largely on their wall thickness. The best-known makers of stainless steel bull bars are German companies such as Delta 4x4, Excentric, Cobra, Antec, and Schiessler. Tubing diameters of 48, 60, and 80 mm (1.9, 2.4, and 3.1 in) are the most common. Delta 4x4 stands out with an original design using 101 mm (4 in) tubing. Cobra offers a good balance of price and quality, with a wide range of bars that is updated regularly as new vehicle models come out.