Prado vs Kangaroo

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

I doubt that any of the bull bar manufacturers conduct crash tests to get approval, it wouldn't be viable writing off brand new Prados, Troopies etc. So they just attach the bullbar to the crumple zone. This does change the way energy is transferred in a collision.

Doubt they crash a lot of vehicles to test the bars, but there are ways to assess the performance of them. Here is the Toyota version:

https://youtu.be/YnSZGoRm2Kg?t=146

The timing is around 2:20

If the bar is approved, it must be legally tested.

And TJM bullbar video:

[Desirable4Driving (D4D) Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

Toyota mention occupant safety is incorporated into their bullbar design, this surely has to be a critical point of purchasing a bullbar, because we certainly wouldn't purchase a 3 or 4 star ancap rated vehicle over a 5 star.

TJM do not mention safety...and I presume ARB etc. don't either.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

The aluminium Toyota bull bar crumples at the sight of a roo, let alone a bull. I've seen this first hand. So in effect it increases the crumple zone. A solid steel bull bar does not crumple, it's a rigid structure.

Those two videos support my point. You want the vehicle crumple zone to absorb the crash energy, not the air bag which is like a final bit if Personal Protective Equipment.

I've seen this play out in real life, not something I ever want to see again.

[Desirable4Driving (D4D) Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

The aluminium Toyota bull bar crumples at the sight of a roo, let alone a bull. I've seen this first hand. So in effect it increases the crumple zone. A solid steel bull bar does not crumple, it's a rigid structure.

Those two videos support my point. You want the vehicle crumple zone to absorb the crash energy, not the air bag which is like a final bit if Personal Protective Equipment.

I've seen this play out in real life, not something I ever want to see again.

I was referring to Toyota steel bull bar like the one on the new Hilux, Fortuner, 200 series. The genuine alloy prado bars do look pathetic and weak. Hoping that Toyota would at least give the steel option on the coming facelift Prado. As far as aesthetics go it is hard to go past a TJM or ARB bar.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I was referring to Toyota steel bull bar like the one on the new Hilux, Fortuner, 200 series. The genuine alloy prado bars do look pathetic and weak. Hoping that Toyota would at least give the steel option on the coming facelift Prado. As far as aesthetics go it is hard to go past a TJM or ARB bar.

It's interesting that in the video the guy talks about ensuring Airbag actuation, the crumple zone should do a lot more than that. It would be good if a steel bull bar was part of the vehicle design criteria, but I doubt it.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

With the TJM video, The vehicles hit a stationary 45kg 'roo' at @ 80kph

That would be a pretty typical speed and mass and there is no significant damage to the vehicle or bar.

Our Prado is spent 90% + out of suburbia. The most common issue on the road has been roos and emus. We have also had dingo and wombats in the way.

For what it is worth, if we spent 90% of out Prado time in suburbia, we would find a way of removing the bar and running standard bumper. The bars are not good for pedestrians or other vehicles, probably be restrictions for bars in cities at some time in the future.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

With the TJM video, The vehicles hit a stationary 45kg 'roo' at @ 80kph

That would be a pretty typical speed and mass and there is no significant damage to the vehicle or bar.

Our Prado is spent 90% + out of suburbia. The most common issue on the road has been roos and emus. We have also had dingo and wombats in the way.

For what it is worth, if we spent 90% of out Prado time in suburbia, we would find a way of removing the bar and running standard bumper. The bars are not good for pedestrians or other vehicles, probably be restrictions for bars in cities at some time in the future.

I don't think that there is a right or wrong, it's about making an informed decision. That's similar logic for why I don't have one. I agree about bull bars in suburbia, there are lots of them there for show only.

[Bobcrusader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bobcrusader]

Plenty of 'suburbia' used to be and still is kangaroo territory - we keep building houses on their turf. I'm not far out of Ringwood and see roos all the time. Even saw a deer in Warrandyte a few weeks ago, which someone had hit. Never seen me a wild pedestrian in the middle of the road, though, since most humans are smarter than roos. I'd guess also that most Prado owners also own another car, so rather than a detachable bullbar, I just drive my sensible Golf when venturing into pedestrian territory.

[GEEEXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close GEEEXL]

Bull bar bending 20mm from 'touch' parking? Steel or aluminium bar?

If steel, don't think so, and the steel bars are not the type of steel that would be easy to bend back 20mm by hand with three big blokes.

We have hit several roos, at speed. No significant bend of the bar, no airbag activation. I think you are talking about a far more significant impact than what this thread is about.

Its not that the bar has bent and 3 blokes can straighten the bar ...

where the bar is mounted to the crumple zones - this are moves back it has to for the supplementary safety systems to work

This means the whole bar moves back hence the 3 blokes reefing the bar forward pulls it back away from the car

naturally a few blokes cant bend a steel tube -

interesting that toyota include details like the steel mpa rating - 420 I think ?

do any of the aftermarket brands specify theirs?

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Bull bar bending 20mm from 'touch' parking? Steel or aluminium bar?

If steel, don't think so, and the steel bars are not the type of steel that would be easy to bend back 20mm by hand with three big blokes.

We have hit several roos, at speed. No significant bend of the bar, no airbag activation. I think you are talking about a far more significant impact than what this thread is about.

The bar isn't bent, but it will move back and tilt if you hit anything. It's supposed to and several blokes pull on it at the same time pulls it back.

That's also why there is a large gap on the body cut for installations as it will jiggle around relative to the body mounts.

You don't want to be getting panel beating in a minor bump.


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[toyoman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close toyoman]

I do question roo bars on the 'conventional' vehicle, that really would not be designed for one in any way, but having had bars on all vehicles I've had in hte last say 30 years, may not even be here if not having fitted. I mean Falcons/Commodores, where the front bumper's completely removed to fit, and of course all the SUV's I've had. Over that time I have had 2 airbags go off. I said the first one I never want to experience that again, but it did happen again. Both times I was able to keep driving with minor on-site repair and interior 'modification', to get home and to the repair place some 150km. Both a write off, because of the airbag. Have had others where journey continuation would have been impossible without the bar, sheep, kangaroo, emu and deer. Overall I think 5 write offs, roof frame cave ins, chassis misalignment to name a few results. BUT safety and journey continuation is paramount in the country. I do prefer the units where they are as close to the vehicle body as possible, (where the factory bumper is completely removed), for parking, maneuverability etc come into play, plus the less overhang from the body/chassis mount. Looks mean nothing in these situations, in the real world. Have had Hi-tensile, Alloy as well as Polly. Polly aren't a really practical, idea, OK reasonably effective, but solid proves way best in my experience. Alloy seem to come trumps, unless on a real farm vehicle where one can weld attachments not practical for road/streetwork. Although those trained sufficiently for Alloy welding, can be done. Several times where minor panels are damaged from smaller animals, just keep driving around until the next one and the next, saves the excess charge. I have seen some horrible gut wrenching results out here from collisions without protection.

[bill91817 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bill91817]

haha yep I found out the hard way with my first hilux with no roo bar but was fitted with shuroo - shu-d the roo alright - right into my path!

[clarkie383 Member Find all posts View Profile Close clarkie383]

But you won't be walking home at least.

sorry no patience for white line cowboys with all the gear and no idea

You 2 guys hit the nail on the head.
Drive to conditions and end up with alot less damage.
Any bullbar that allows you to continue on your journey is good.
If it bends its a buggar but if it saves radiator so your not stranded then thats a winner.

[whitey83 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close whitey83]

Hit a big male roo years ago at 80km/h in an old 4Runner, the alloy bullbar took the brunt of the collision. There was no visible damage to the bullbar but the front apron of the car flexed so much that it pushed the radiator back into the fan with the force of the impact. This was enough to puncture the radiator, providing a fun drive home stopping to fill up with water every 15 mins.

The incident gave me a new appreciation of driving near bushland on dusk. Not matter what car you take off road, even with a bull bar it pays to drive with caution.