Bull Bars – Steel VS Alloy
There are a number of questions that you need to ask yourself when deciding which bull bar is right for your 4WD. The first thing that people usually consider is what the bull bar looks like and how good it will look on their rig, but let’s face it there is more to a bull bar than looking good. You should also consider what it is made out of, what it is designed to do and how effectively it will give frontal protection for your 4WD. Let’s take a look at steel and alloy bull bars and the differences between them.
Steel Bull Bars
- Heavy and generally stronger than alloy – generally less damage after a collision to the vehicle than with alloy
- Harder to modify steel but it is worth it as the end result will provide you will a rock solid mount
- More suitable for winches when bars are attached to properly rated mounting points and have the correct brackets
Alloy Bull Bars
- Light and strong (but not quite as tough as steel) – making it more likely to get pushed back to vehicle on a solid hit
- Easy to drill – making fitting custom brackets or accessories a breeze
- Can be highly polished or have a range of tough anodised colour finishes and standard powder coats – this makes touch ups harder but does provide excellent corrosion protection
- If you are looking to fit a winch this is not an ideal option
Ultimately, the bull bar that you choose for your rig will be up to your individual needs and you will need to know where to draw the line in regards to what your actual requirements are. If you’re not sure whether a steel or alloy bull bar would be best for you drop into your local 4WD shop for some expert advice.
Once you’ve got your bull bar sorted don’t forget to kit your rig up with a set of tough Mickey Thompson tyres. You can view our entire range here or give one of our tyre specialists a call on 1300 MICKEY to find out which Mickey best suits your vehicle and 4WDing needs.