Friday 9 August 2019

Difference between Nudge Bars and Bull Bars


Toyota Hilux Bullbar 2015

Fitting a nudge bar or bull bar totally depends on your situation but there are many car owners who aren’t well versed with the fundamental difference between these two. If you intend to travel off-road and in areas with high livestock density, it is suggested to use a Bull bar as it offers maximum protection against minor accidents.

What is Nudge Bar?


A nudge bar is constructed in a lightweight polycarbonate or aluminium tubing and designed to provide minimal protection against front-end collisions, bumps and scratches. A nudge bar is generally fitted to small SUVs and sedans. These bars offer a platform to mount some accessories such as CB antennas and driving lights. 

Currently, nudge bars are the lightest form of front-end protection which are available in a wide range of commercial and recreational vehicles. Nudge bars are sometimes not considered as “proper” bull bars because they are not directly secured to the chassis, so there is always a need to either alter the bumper or take it off. 

Are Nudge Bars Effective?


Nudge bars are manufactured using a range of materials like steel and aluminium. They suit a wide range of vehicles from small family sedans to larger 4WD vehicles. The majority of today’s nudge bars add an extra elegance to your vehicle and are fully airbag compatible. So yes, they are effective but mainly for frontal protection but they are not as effective as bull bars.

Bull Bars


The bull bars design has evolved to work more effectively with modern todays advanced airbag systems and their function is now to deflect up and not push under the vehicle. These changes are effectively aimed at increasing the safety of the driver and the car. A Toyota Hilux Bullbar 2015 absorbs the impact while leaving you and your occupants safe.

Bull bars like Toyota Side Steps Hilux are also designed to hold various accessories including spotlights, winches and radio antennas. If you live in the countryside where the risk of hitting an animal is high than it may be worth investing in a steel bar to ensure you have the best possible protection.   

Australia’s motoring landscape is typically characterized by remote roads and large sparsely populated areas that are shared with stray livestock.  In such a case, a bull bar becomes crucial to ensure safety and security of your loved ones.