Accidents have a way of sneaking up on you. One minute you are going for a pleasant drive, and the next a close call. For ute owners who do not use their vehicles simply for town runs, protecting your investment is important.
It is like many things in life. You want to ensure that the right Ford Ranger bull bar can be so much more than a face-lift in the right situation, but in a genuine line of defence.
An effective bull bar ensures that the front of your vehicle is prepared for the unexpected. Whether it be a kangaroo darting across a country road, an errant branch on a bush track, or a driver who has simply failed to notice that they are pulling out in front of you with that fresh tray of fish and crab.
How Bull Bars Protect Your Vehicle
Many people still perceive bull bars as merely a badge of off-road credibility. They may do great things for a ute’s appearance, but the real benefits are reaped when things go wrong.
In a front-end collision, a well-made bull bar can help spread and absorb collision force which reduces the staggering amount of energy transferred to critical components such as the radiator, headlights and intercooler.
That protection can mean the difference between getting broadsided in the middle of nowhere and driving away from a crash. And if you’re miles from the nearest help, that’s no small thing.
With purpose-designed bull bars made for the Ford Ranger, they are purposely shaped and engineered to offer additional protection and keeping the vehicle functional when you really need it.
Why a Model-Specific Bull Bar is Important
Bull bars are manufactured in a variety of designs and sizes and while universal designs may look good, they are seldom of comparable performance to a vehicle-specific version.
A vehicle-specific bull bar for a Ford Ranger is manufactured within the tolerances built into the original design, appropriate dimensions and angles, crumple zones, airflow requirements for the engine and sensor location are all incorporated.
This means, under impact, the airbags will deploy properly and there will be no compromises with your safety systems.
For those who travel on highways, through rural Australia, and at job sites where these circumstances exist, that level of compatibility is what you are looking for. Also, this is not just a lump of steel bolted onto another product, it is a structure that is compatible with and complimentary to the engineering of all the elements of the vehicle.
Balancing Protection with Safety Regulations
Today, bull bars must do more than just protect the driver; they must also design within the main frame of reference for Australian Design Rules (ADR) at a minimum level of consideration for pedestrian safety. Rounded edges, energy-absorbing materials, and airbag compatibility, all part of the ADR system.
When buying for a Ford Ranger, make sure your bull bar is ADR compliant, since it was subject to a range of tests that confirm pedestrian and vehicle safety, carried out experiments and tests to confirm it won’t interfere with your vehicle’s electronics and is straightforward to use with all the extras like winches, spotlights or recovery points.
A quality unit will be integrated well, so it looks like it belongs rather than an afterthought.
Making the Right Choice for Long-Term Protection
The bull bar is an investment and therefore must meet the challenge of years of shining sun, salt, mud and grit. And if it is made from high-grade steel or an alloy and has a powder-coated finish, it should be able take the punishment without skinning its knees from rust or fading.
The design should not make it difficult for you to get under the bonnet and should not block access to serviceable parts – it should not be a fight.
Weight is another consideration that is usually lost in the prose. An adequately engineered bull bar is balanced so it does not overload the suspension or hurt the steering. If not fitted like a ‘holden state vehicle’; it won’t hurt your fuel economy, or handling and will protect your vehicle when the going gets tough.
Final Thoughts
If you care about protecting your car, a good bull bar is an insurance policy. The right bar will blend in with your ute, meet safety requirements, and deal with the rigours of driving in Australia.
While good bull bars are useful if you come across wildlife, if you are working in rough conditions, or just for peace of mind on the highway, obviously the right bull bar is a smart purchase.