Protection offered by nudge bar

Submitted: Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 14:08

ThreadID: 131301 Views:11815 Replies:19 FollowUps:24

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Bull Bars, Rails & Steps

A vehicle's bull bar, sides steps and rails are known as its "bar work". Some critics might suggest that bar work is not necessary but for people actually using their vehicles for offroad touring,

sam d47

Hi,
I have just bought a new (2015) Holden Colorado and am looking at what protection I should add to the front of the vehicle. Originally I was thinking I would get a bull bar but have been unable to find a style that I like. I bought the Colorado because I really like the look of the front but it seems that most bull bars (including the ones from ARB) pretty much cover the front of the vehicle, hiding the nice car that I bought. The genuine Holden bull bar is styled to show off the front grille (which I like) but I don't like the 'teardrop wings' that go out and around the headlights.
Genuine Holden bull bar
It would be great if I could find something like the genuine Holden one but without the 'wings'. Sort of like the ARB Sahara bar but I don't think they make that for a Colorado?
ARB Sahara Bar
Does anyone know of any bull bars that might suit me?

So I started looking at nudge bars as they don't cover as much of the vehicle as the bull bars. I understand that bull bars offer a lot more than nudge bars but thats not my question here. I am mainly looking at the ECB high loop series 2 nudge bar.
ECB high loop nudge bar

However, I am concerned about how much protection a nudge bar will offer. Is it even worth having one? I do a few outback trips a year and have only hit 2 roos in 30-40 years. Will a nudge bar give me any protection from hitting a roo? I'm not too concerned about cosmetic/headlight damage because insurance will cover it all but I wouldn't want to crack my radiator and be stuck out in the bush. Will a nudge bar at least protect the radiator if I hit a roo and allow me to get back to town? Or will it go straight through that and I would be stranded anyway? If a nudge bar doesn't offer any protection am I better off not wasting my money on one?

Thanks :)

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Reply By: Top End Az - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 14:32

Reply By: Member - Allan L2 - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 14:37

Reply By: Gramps - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 14:47

Reply By: Member - Allan L2 - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 14:54

Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:05

Reply By: Top End Az - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:09

Reply By: Baz - The Landy - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:28

Reply By: Ron N - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:38

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:38

The only time you're likely to hit 'roos, is at dusk and dawn - and at night.
If you don't drive very much at those times, you don't need any 'roo protection.
A nudge bar is a city accessory, designed to stop people backing into your front end and damaging your vehicle.
They offer bugger-all protection against even a modest size 'roo.
If you only do a few outback trips a year and don't drive in the dark, you can survive admirably without any bars.
If you go bush and want to drive at night, you really need a proper 'roo bar.
The 'roo threat comes from narrow, bush-lined roads, little-used roads, and the night hours, when 'roos get on the move.

That ECB mob have some nice full-size bars.
You don't need to go overboard with a decent bar purchase, just a standard alloy bar will provide adequate protection.
What you do need is something that stops a 'roo from going through your radiator, because when that happens, you're stopped in your tracks, and a tilt-tray is the only way on from there.
Current vehicles have very little by way of radiator protection, so you need to invest in some if you want 100% assurance you won't be stranded.

Cheers, Ron.

AnswerID: 594622

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 16:25

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 16:25

My opinion, Ron and others have summed it up pretty well. If you are planning a fair chunk of your travels to involve dawn and dusk country driving in areas known for having a decent 'roo population get a propper 'roo bar.
Just as an aside I hate the term "bull bar" when applied to even the largest 4WD Landcruiser, Patrol, Jeep sized vehicle. A 600 kg or thereabouts bull, or even one of his marginally smaller wives will demolish your so called bull bar, the front of your vehicle and unless you and your passengers aren't terribly lucky,the occupants as well if you collide at anything like country speeds.
If all you need is protection from "nudges" such as you get around town, shopping center car parks and the like, then a nudge bar will suffice.
Our RAV 4 is fitted with one and that's about all I expect it to protect the front from.

Cheers
Pop

FollowupID: 863100

Follow Up By: Ron N - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 17:46

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 17:46

I might add - all the ARB products I have ever purchased (and I've bought a lot, having owned fleets of Hiluxes and Landcruisers, all working through the remote Goldfields areas of W.A.) - were excellent products that were well-thought out, well-built, and they looked good as well.

That ARB Sahara bar is as good as you want for 'roo protection on 4WD's.
The headlight "wings" on bars are really only to try and reduce expensive headlight damage - but in general, if you hit a 'roo on the end of a 'roo bar, it will often damage the headlight, anyway.

The height of the main section of the bar on todays 4WD's generally ensures it hits a 'roo in the main body area - except if you're unlucky enough to hit a 'roo on the up-bounce - whereby a bar isn't going to stop the 'roo from landing on the bonnet, anyway.

Cheers, Ron.

FollowupID: 863112

Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:42

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 15:56

Reply By: The Bantam - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 16:36

Reply By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 17:43

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 17:43

A nudge bar does what it says ... NUDGE !
If you hit square centre both roo and nudge bar will be into your radiator.
Imagine hitting a stationary 20kg bag of cement sitting on a milk crate at 80kph.
If you see a roo coming in you periferal vision try and clout it with either front corner and send it sprawling.
I live just north of Coffs Harbour and there are thousands of them.
If you attempt to miss them with the front of your vehicle they keep on coming at full tilt and they can't stop and run into the door.

Living is a journey,it depends on where you go !
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 17:52

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 17:52

Pinko, my brother used to own a HX Holden Statesman - and the back corner of our farm at Wandering, W.A., could be accessed from the Albany Hwy, via an old logging track - so we used to use that track as a short cut to the Hwy.

One day, he was puttering along the track with the Statesman, with his wife and 3 boys on board - and his drivers window down - when his wife screamed, "LOOK OUT!!"

He turned to see a huge 'roo boring down on him, at full speed, aiming for his door and open window!!
He recoiled in shock, expecting to collect a 'roo through the window - when that big ole hopper just took a mighty leap and sailed right over the roof of the Statesman! - without touching it - and carried on without breaking his stride! LOL

Cheers, Ron.

FollowupID: 863113

Follow Up By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 18:01

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 18:01

Ron
The roo might have heard the lady yell "LOOK OUT" and jumped that little extra ?

Living is a journey,it depends on where you go !
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 18:44

Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 18:44

I don't know! - but it sure was a performance worth seeing, apparently!
You see videos of 'roos hopping over obstructions, and they can pull off amazing jumps, with what appears to be little extra effort.

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Reply By: Slow one - Friday, Jan 08, 2016 at 20:06

Reply By: Batt's - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 05:21

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 05:21

I use to fit nudge bars and all other 4WD accessories and I wouldn't want to hit a decent roo with one they are extremely light and are only as good as the points they are mounted to which can be very flimsy in some cases.
To me personally Safety and practicality come before looks it's a 4WD not a show car regardless of how much it cost. I would prefer to be able to keep driving after an animal strike than spend a night or 2 parked up just because I thought a bull bar was to ugly. Not having a go at you but another problem is that manufacturers are giving customers what they want by contouring bars around cars and fitting them to close so they look less bulky and more attractive which creates another problem causing you to still get a lot of damage from a minor hit. A bull bar should sit well clear of the vehicle greatly reducing damage from animal strikes but it's mostly about looks these days and protection plays second fiddle but also car manufacturers are making it difficult because of poor designing as well. Just remember there's a lot more wildlife around these days especially on the sides of the roads due to the dry weather over the past few years.

AnswerID: 594653

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 08:56

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 08:56

This one ticks all the boxes, Batts. Except maybe airbag compliant. :-)

Won't fit a Colorado?

Only trouble is the 'roos hit the front, then slip around the side and whack the door.

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Batt's - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:29

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:29

That's it Bob spot on dare I say it without criticism from others when men drove their real 4WD outback,

My tourer

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Follow Up By: Batt's - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:38

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:38

Should have mentioned my bull bar has been mounted about 3" further forward than the standard bar.

FollowupID: 863171

Follow Up By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 18:45

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 18:45

This one has squared up two roos, a cluster of goats, a stand of Silky Oak trees, and about 20 yards of embankement without bending a millimeter. Sorry, won't remote travel without it.

bull-bar

FollowupID: 863204

Follow Up By: Batt's - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 22:53

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 22:53

That's one of the old original bull bars wasn't it they suited the 40 ser cruisers never had a bar on my shorty but I wanted one of those types.

FollowupID: 863223

Follow Up By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 23:41

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 23:41

Batt's - yep - built like the proverbial brick outhouse ... one tough mother.

FollowupID: 863225

Reply By: vk1dx - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 08:45

Reply By: Old Grumpy - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:14

Reply By: Old Grumpy - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:40

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 10:40

Slightly off topic but related to animal strikes, I find it humane to carry a pick handle to euthenase badly injured animals in remote areas. It is an unpleasant job but the thought of leaving an animal to die slowly in pain is even more abhorrent. I adopted this habit after encountering another driver who was distressed, not due the damage to his vehicle, but that the roo he had hit was mangled but still alive. Not a tree in sight and my jack handle was an inferior substitute for a big stick.

AnswerID: 594660

Follow Up By: Ron N - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 12:18

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 12:18

Good point, OG. Used to carry a rifle in the ute all the time in the old days - that's not exactly PC today.

Missus and I were leaving Kununurra in late August last year to drive to Broome, and on the outskirts of town, we were a bit upset to see a small wallaby floundering around by the side of the road with a broken leg - obviously hit by a car.
We couldn't get near it, it was still able to hobble away faster than we could run.

We decided all we could do was alert the local vet, which we did via email (as she wasn't answering her phone for anything but critical emergencies) - but a short while later I got an email response from her thanking us for the alert, and they were going out to see if they could find the animal.
I don't know what the outcome was, I heard no more about it.

But - if the situation had been well outside any town, the only option would have been to just drive on.
If the animal can't move, that assists in putting them down - but when they can still move off a distance, that's when you can't do anything much.

Cheers, Ron.

FollowupID: 863178

Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 13:00

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 13:00

I'm with you, Grumpy.Mine's an axe handle - or a long handled shovel.

I've had to do it twice, both times primarily to put the animal out of its misery, but also to relieve the distressed drivers of the vehicles that hit or found the victims. On both occasions those drivers were simply unable to deal with the situation. It's not pleasant but it's sometimes all you can, and should, do.

Cheers

FrankP

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FollowupID: 863180

Reply By: Geepeem - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 17:21

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 17:21

Hi Sam, I was a bit like you I didn't want to lose all the nice chrome at front of my new truck by putting on a full bull bar. (to do so the existing OEM front bar has to come off).. So I opted for a good quality nudge bar from ECB. It is very strong…about 7mm thick and 76mm diameter. I am not suggesting it will do the job of a bull bar. It won't. But I believe it will give me adequate radiator protection to limp into the next town should the worst happen. Its a trade off of risk vs looks to me. You seem to want to go the nudge bar route. I'd say go for it but get a strong one from ECB.

Cheers Geepeem
I will post a photo of mine later as its not on my laptop.

AnswerID: 594669

Follow Up By: Glen M11 - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 18:02

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 18:02

Nudge Bar

Here is pic of mine Sam.
Basically a strong Nudge Bar is just the centre part of a bull bar without the wings.
Its a personal preference but I am happy with my choice of protection/risk.
Cheers

FollowupID: 863200

Follow Up By: sam d47 - Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 21:47

Saturday, Jan 09, 2016 at 21:47

Geepeem, the ECB one is the only nudge that I am really considering. Do you feel that it would bend very easily when pressure is applied? Can you bend it back just by pushing on it? I'm not really sure what they are mounted to underneath so cannot workout how strong the mounting points would be.

Glen, I haven't seen that one before and don't mind it. Where did you get that from?

FollowupID: 863218

Follow Up By: Geepeem - Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 06:59

Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 06:59

Hi Sam,
Mine is from ECB. I live in SEQ so I went to the actual ECB factory in Snook Street Clontarf where you can talk to the engineers and designers as well as the sales staff if you want to.
Mine is fitted by heavy steel brackets straight onto the chassis rails. (All they needed to do was cut a small piece of the plastic cowling out to fit. Fitting overall took about 1 hour including a few adjustments so it did not set off the front sensors or parking radar on mine).

There is no movement in it at all by pushing it. You certainly could not bend it. Not sure if they use same size material as ours (76mm diam) on smaller trucks. But email them or ring the factory direct for better information. I feel mine is as strong as a bull bar in the centre…it is just I don't have the wings of a bull bar.

There are cheaper and weaker nudge bars around. But ECB are the best in my opinion. (I am not related to Co in any way).

Cheers

FollowupID: 863228