What Are Bull Bars on Trucks? Pros, Cons, and More

Bull bars are steel or aluminum bars installed in front of trucks or SUVs to protect the bumper, grille, and radiator. The bars are thick and can withstand minor collisions, making them popular amongst off-road enthusiasts.

How Are Bull Bars Different from Grille Guards?

Bull bars and grille guards both protect the front of vehicles. The difference between the two is their shapes and the area they cover or protect.

Bull bars are shaped like the letter “A,” while grille guards are generally bigger and H-shaped.

Bull bars also offer less protection than grille guards because they only cover the bumper, grille, and radiator. On the other hand, grille guards protect the entire front end of the truck, including the headlights.

Weight-wise, bull bars are lighter than grille guards because they’re smaller and usually come in steel or aluminum. Bull bars are also known as push bumpers, push bars, ram bars, bush guards, PIT bumpers, and cattle pushers. They go by other kangaroo-related names in Russia and Australia, such as roo bar or kangaroo device.

Additionally, unlike grille guards, bull bars can come with skid plates. These abrasion-resistant plates are attached to the underside of a vehicle to prevent damage from road debris and when making contact with the ground.

Pros of Installing Bull Bars on Trucks

Bull bars are popular upgrades because they can provide protection during accidents, limit frontal damage, offer a good mounting point, and enhance aesthetic appeal.

Protects You From Accidents

Bull bars help vehicles absorb the impact of collisions, improving the chances of passengers leaving accidents relatively unscathed. The bar absorbs and evenly distributes the impact energy of collisions with objects, animals, or other vehicles.

Limits Frontal Damage

Bull bars also limit frontal damage by absorbing the energy and dispersing it evenly, protecting the bumper and the grille. After all, the thick bars are harder to penetrate or bend compared to the usual plastic used to make bumpers.

Offers Good Mounting Point

Because bull bars are thick and sturdy, they make for an excellent mounting point for safety tools, such as winches and ropes. You can also use them as a mount point for accessories like flags and useful equipment like fog lights.

Enhances Aesthetic Appeal

Beauty is subjective, but it’s hard to deny the appeal bull bars add to larger SUVs and trucks. These bars give them a sleeker and more rugged look, which can enhance the overall aesthetic of your ride.

Bull bars are also associated with adventurous looks, which could be appealing to those who value a more utilitarian-style modification.

Cons of Installing Bull Bars on Trucks

Of course, there are disadvantages to using bull bars. They make the vehicle heavier, could restrict airflow, and might not be allowed in some places. The bars could also the airbag’s functionality and decrease pedestrian safety.

Increases Weight

Every time you add an upgrade or accessory to your vehicle, you can expect a slight increase in weight. Bull bars weigh between 10 kg to 100 kg, depending on the material.

Plus, heavy vehicles require more energy to move forward, which means they consume more fuel. They also have greater inertia and rolling resistance than lighter ones. In fact, an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your mile per gallon by up to two percent.

Could Restrict Airflow

The air intake system ensures efficient airflow inside the engine. The cold-air intake tube (where air enters) is in front of the grille, which is where bull bars are usually placed. This means the bar could disrupt the overall airflow within the engine.

While the result might be minimal, it could still be enough to result in overheating, depending on the driving conditions. Overheating could cause engine detonation, damage the engine block, and result in warped cylinder heads, among other issues.

Could be Illegal in Some Areas

Some modifications are forbidden, and the same rule applies to bull bars. There are no federal laws regulating their use, so it likely differs per state. There are no restrictions against bull bars in California, but rules such as these are subject to change.

Similarly, some areas have ordinances forbidding modifications such as bull bars, so it’s crucial to check the places you visit to avoid hefty fines.

Might Prevent Airbags From Working

As mentioned, a bull bar absorbs impact and energy from collision and disperses it evenly among its bars. Unfortunately, this could interfere with airbags because they require a certain threshold to deploy.

The sensors that the airbags rely on must detect an impact of at least 10 to 12 mph to activate the safety feature. However, because the bull bars absorb the shock, there’s a risk that it could prevent airbag deployment in major collisions, giving way to serious injuries.

Decreases Pedestrian Safety

Bull bars are thick metal, so they increase the impact energy to pedestrians and opposing vehicles. So, while these bars protect the driver and passenger, they could be fatal for the other people involved in accidents.

If the vehicle doesn’t have a bull bar, pedestrians and cyclists can survive a collision against it when it’s traveling at 60 km/h or slower. However, people can usually only survive a collision with a truck or SUV that has a bull bar when it’s going at 30km/h.

Harder to Work On

Any work on the front of the vehicle requires you to remove them. Similarly, working under the hood is harder because you’re further away from the engine.

Are Bull Bars Worth It?

Getting bull bars is worth it if you value the front end of your vehicle, as it could save you from pricey repairs or serious accidents. There are disadvantages to installing them, but the pros generally outweigh the cons.

How Much Is a Bull Bar?

Bull bars cost between $70 to $1,800 for the parts alone. It can be an expensive investment, depending on the material and design. If you want to browse a large catalog of bull bars, you can always check CarParts.com.

CarPats.com offers premium aftermarket items at different price points to suit any budget. It only takes a few quick clicks to look through our extensive offers. If you input your vehicle’s make and model into our site’s built-in vehicle selector, we can even guarantee that the bull bar you pick will fit perfectly. No more worrying whether you’re ordering the correct item. Should any issues crop up, we offer 60-day returns!  Feel free to start a chat with our friendly and helpful customer service team if you have any questions or concerns.

We’ll ship your new bull bar to your door in as fast as two business days. So order a new bull bar from CarParts.com today.