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Investing in a high-quality bullbar is a smart choice to protect your Ranger and to ensure safety while driving. With so many options, styles and sizes available, it's important to do your research and choose a bullbar that meets your specific needs and preferences. Remember, there are a lot of obstacles on Australian roads.
- What it is: Frontal protection to guard vital bits and house essential aftermarket gear.
- Why you need it: Frontal protection, improved approach angle and accessory mount point. The standard plastic front bumper is no good for mounting accessories, driving lights, sand flags or winches, and it won’t help with animal strikes. Bullbars often improve approach angles, too.
- Buying tips: There are basic bullbars and more expensive, better-looking units. Ensure it is airbag-compatible and specific to your exact model. Some come with recovery points and some have hoops around the bonnet for extra protection. Either way, the extra weight over the front-end is worth a suspension upgrade.
Here are four products we recommend. They’re intended as a starting point, to give you an idea of what’s available. We’ve included information on Ford Australia’s genuine accessories, in case you’d prefer to stick to OEM.
| Materials | Winch-compatible | Recovery points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit steel bullbar | Steel | Yes | No |
| Ironman 4x4 Deluxe bullbar | Steel | Yes | Yes |
| TJM Outback bullbar | Steel | Yes | Yes |
| EFS XCape bar | Steel | Yes | No |
Ford Australia/ARB licensing agreement
Ford Australia has a licensing agreement with ARB. Order ARB accessories when you order your next-gen Ranger and they’ll be covered by Ford’s five-year warranty. So if you have a warranty issue, there will be no grey areas about which company is responsible.
If you order ARB accessories after purchase (through a Ford dealer), they’ll be covered by the remainder of the warranty period.
If you’d like to know more about the Ford/ARB partnership, check it out on the Ford website.
Summit steel bullbar
Specifications:
- Materials: Steel
- Winch compatible: Yes
- Recovery points: No
Pros
- Compatible with 360° camera
- Two aerial tabs
- Colour-coding available
Cons
- Nil
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Ironman 4x4 Deluxe bullbar
Specifications:
- Materials: Steel
- Winch compatible: Yes
- Recovery points: Yes
Pros
- Rated recovery points standard
- Two high-lift jack points
- Room for 9-inch round driving lights
Cons
- Nil
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TJM Outback bullbar
Specifications:
- Materials: Steel
- Winch compatible: Yes
- Recovery points: Yes
Pros
- Rated recovery points standard
- Two high-lift jack points
- Dual antenna mounts
Cons
- Heavy, about 80kg
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EFS XCape bar
Specifications:
- Materials: Steel
- Winch compatible: Yes
- Recovery points: No
Pros
- Increases approach angle
- Tough Endura coat finish
Cons
- Rated recovery points not supplied
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How we review products
4X4 Australia has been reviewing four-wheel drive vehicles and aftermarket products for more than 40 years.
When looking for the best accessories for your make and model of 4WD, there are some essentials to ensure you have the best off-roading experience.
When we compare products, here are some things we consider:
- Warranty
- Build quality
- Value for money
- Time and ease to set-up/install
- Weight
- Fit and finish
- How well it gets the job done
- What materials they’re made from
- Corrosion/UV-resistance
- Coatings
- Compatibility with other accessories
- Compliance with ADRs and vehicle safety systems
- Country of manufacture
- Load ratings, to determine what's the best product across each price point.
We also consider user reviews and our own experience with these products, to ensure our recommendations are for the best on the market.
Disclosure: When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. We also include products that we do not earn a commission from.
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