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REAL bull bar...yay or nay?

Discussion in '2nd Gen Tundras (2007-2013)' started by MiRo, Jul 11, 2017.

  1. Jul 11, 2017 at 10:37 AM
    #1
    MiRo

    MiRo [OP] New Member

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    So I've been considering a bull bar for my 2008 5.7 Limited. While I don't necessarily think the cosmetic look of a bull bar is all that bad, I'm more interested in the practical application of it. As such, I want an actual bull bar that would withstand a fender bender or a deer at reasonable speeds. Obviously not much is going to save the front end hitting a deer at 70 mph. If I hit something at say 10-30 mph or need to give someone or something a little push, that's what I'm expected to save the front end from. It's much cheaper to replace a bull bar the half the front end.

    To that end, does anyone have any recommendations for bull bars that will actually stand a reasonable impact?
     
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  2. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:07 AM
    #2
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Take a look at Ranch Hand products. In many rural areas where elk and deer hits are frequent, these are as common as fat girls.
     
  3. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:10 AM
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    Jsena

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    @GNTundra hea an expert at hitting deer and bull bars needs...
     
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  4. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:21 AM
    #4
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I had a Westin Ultimate bull bar that seemed to be better built than most.Beefy mounts for a bull bar. It's OK for low impact hits. I kicked it up a notch and went with Ranch Hand.
     
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  5. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:25 AM
    #5
    Newm

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    While I have no experience with a bull bar on my own personal truck, everything I have ever read is they are generally damage amplifiers. IMO if you are looking for protection I would look at other products...some of which have been mentioned above.
     
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  6. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:30 AM
    #6
    swede78

    swede78 Not so new member

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    i have a westin hdx grill guard. there was a ranch hand on cl in denver for 200.00, not sue where you are at.
     
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  7. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:37 AM
    #7
    chphilo

    chphilo Tundra addict

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    As far as regular bull bar is concerned, Westin Ultimate bull bar is really beefy and it gives you some sort of protection. Ask me how I know.

    What's the best protection? That's a million dollar question. I would think replacement steel bumper with bull bar will provide most solid protection up to a point and it might be the ticket for you.

    However, if the impact is too large, I would think the damage to the frame is more likely (the destructive energy has to be dissipated somewhere so if the bumper does not crumple, then something else has to give).
     
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  8. Jul 11, 2017 at 11:57 AM
    #8
    Jsena

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    IMG_0185.jpg

    That's a bad ass lookin bumper right there yessummm
     
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  9. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:04 PM
    #9
    Jsena

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    Yea the bull bar I want is just for look, kinda like the rest of my truck... looks bad ass but doubt it's gonna hit another car or big animal and not bend.. have you seen the way it goes on?? A few screws and that's it.. it will bend right into your radiator

    IMG_0186.jpg
     
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  10. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:05 PM
    #10
    Jsena

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    Looks cool tho... that's what I'm talkin bout baby.. yeeeeee
     
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  11. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:05 PM
    #11
    Jsena

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    Lol yup he'd be a goner
     
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  12. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:11 PM
    #12
    Jsena

    Jsena Trend setter, not a follower!!

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    No lol, I've been on the phone with running board warehouse all morning.. Go Rhino D4 but they don't have them right now..'I forgot that when I get my lift, I don't have any steps to help my daughters get in the truck.. that's kinda a priority now.. before I get my hood bulge and bumper ends done..
     
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  13. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:16 PM
    #13
    Jsena

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    I like it.. looks the same.. is that light part of it or behind it?, can't telll
     
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  14. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:18 PM
    #14
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I saw moose hits in AK that actually did some serious damage on trucks even with some bad ass bumpers. Hitting a 1700 lb Yukon bull moose at 70 = totaled truck.
     
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  15. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:19 PM
    #15
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I theory..any setup can be a damage amplifier. Depends on the mass that you hit with your mass.
     
  16. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:23 PM
    #16
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I saw semis up there that got fracked up pretty bad from a moose hit. Bull bars are cool in their own way. Comes in handy if you have to push something or as mentioned...mounting lights.
     
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  17. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:28 PM
    #17
    Baja Mike

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    A moose is just an ugly horse.



     
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  18. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:31 PM
    #18
    Jsena

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    Well it's foot flew off, I wonder if someone ate the meat #Savage!!!!
     
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  19. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:33 PM
    #19
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    A moose hit this semi and it caught on fire and burned up. A Bull bar or Iron Cross bumper would have made zero difference.
    [​IMG]
     
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  20. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:35 PM
    #20
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    The moose get picked up by charities in AK. Can't take it home and grille up some moose ribeyes
     
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  21. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:35 PM
    #21
    Newm

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    [​IMG]
     
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  22. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:35 PM
    #22
    Jsena

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    Why not.. that's a waste of perfect good meat for some people
     
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  23. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:36 PM
    #23
    Jsena

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    lol that looks like a transformer
     
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  24. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:38 PM
    #24
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    The meat isn't wasted. Troopers call the nearest charity and the moose is food for homeless, halfway houses, and if out in the middle of nowhere..nearest native village gets it.
     
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  25. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:40 PM
    #25
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    This setup is pretty much ubiquitous in West Canada and AK on most long haul semis.
     
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  26. Jul 11, 2017 at 12:48 PM
    #26
    Newm

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    No...Just always thought those things were cool. I've done some hunting up in Alaska with my old man and that's pretty much what most of the rigs were running up there
     
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  27. Jul 11, 2017 at 3:43 PM
    #27
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    That setup works quite well up there. You pretty much have to. Freaking moose always seem to jump out at you.No win situation.
     
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  28. Jul 11, 2017 at 5:08 PM
    #28
    Radworker

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  29. Jul 11, 2017 at 8:25 PM
    #29
    swede78

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    Mine or cl? I'll get pictures of both
     
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  30. Jul 11, 2017 at 8:35 PM
    #30
    swede78

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