Bull Bars: Essential Off-Road Accessories for Your Triton
If you’re thinking about modifying your Mitsubishi Triton to make it suitable for off-road use, bull bars should be the first off-road accessories you take a look at. Whether you’ll be touring the Australian outback, or you plan on doing some extreme off-roading, the bull bar is one of the most important pieces of vehicle protection equipment your Triton can have. But with so many bull bars available nowadays, it can be difficult to know which one is best suited for your Triton, and the way you intend to drive it.
Bullbars are made of manufactured metal that’s specifically designed to protect the front of your Mitsubishi Triton from collisions that may otherwise damage the components under your hood. A Triton bullbar is generally used by those who take their pride and joy in long-distance touring or tough off-roading to protect it from animal strikes or other road debris. However, some people opt for a winch bar, which is basically a bull bar that can accommodate a winch. Nowadays, most bull bars are also winching bars, because everyone venturing off the road needs essential off-road recovery gear should they need to pull themselves out of a sticky situation.
Bull Bar Materials
Steel
Steel is considered the best material for bull bars by most people, as it’s incredibly strong, durable, and resistant to the elements. Furthermore, it requires very little to no maintenance, and it’s easy to repair while also being cheaper than aluminum. However, the downside to steel bull bars is that they are quite heavy, and can negatively impact your Triton’s fuel economy. Depending on the bull bar and vehicle, they can add anywhere between 50kg and 100kg.
Aluminum
While getting an aluminum Triton bullbar is more expensive than a steel one, it’s comparable in strength, while weighing significantly less. If a steel bullbar weighs between 50kg and 100kg, an aluminum one can weigh as little as 30kg to 50kg. This is a huge difference in weight which will enable you to install extra accessories and load more luggage while keeping your Triton under its gross vehicle weight rating.
Weight is a very important factor that a lot of people don’t pay enough mind to when buying off road accessories.
Plastic
There are also plastic bull bars, which are the lightest out of all three options, but they’re also the weakest in terms of the protection they add. Plastic bull bars are made for use in the urban environment, and they’re mainly installed to increase the aesthetic appeal of your Triton. Whichever material you end up choosing, make sure it’s ADR-compliant and compatible with your vehicle’s airbag system.
Buying Considerations
Build Quality and Appeal
When choosing the ideal bull bar for your Triton, a lot of it will come down to how the bull bar looks. However, you need to make sure you pick a bull bar made from high-quality materials that incorporate perfect bends and welds. Always thoroughly inspect the bullbar you’re buying, and make sure you compare it with a few different models to make sure you get the best choice. If the material of the bull bar feels thin, or you aren’t really sold on the bends and welds, just look for another one.
Approach Angle Shift
You want the bull bar to be as close to your Triton as possible. Additionally, the bull bar should be as high as possible so that it doesn’t impact your Triton’s approach angle. There are a couple of straight bull bars that are specifically designed for protection against ‘roos, but those hang very low and will likely be damaged or scraped when you go off the road. For off-road use, the bull bar you choose shouldn’t negatively impact your Triton’s approach angle.
High-Lift Jack and Rated two points
Most quality bull bars come with high-lift jack points, but you should double-check the bull bars you’re looking at to see whether they include them or not. They can be hard to notice, but most of them are located at the bottom close to the front face of the bar. Rated tow bars, also known as rated recovery points are an absolute must-have feature. This feature means the bull bar has been tested by a third-party engineer. If you’re comparing two bull bars, one of which includes a rated tow point and another that doesn’t always go for the one that includes it.
ADR Compliance
For the bull bar to be legally used on your Triton, it needs to be compliant with ADR standards. The standards refer to the form and shape of the bull bar, and how it absorbs impacts. The bull bar should feature forward-facing bars and sharp edges and it shouldn’t block your headlights. As aforementioned, the airbags should also deploy at impact. The standards revolve around pedestrian safety, and should you hit someone, they should be pushed onto the bonnet instead of under your Triton.
Australian bull bar manufacturers all make their bull bars ADR compliant by default, whereas those imported from America and Asia aren’t usually designed to the same standards. The compliance plate can be found anywhere on the bull bar, most of which are located on the inside.
Bull Bar Finish
Bullbars come in a wide range of finishes, with the most conventional ones being a matte color. The most common finish is zinc- and powder-coating. These coatings increase the bull bar’s strength and look and make it resistant to the elements. Of course, you can color-match the bull bar to your Triton’s colors, but you may need to pay extra for it. However, most people are content with a black bull bar, as it blends in nicely with virtually any color your Triton is.
Maintenance Requirements
As briefly aforementioned, steel bull bars require very little maintenance. The most common problem you’ll come across is the powder coat rubbing off from scrapes and bumps, and you should deal with it as soon as possible to prevent any additional damage. Some polished aluminum bars are prone to stain over time, which can also easily be dealt with by re-polishing them. You should also consider taking the bull bar for a professional cleaning every once in a while to keep it in ideal condition.
Conclusion
Once you’ve picked out a good bull bar to protect the vital parts of your vehicle, don’t stop there. There are many other useful accessories to outback-proof your Triton. Some add even more protection, while others can help you achieve the off-road comfort you’ve always craved. And don’t worry, upgrading your Triton won’t cost you a fortune when buying from an Australian aftermarket off-road accessories store.
