Bull bars. Anyone got one? How do they fit?

[CovKid]

Just read that. Top notch Big Herb. Made me belly laugh.

[mines a money pit]

Well this threads got a bit bigger since I last looked.

I bought the bars as I personally think they look cool. Didn't have any idea on legalitys of them really and had seen them on plenty of other vans. And on the 'Mad Max' front you've hit the nail on the head really. Big fan of the films and was thinking of going for that look. Satin black, wide slot mags or turbo vecs with fat tyres out back, rake, truck mirrors, spot lamps etc. The bars would really make the look, wont work half as well without them.

I seem to be the most hated person on the forum now, just for buying a bit of metal. Keyboard warriors are out in force and Childish comments don't help either. I Feel like I'm no longer welcome .

[lloydy]

bull bars always divide opinion, its your van do what you like. People cry outrage at them, but id be more worried about all the vans driving around held together by various bodges

[R0B]

People are giving their opinion on kiddie killers/bullbars not you personally fella.You are probably a very nice person,so don't take the replies on here to mean your not welcome.

[mines a money pit]

My van has various bodges. But I refuse to drive it due to them as I feel that its unsafe, despite its MOT that it somehow got. Going to fix everything, then use it. I'm actually very conscious of safety aspects when it comes to vehicles. I change my mind about what I want with the weather anyway so the bars may not even make it on the van. I only came to ask how they fitted and got beaten up!

[greasemonkey]

I bought the bars as I personally think they look cool. .

If you like the look why not try building some 'fake' ones (stick with me).

If you get some plastic waste pipes you can form the bull bars and can even use 90/45 degree sections to make the bends and T pieces for junctions.

Spray the lot matt black and you'd be surprised. Seen it done to make a fake roll cage just for the image and it fools most people even up close.

[Smosh]

My van has various bodges. But I refuse to drive it due to them as I feel that its unsafe, despite its MOT that it somehow got. Going to fix everything, then use it. I'm actually very conscious of safety aspects when it comes to vehicles. I change my mind about what I want with the weather anyway so the bars may not even make it on the van. I only came to ask how they fitted and got beaten up!

I think you are right, you asked a question that got you responses that didnt directly answer what you were asking. However, it's a forum and quite a close community. There are keyboard warriors out there, but, I dont think people were trying to throw punches and kick you across the kerb.

I had no idea bull bars were so contentious. I think unfortunately you just opened a big can of worms and it is this that people were commenting on not you personally. It can sometimes feel like that though.

Its good to hear you are repairing the bodges; any particularly hilarious / bad/ ropey ones?

[CovKid]

Yep, certainly not aimed at you personally, and no you're not hated. Those with kids (including myself) are a bit touchy about bull bars. There are many threads where owners have gone to great lengths to improve rear seat belts for kids and the security of rear seats so I think these things tend to take greater prominence than they have in the past.

If you look at everything after the Ford Sierra (pretty much the first of the jelly moulds), manufacturers began smoothing out the front of vehicles. This was not exclusively for speed purposes but to mitigate damage to pedestrians who use to get additional injuries from bumper overiders and other items on the front. It may have been Volvo that threw the most money into safety, but car safety experts soon encouraged car makers to lose bumpers altogether and concentrate on crumple zones as it was clear that the type of injuries sustained to those outside and inside could be reduced simply by changes to the shape and construction.

The T25 with its deformation panel was quite clever but the front would no way pass EU regs now. The shape is very brick-like, something that even the T4 rightly began to lose.

You still see bull bars fitted to 4x4s etc even today ofcourse but most have designs now that are less likely to catch peoples arms and legs although I'm not convinced that the reasons people fit them or even the marketing behind them are quite honest. Much of it is about profit for those that make them and as you say "the look".

Cosmetically I quite like them but getting a good fixing on a T25 that won't simply create more damage to the front in a minor impact is something of a challenge. No shortage of people fitting unsuitable wheels and tyres on here but its important to know the drawbacks. At least they know. Up to them after that.

[ELVIS]

Suppose on the upside , nil reoffending rate for jay walking if there was such an offence here

[mines a money pit]

Bodges wise there were/ are a few but nothing compared to what I have seen on other vans . Mainly its just rusty and worn out and has been abused by all of its previous owners.

Engine lasted days after buying it. Was running spot on when I picked it up and was bought on the basis it had a good engine. Nope. Water jacket failure. Oil and water changed before I collected it and one of those sealing products added I think . Started smoking too so its coming out and a 50k well serviced one is going in.

Right Rear corner has been replaced in the past (only panel that has and unusually no filler in this van) Made a total mess of it and sits too far in towards bottom. Corner of tailgate bent inwards to clear it and wont close properly! Very lucky to grab NOS VW inner and outer corners (German not the SA ones heritage sell) to correct it.

Springs in wiper arms worn so instead of replacing them lets bend them until they almost touch the screen to keep pressure on blades. Got multivan ones with spoilers.

Tow bar fitted. Wired in with scotch lock connectors. Wouldn't fit under fusebox cover so broke the lid. Towbar sold. Need to repair the wiring.

Clutch slave is well past it, rubber boot full of fluid. Think It was just bled before I collected it to hide the symptoms. Clutch went away after a while, as have the brakes.

Think theres a few more but cant remember. Havent finished finding them yet I don't think!

I hate bodging. Cant see the point as you only have to go back and do it again later. Do it once do it right.

[discipleofsketch]

Suppose on the upside , nil reoffending rate for jay walking if there was such an offence here

although Jaywalking just means crossing the road in a non-designated place, not necessarily walking in front of a moving vehicle. Luckily, for those of us who like to cross roads at the most convenient place, this law doesn't exist in the UK, yet....

[CovKid]

Agree MAMP (mines a money pit). You can end up spending an age finding out whats real on the bodywork and what isn't. More or less anything that's original needs some kind of work in my experience but you do get ahead of it to some extent after a while.

[Smosh]

.

Springs in wiper arms worn so instead of replacing them lets bend them until they almost touch the screen to keep pressure on blades. Got multivan ones with spoilers.

I had to replace my arms after a spring snapped. I used cable ties until I got a replacement! Haha!

[CovKid]

Nowt wrong with that. Just avoid using cable ties on rotted trailing arm mounts.

Actually, I've found cable ties onboard are an absolute must - amazing what you can repair in an emergency with one.