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. Theyu2019re intended as a starting point, to give you an idea of whatu2019s available. Weu2019ve included information on Ford Australiau2019s genuine accessories, in case youu2019d prefer to stick to OEM.
MaterialsWinch-compatibleRecovery points
Summit steel bullbarSteelYesNo
Ironman 4×4 Deluxe bullbarSteelYesYes
TJM Outback bullbarSteelYesYes
EFS XCape barSteelYesNo

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

  • Materials: Steel
  • Winch compatible: Yes
  • Recovery points: No

Specifications:

  • Materials: Steel
  • Winch compatible: Yes
  • Recovery points: No

Pros

  • Compatible with 360u00b0 camera
  • Two aerial tabs
  • Colour-coding available

Cons

  • Nil

Ironman 4×4 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
  • Materials: Steel
  • Winch compatible: Yes
  • Recovery points: Yes

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
  • Materials: Steel
  • Winch compatible: Yes
  • Recovery points: Yes

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
  • Materials: Steel
  • Winch compatible: Yes
  • Recovery points: No
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.