4 Reasons to Have Your Dented or Bent Stainless Steel Bull Bars Repaired
It's common for even the most resilient of bull bars to bend or dent after a collision. Unfortunately, it's also common for drivers to ignore the problem, reasoning either that the problem cannot be fixed or that a small imperfection doesn't need to be.
However, bent or dented bull bars are definitely things that need to be repaired. Here are just four reasons why.
1. Impairs Performance
A bent bull bar might look pretty rugged, but it could make your 4X4 car less capable. For starters, a bend increases the risk of balance issues, which is a key concern when dealing with a material that is as heavy as stainless steel. You could also have done some damage to the mounting subframe, in which case the actual body of your vehicle could have been affected. Luckily enough, a professional will be able to identify this issue.
2. Makes Bull Bars Ineffective
The whole point of having bull bars fitted in the first place is to ensure that your vehicle's body will be protected during a collision, either with terrain, vehicle, pedestrian, or critter. With that in mind, it makes absolutely no sense to go driving around in a 4X4 that has damaged bull bars, even if only a slight bend is present.
These bars are designed to put up with collision-energy intelligently, directing it in a way that mitigates the force of impact. If one part is bent, that cannot happen. If you experience another collision, the bull bars won't be able to do their job anymore.
3. Impairs Your Ability to Tow
One of the main reasons 4X4 drivers opt for steel bull bars instead of aluminium ones is that they are much stronger and don't present the same levels of flexibility. That means that winches and tow hooks can be attached easily, which is handy if you need to pull another vehicle, or even your own, out of a ditch.
Problem is, bent bull bars can't take the stain so well. Since their integrity has already been compromised, you'll probably make the bend worse by adding strain, and you might find yourself unable to use a tow cable or winch.
4. Compromises Your Safety
Finally, driving a vehicle mounted with bent bull bars will put your own safety in jeopardy. Bull bars can absorb collision-energy and help prevent struck animals from tumbling across the hood and blocking your view of the road ahead.
Remember, bull bars are added to enhance safety as well as capability, and you want to ensure that both are safeguarded.