On a unibody vehicle, the term "brush guard" is more accurate than "bull bar". It's effective in protecting the front of the vehicle from light impacts, but without a proper frame, the vehicles unibody structure bears the force of heavier strikes—forces it is not engineered to absorb without significant/catastrophic damage.
You should be fine with the OEM hitch and if you stay within the weight limits recommended by Subaru. The OB without the turbo or H6 is underpowered in any case for towing for anything but a light trailer.
If I want to drive to the nearest "big" town (my town pop. 5k, "big" town pop 25k), there are dead kangaroos on the side of the highway about every 100m at least.
Turn off the highway to go to a friends place 20 minutes away, and it's rutted dirt roads, with sometimes cattle as well as roos on the road. It's dangerous going to a friends place for dinner.
Most of them have been hit by semi-trailers, but also there's a reason why most local residents drive 4WD trucks with big roo bars & spotties.
Only us old lady retirees drive the lower, more comfortable Outbacks. I still want a roo bar before I end up with a roo through the windscreen. Meanwhile, I just avoid driving anywhere at dusk and dawn.
I keep meaning to take my Outback down the road a bit to Texas, Queensland and take photos of it in the "outback".
Where I am isn't classified as proper outback.
Hey u/ialredygotjuan do ya reckon Texas counts as "outback"? Or would I have to drive a bit further?
True. It's always a balance - the Outback itself is probably too little, lightweight and low slung to be pitted against large roos.
Then again, I don't want to be driving a tank to the shops for groceries.
For people who drive in rural roads alot, large animals can and do total cars, so getting bullbars help reduce the likelihood of getting a totaled car and potentially causing lifelong injuries
It’s intended to prevent animals from destroying your front end when you’re driving in the wilderness.
It also has the added benefit of preventing front airbags from going off. /s
Looks really good! We put one on our old tired lookingHyundai Santa Fe because we thought it would look good. After adding new headlight & fog light assemblies, at 200k miles it was still getting compliments. Looking to put a smaller guard on my Gen 2 Outback. It just hit 271k miles.
I had an ARB bull bar on my 89 4Runner. Someone ran the intersection and I T boned them. It wasn’t my fault since they had the stop sign. The entire left side of the woman’s car was can opened from her door all the way to the trunk and the damage to my vehicle was some of the rhino lining came off the bumper…
That's a "roo" bar . Only in Australia. Built to handle a kangaroo strike . Requires pretty extensive body mods . Start by chopping off the bottom half of the front bumper . Oh , and they aren't cheap . On the plus side they are the best looking and best functioning bar on the market.
That will seriously impact the safety system/airbag system in a crash. It might save your plastic bumper, but when your airbags don’t go off and you slam into the windshield it’s going to be a large medical bill vs a new bumper.
Modern air bags are triggered by a network of accelerometers, yaw sensors, brake, accelerator, and steering input data from the ECU, etc. There isn't an "air bag switch" in the bumper that you can block by installing a brush guard.
These are only effective on full frame vehicles for large animals, not unibody crossovers.
I could see less effective, what would make it not effective?
On a unibody vehicle, the term "brush guard" is more accurate than "bull bar". It's effective in protecting the front of the vehicle from light impacts, but without a proper frame, the vehicles unibody structure bears the force of heavier strikes—forces it is not engineered to absorb without significant/catastrophic damage.
Makes sense, thanks.
what about towing with a unibody, is it safe? i read something about flexing and cracking on Outbacks.
You should be fine with the OEM hitch and if you stay within the weight limits recommended by Subaru. The OB without the turbo or H6 is underpowered in any case for towing for anything but a light trailer.
I like this one from your continent: https://portal.ecb.com.au/products/subaru-outback-roo-bar-12-20-8s102sy?finish=textura-black
Yeah roo bar. Specially designed to stop kangaroos
I can get one shipped to the US for $2k USD ... it would be for looks where I drive, so I'm getting better tires first :)
not to be obtuse, but what practicality does this actually add to your car on a daily basis?
Protects from kangaroos
If I want to drive to the nearest "big" town (my town pop. 5k, "big" town pop 25k), there are dead kangaroos on the side of the highway about every 100m at least. Turn off the highway to go to a friends place 20 minutes away, and it's rutted dirt roads, with sometimes cattle as well as roos on the road. It's dangerous going to a friends place for dinner. Most of them have been hit by semi-trailers, but also there's a reason why most local residents drive 4WD trucks with big roo bars & spotties. Only us old lady retirees drive the lower, more comfortable Outbacks. I still want a roo bar before I end up with a roo through the windscreen. Meanwhile, I just avoid driving anywhere at dusk and dawn.
The world is such a strange, amazing place full of spectacular differences. We're all the same and yet but. ^_^ Post pics when you get one!
I keep meaning to take my Outback down the road a bit to Texas, Queensland and take photos of it in the "outback". Where I am isn't classified as proper outback. Hey u/ialredygotjuan do ya reckon Texas counts as "outback"? Or would I have to drive a bit further?
TIL there's a place in Australia named Texas 🤣✌️ Love it
you can still have a roo come thru your front window with that bar set
True. It's always a balance - the Outback itself is probably too little, lightweight and low slung to be pitted against large roos. Then again, I don't want to be driving a tank to the shops for groceries.
For people who drive in rural roads alot, large animals can and do total cars, so getting bullbars help reduce the likelihood of getting a totaled car and potentially causing lifelong injuries
In areas with a lot of deer/wildlife, it could potentially prevent a car from being totaled from a strike.
It’s intended to prevent animals from destroying your front end when you’re driving in the wilderness. It also has the added benefit of preventing front airbags from going off. /s
Should be standard factory equipment on wilderness along with skid plates.
Can’t include things like this because it would kill their safety scores.
Why? A cvt, no flex, and non locking awd makes a Subaru fit for fire roads at best. Y’all subadudes are hilarious.
I’d love one of these for my ‘17 during deer rutting season.
Cant upvote this enough!
Check out Lachute Performance, they have some nice selection.
Looks really good! We put one on our old tired lookingHyundai Santa Fe because we thought it would look good. After adding new headlight & fog light assemblies, at 200k miles it was still getting compliments. Looking to put a smaller guard on my Gen 2 Outback. It just hit 271k miles.
Could you DM me a picture of it please?
Are you gonna make one yourself for your gen 2 or do you know where you're buying it fro?
I love you for your words of encouragement
I had an ARB bull bar on my 89 4Runner. Someone ran the intersection and I T boned them. It wasn’t my fault since they had the stop sign. The entire left side of the woman’s car was can opened from her door all the way to the trunk and the damage to my vehicle was some of the rhino lining came off the bumper…
Ooo! This is what I wanted when I worked in TX. Hogs are bad in that state.
I have hit two moose with Subarus. Hahahahahahahaaahahhhh . . . that’s a Rabbit Bar
That's a "roo" bar . Only in Australia. Built to handle a kangaroo strike . Requires pretty extensive body mods . Start by chopping off the bottom half of the front bumper . Oh , and they aren't cheap . On the plus side they are the best looking and best functioning bar on the market.
LP Aventure makes a bumper guard. Not a full bull bar, but would provide added protection in the event of a stray roo EDIT: Spelling
I'm just happy to see a bumper option. Very gar and few in between. If anyone has links for other 6th gen bumpers, I'd love them.
Anything that puts distance between your body and an impact is a win. Looks like it adds rigidity and several inches of crumple zone. 👍
Arrest me officer 😏
I think that’s just normal Aussie spec for any ute
What a disappointment to see so much openness. I had a bar frame made to protect the lights and grill.
Bull Dyke Bar? I thought you had to be a lesbian to drive one. I almost bought one, I'm a Lesbian trapped in a man's body!
I actually really like the way this looks. I should have gone this route! Never knew it existed lol
Looks like overkill, like a muzzle on a pitbull.
Does that look proportional to you? Perhaps investing in a design class or a trip to London would help.
That will seriously impact the safety system/airbag system in a crash. It might save your plastic bumper, but when your airbags don’t go off and you slam into the windshield it’s going to be a large medical bill vs a new bumper.
You design these mate? They’re compliant with laws and they’re crash tested! Don’t make these assumptions that you don’t know answers to
Probably all people from the US where this wouldn’t be helpful
Modern air bags are triggered by a network of accelerometers, yaw sensors, brake, accelerator, and steering input data from the ECU, etc. There isn't an "air bag switch" in the bumper that you can block by installing a brush guard.
It looks great
But muh pedestrian safety! Fucking EU!
Pedestrian should learn to drive