What to Focus on When Accessorising Your New SUV
Posted on: 26 April 2018
Due to the predominantly rural nature of Australia, it's perhaps no surprise that a huge number of vehicles on the road today are based on SUVs. If you're about to join this number and pick a vehicle that will enable you to explore at weekends while doing the daily commute to work, you may be thinking how you can accessorise it for maximum practicality. One of the first components to add will undoubtedly be a form of front-end protection, but here you have a great deal of choice. What factors do you need to take into consideration before making your decision?
Different Choices
Every SUV on the road today is equipped to accept front-end protection, which in Australia normally comes in the form of a bull bar. While some vehicles come off the production line with one fitted when they're destined for this market, many will not. Therefore, you first need to decide how you're going to be using your vehicle and how much it's going to cost you to run it throughout the year.
This latter factor can be quite important if you're worried about the cost of fuel. This is due to the fact that sturdier bull bars can weigh a considerable amount, and they will undoubtedly contribute to a dwindling fuel economy figure.
Triple Hoop
Having said that, you need to think about your vehicle usage and how much time you will spend in rural areas or even on gravel tracks. If you are the adventurous type, then you need to consider fitting a triple-hoop bull bar, which as you can probably picture in your mind gives protection to the entire front end of the vehicle with maximum strength. These bars are usually made from steel and weigh the most, but they will certainly help safeguard many of the major mechanical components of the vehicle if you hit a large animal at speed.
Nudge
At the other end of the spectrum is the nudge bar, which is only designed for light impact and will not withstand a significant strike if you're out in the open during kangaroo season. Nevertheless, if you want to add some aesthetic appeal to your vehicle and will usually drive it around town, then you could fit an aluminium nudge bar.
Competitive?
If you're truly adventurous and want to take part in some competitive events off-road, then you need to look at a baja bar. Certainly, this is not designed to provide maximum protection in the event of an impact, but it will add a lot of strength to the front end and is equipped with a high-power winch. This type of component will be essential for extricating yourself from difficult positions during a competition.
Which Way to Go?
If you're still uncertain, have a word with your accessory supplier, who can show you different versions that will help you meet your needs.
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