BajaNomad - "Bull Bars"? Needed.

"Bull Bars"? Needed.

Cisco - 10-9-2011 at 06:17 PM

I think they are called "Bull Bars". Those pipe structures that fit in front of the vehicle.

Anybody in Baja fabricating and installing these???

I am looking for the real deal, 3" or so galvanized or cast-iron sewer pipe sort of stuff that I can use in Pacific Beach to run into jaywalkers when I'm not sedately driving Baja.

Installation will be on an E-250.

Any referrals appreciated.

J.P. - 10-9-2011 at 06:42 PM

If its a newer vehicle be wary about some of that bolt on stuff it may impact the performance of your air bag system and void your warrantry.

Cisco - 10-9-2011 at 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by whistler
You don't want to use cast iron sewer pipe.
At a minimum you should you ERW tubing.DOM would be better.Chromoly is probably over-kill.

Thank You although I have no idea what DOM is and Google did not help although they did put me on to ERW tubing. Gracias.

Anybody down there do that kind of work that you know of? Thanks for the dope.

Cisco - 10-9-2011 at 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.
If its a newer vehicle be wary about some of that bolt on stuff it may impact the performance of your air bag system and void your warrantry.

No longer under warranty but good thought for anyone doing after-market modifications. Thanks.

J.P. - 10-9-2011 at 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by whistler
It would be a lot cheaper to purchase one from a manufacturer,rather than have one fabricated.

I live in Puenta Banda and there is a guy that builds off roar race cars here. find what you want and take some pictures of it . and you will be very suprised at the cost. he can fabricate it for you. you can probably pay for your trip down with the savings. his name is Pablof.of Pablof raceing.

Ken Cooke - 10-9-2011 at 08:58 PM

The good stuff comes from Texas - I saw lots of good ranch-style front-end protection there for the Ford Super-Duty pickups.

Be careful...this bumper can kill

Ken Cooke - 10-9-2011 at 09:15 PM

www.ranchhand.com

[img]http://www.ranchhand.com/image.php?src=FBF111BLR.jpg[/img]

dean miller - 10-9-2011 at 09:39 PM

Some years ago, prior to being produced commerically, they were known in Baja as "Tumble Burros."

Ya hit a Burro and it tumbled

SDM

slimshady - 10-9-2011 at 10:00 PM

ARBUSA has good bull bars.

Woooosh - 10-9-2011 at 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slimshady
ARBUSA has good bull bars.

and here are the Truck Nutz for the back

http://trucknutz.com/

BooJumMan - 10-10-2011 at 05:12 AM

I have an ARB winch bumper (also called a bullbar), its pretty bad-ass. I think for the Ford's, you can get a Warn winch bumper for cheaper. The ARB's are just under $1k and imported from Australia.

Martyman - 10-10-2011 at 11:04 AM

There is a bar in San Francisco called The Manhole but I don't know if it's a bull bar.

tiotomasbcs - 10-10-2011 at 11:44 AM

Probably one in Santa Rosalia! :lol:

Either in Town or at the prision or both?! Couldn't help myself. Tio

Cisco - 10-10-2011 at 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by J.P.

Quote:

Originally posted by whistler
It would be a lot cheaper to purchase one from a manufacturer,rather than have one fabricated.

Thanks Guy. I will be dropping some stuff off in San Felipe on the way down this trip but will check with him on the be-back.

Appreciate the ref.

Cisco - 10-10-2011 at 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by whistler
Just did a search and there are a bunch of grill guards for Ford F250 for less than$300.I built this one and I have that in material.

That is beautiful work.

Be proud of your production and for goodness sake don't hit anything and mess it up.

Cisco - 10-10-2011 at 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
The good stuff comes from Texas - I saw lots of good ranch-style front-end protection there for the Ford Super-Duty pickups.

Thanks for both refs Ken. Was hoping you would get in here after seeing photos of some of the stuff you do with the Rubicon.

Gracias

Cisco - 10-10-2011 at 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by slimshady
ARBUSA has good bull bars.

and here are the Truck Nutz for the back

http://trucknutz.com/

I don't know what it is about those Whoosh but I intensely dislike them. Maybe because I'm a West Coaster, or growing up in Tunaville, don't know. Just not very red-neck overall.

At one point I saw a pair hanging from a truck in Arizona I think I was, and tried to pull them off I felt so offended by them, but, being old, I just don't have the strength in my hands any longer so now I carry a pair of Dykes with me.

Boy, they see those and make me stop the van. They run over and RIP them off by hand whether the driver is aboard or not.

Works real well.

comitan - 10-10-2011 at 12:15 PM

If you were in La Paz, there are 5-6 stores that have them out front for sale.

Cypress - 10-10-2011 at 12:39 PM

Cisco, Were I come from it's just advertising their ignorance and lack of class. Someones daughter will ask "What that?", and someone will have to explain that some people take pleasure in displaying their private parts.

Bajatripper - 10-10-2011 at 02:08 PM

I highly recommend RR rails for knocking down jaywalks, in any urban setting.

Ranch Hand

bajaguy - 10-10-2011 at 03:16 PM

By (and buy) far the best. Have one mounted on my 2011 Dodge Ram.

http://ranchhand.com/

About a 30 minute install, no drilling, perfect fit.

There are plenty of cheap brush guards out there, this one is heavy duty and built to last.

[Edited on 10-10-2011 by bajaguy]

Maderita - 10-10-2011 at 04:27 PM

Resist the temptation to buy a cheap bumper/grill guard. Many of the products mass-manufactured for the aftermarket are better for show than for stopping a cow or VW.
Some grill guards, particularly those that have components bolted to the bumper, rather that welded as a unit, may actually cause more body damage when hit. The grill guard collapses back into the hood, grill and fenders, resulting in many hundreds of dollars of additional damage.
Either buy top-quality aftermarket, or have one fabricated.
Reunel is a good example of high quality:
http://www.reunel.com/
There are a lot of underemployed fabricators in San Diego, East County area. Look for their ads on Craigslist or maybe the Bargain Trader. Sometimes used bumpers come up for sale.
If you have one fabricated, it should be ERW steel tubing. DOM is unneccessary and expensive for bumpers (but good for roll cages).

Chinese Buck-Stoppers

Ken Cooke - 10-10-2011 at 04:44 PM

Smittybuilt bumpers adorn both Rubicons in this picture. They are heavy, but mine came within mere inches of a deer on Mex Hwy 1. It dented the drivers door and got knocked out on my rocker panel (now covered by Fabtech steel rocker protectors). I saw lots of good stuff while visiting friends in Del Rio, TX. Here's my Rubicon and my friends Rubicon before we installed the suspension lift, tires, winch, accessories, etc.

ddawson - 10-10-2011 at 05:31 PM

If you have an E250, I would suggest Aluminess. They fab the bumpers for Sportsmobile. They're pretty stout and made of aluminum so they are still lightweight. Check their website:

http://www.aluminess.com/vans.htm

They're located in Santee.

mr magoo: why are you such bad driver that you need cow catcher on front of your vehicle?

mtgoat666 - 10-10-2011 at 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maderita
Resist the temptation to buy a cheap bumper/grill guard. Many of the products mass-manufactured for the aftermarket are better for show than for stopping a cow or VW.

if you hit something hard enough to collapse a brush guard, you may bend your frame. stock bumpers are designed to absorb shock and deform within bumper so frame does not deform.

anyways,... why are you such a bad driver that you are hitting things with front of your car???????????? if you are such a bad driver that you need a brush/cattle guard, i suppose the bars are perfect for you, or perhaps you are getting too long in tooth and should stop driving.

if you drive well, you can probably rely on stock bumper for what should be a very RARE event of hitting a cow or VW.

and if you have rare hit, isn't that what insurance is for?????????

if you hit a cow or vw more often that once per decade, you should not be driving.

:lol:

Woooosh - 10-10-2011 at 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
If you were in La Paz, there are 5-6 stores that have them out front for sale.

so you wouldn't buy the nutz keychain either then probably?

[Edited on 10-11-2011 by Woooosh]

Cisco - 10-10-2011 at 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by Maderita
Resist the temptation to buy a cheap bumper/grill guard. Many of the products mass-manufactured for the aftermarket are better for show than for stopping a cow or VW.

Excellent points all Goat.

Actually I want them to keep the cars in Pacific Beach that are 13' 8" long from banging up the parked van when they try to get into a 14' parking space and playing bumper cars. Drives me nut's. Am fabricating a pointy thingy for the 2" tow point aft also which should tear up a bumper before they hit the van while parking.

I live two blocks north of the bars on Garnet and three blocks from the beach. A lovely, quiet community 20 years ago before the city started loading bars (high tax income) into the area without adequate consideration of the immense parking problems we have now in this residential community. I could go on about the jaywalkers popping-out at you also...

Since I got off the sauce I have not had one incident in Baja, which has saved me immense amounts of money and jail time and I am not concerned about driving Baja. I am concerned about parking/driving in P.B. (or any of San Diego for that matter).

Cisco - 10-10-2011 at 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
If you were in La Paz, there are 5-6 stores that have them out front for sale.

so you wouldn't buy the nutz keychain either then probably?

[Edited on 10-11-2011 by Woooosh]

Probably not Whoosh. I did just get the "dingle balls" installed around the inside of the windshield and I have a bobble-head Charger doll ordered for the dash but it has not arrived yet.

Hope it gets here before I take off.

Insurance will pay for "EVERYTHING"??

Ken Cooke - 10-10-2011 at 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by Maderita
Resist the temptation to buy a cheap bumper/grill guard. Many of the products mass-manufactured for the aftermarket are better for show than for stopping a cow or VW.

and if you have rare hit, isn't that what insurance is for?????????

if you hit a cow or vw more often that once per decade, you should not be driving.

For full-replacement value, refer me to the better insurance company? I would like a factory-new 2012 Rubicon if I got into a tangle with this cow.

On the Mission Impossible trail in April, I had a Jeep back into mine - hitting the bumper and only leaving paint on the push bar. Had I relied on the Factory bumper, I would have suffered expensive body damage - and possibly a $500/$1000 deductible to contend with.

Maderita - 10-10-2011 at 11:53 PM

Cisco,
Reading your post again, I see that you have an "E-250" (Ford 3/4 ton van).
Here's what I built for my E-350 (1-ton van). It started off as a used Warn brand winch bumper, $100. I welded on another 75+ lbs. of steel plate and angle for reinforcement, including additional end braces which tie to the frame.

This bumper has been put to the test. Notice the facing sheet metal behind the black rubber in the foreground (passenger side)? That slight 1/2" indentation is the only damage which occurred when a 1/2 ton pickup turned left in front of me. Knocked the truck 3' in the air, sideways about 10' and caved in the rear corner of the bed about 2'. After the gentleman signed a statement that it was 100% his fault, I went on my way. Laughing to myself a little. Had that been the cheesy factory bumper on my van, repairs would have cost several thousand dollars.

Do get an aftermarket bumper. Stuff happens! Factory OEM truck bumpers are notoriously light and flimsy and won't protect a truck in a parking lot accident. Trucks/vans are exempt from Federal impact standards.

Ateo - 10-11-2011 at 08:29 AM

My 1993 isuzu rodeo came with a grill guard. Thing came flying off on the way to Scorpion Bay in 1995. I was hauling ass down the North Road and hit some bumps. The cow catcher literally flew off the front of the SUV, up and over the windshield, completely flying over my entire car. I guess that's what you get for having a cow catcher on an isuzu.

Cisco - 10-11-2011 at 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maderita
Cisco,
Reading your post again, I see that you have an "E-250" (Ford 3/4 ton van).
Here's what I built for my E-350 (1-ton van). It started off as a used Warn brand winch bumper, $100. I welded on another 75+ lbs. of steel plate and angle for reinforcement, including additional end braces which tie to the frame.

EXCELLENT!!! That looks like the deal for my application. Thanks for going back and checking me out. Appreciate your effort.

And thanks to all who replied here. There is a tremendous amount of expertise, experience, opinion and B.S. on this forum and it certainly came to my assistance with this question.

Leaving next week and this project in mind for while SOB and (if not done there) then NOB when I return.

Maderita you certainly recognized my needs for this area. This will be a very welcome addition to the van while out there and a money-saving protector while here NOB.

And, it should adequately protect my vehicle in the event that I inadvertently strike a bicyclist. or a large group of bicyclists while motoring. Might not even realize it while gazing at the countryside in Baja, or the attractions along Mission Blvd. during a sunny day.

Russ - 10-11-2011 at 04:51 PM

I went to the local welder and drew a picture of what I thought I wanted and he improved on my simple design. Also did an excellent job on an Xtera. Here's mine on the F250.

[Edited on 10-11-2011 by Russ]

jakecard - 10-11-2011 at 07:07 PM

You have mentioned taking out jaywalkers twice. You have disclosed your fond desire to tear up people's bumpers. And now you are musing about the possibility of mowing down bicyclists as well.

Good thing there are laws precluding your "jokes" here from becoming evidence of your pre-meditated "accident." Because otherwise your careless self-incrimination on the Internet could really suck for you in court, eh Cisco?

Jake

Cisco - 10-11-2011 at 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jakecard
You have mentioned taking out jaywalkers twice. You have disclosed your fond desire to tear up people's bumpers. And now you are musing about the possibility of mowing down bicyclists as well.

Good thing there are laws precluding your "jokes" here from becoming evidence of your pre-meditated "accident." Because otherwise your careless self-incrimination on the Internet could really suck for you in court, eh Cisco?

Thank you counselor, your perceptive reading of my post’s is impressive.

Actually tearing up other peoples bumpers was a suggestion of a San Diego Police Officer, not mine.

I did not use the term “mowing down” bicyclists although after one experience with “Critical Mass” it certainly sounds tempting, again thanks.

Unless you live in the circumstances of this area I consider your comments to be completely uniformed. I have spoken on numerous occasions with S.D.P.D. in person, by phone and through e-mail communications regarding the problems we have in this community, problems brought on directly by the city of San Diego and the upshot of the whole thing is they are making money on it and are not going to change anything.

One officer told me, in person, that it will take someone’s death on the street due to jaywalking before anything will be implemented. It is impossible to get an officer to your property after dark for anything short of an impending murder or assault as they are too busy policing the immediate bar district and protecting their revenues. (we are #1 in DUI’s here in P.B. a dubious honor).

Directly I was told to protect myself and my property and given specifics as to how that should be done. Hence the reason for my search for vehicle protection information.

The “self-incrimination” you speak of is highly documented by myself and the authorities and although sympathetic they are unwilling to offer anything in the way of enforcement.

So Jake I consider your comments, as well intentioned as they may be, to also be completely naive and ignorant.

Jake

I WAS REAR-ENDED IN ROSARITO BEACH AT DUSK

Ken Cooke - 10-11-2011 at 08:00 PM

by a Camero that did not want to stop in time behind me. The damage (due to my heavy-duty bumpers) - NONE. I would suggest that anyone that enjoys traveling throughout the Baja peninsula - even the populated Northern areas to invest in heavy-duty bumpers.

The hood of the Camero didn't even leave a scratch on my scratched bumper! :lol:

mtgoat666 - 10-11-2011 at 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
by a Camero that did not want to stop in time behind me. The damage (due to my heavy-duty bumpers) - NONE. I would suggest that anyone that enjoys traveling throughout the Baja peninsula - even the populated Northern areas to invest in heavy-duty bumpers.

The hood of the Camero didn't even leave a scratch on my scratched bumper! :lol:

ken:
the scenario you describe is good for you, because the other car absorbed energy through deformation.

the day you collide with another vehicle that also has reinforced bumpers like yours is the day you learn that a crash w/o energy-absorbing bumpers and crumple-frames to absorb energy is painful for vehicle occupants. if all cars on street had solid bumpers like yours you would see some pretty horrible results in collisions. vehicles with bumpers that absorb energy are good for all occupants of vehicles involved in crashes. sort of like the difference between playing tackle football with and without pads, and removing energy dissapators from bumper and frame is sort of like removing air bags from your vehicle..
good luck!

mtgoat666 - 10-11-2011 at 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cisco
Thank you counselor, your perceptive reading of my post’s is impressive.

Actually tearing up other peoples bumpers was a suggestion of a San Diego Police Officer, not mine.

I did not use the term “mowing down” bicyclists although after one experience with “Critical Mass” it certainly sounds tempting, again thanks.

Unless you live in the circumstances of this area I consider your comments to be completely uniformed. I have spoken on numerous occasions with S.D.P.D. in person, by phone and through e-mail communications regarding the problems we have in this community, problems brought on directly by the city of San Diego and the upshot of the whole thing is they are making money on it and are not going to change anything.

One officer told me, in person, that it will take someone’s death on the street due to jaywalking before anything will be implemented. It is impossible to get an officer to your property after dark for anything short of an impending murder or assault as they are too busy policing the immediate bar district and protecting their revenues. (we are #1 in DUI’s here in P.B. a dubious honor).

Directly I was told to protect myself and my property and given specifics as to how that should be done. Hence the reason for my search for vehicle protection information.

The “self-incrimination” you speak of is highly documented by myself and the authorities and although sympathetic they are unwilling to offer anything in the way of enforcement.

So Jake I consider your comments, as well intentioned as they may be, to also be completely naive and ignorant.

Sounds like the neighborhood changed and you harbor resentment about the change. you might be happier if you moved to a new place, ya know?

jakecard - 10-11-2011 at 08:49 PM

Christ. You are serious!

Put down the keys, man.

Just put 'em down.

Jake

Ken Cooke - 10-11-2011 at 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

ken:
the day you collide with another vehicle that also has reinforced bumpers like yours is the day you learn that a crash w/o energy-absorbing bumpers and crumple-frames to absorb energy is painful for vehicle occupants.

It would certainly be a freak accident. I am a very careful driver that regularly gets cut off because of the cushion of space I leave between the driver in front of me. This normally gets gobbled up by other drivers looking to "get ahead."

I once had a very minor fender-bender in 1989. :!:

805gregg - 10-14-2011 at 08:08 PM

I have a Buckstop on my Dodge, one of the testamonials said he lived in Utah and took out 2 deer and and Elk with no damage to his truck, i believe him, check them out.