Ford Ranger bull bars: Factory and aftermarket options

Australia is pretty much the global home of the bull bar. Some countries favour the nudge bar which is okay for smaller animals and mounting lights and aerials, but here, where an adult male kangaroo needs to bend down to eyeball you in your car, the full-spec bull bar rules.

And since the super-popular Ford Ranger is one of the best choices as an outback tourer or remote area getaway machine, it stands to reason both Ford and the aftermarket would be keen to supply a range of bull bars.

However, before you rush out and spend your money, there are a few things to consider.

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Those start with airbag compatibility. Ford spent a lot of time and effort making the Ranger as safe as possible. That includes fitting airbags which deploy in the case of a frontal impact.

The wrong bull bar or even nudge bar design can compromise this feature, making the car less safe, technically unroadworthy and possibly uninsured. So make sure any bull bar you fit has the green light for airbag compatibility.

Some companies crash-test their bull bars to ensure they’ll work properly on the intended vehicle, others don’t, so ask the right questions come purchase time.

Along the same lines is compatibility with the type of modern camera systems fitted to many vehicles. These cameras offer everything from a view of what’s going on under the vehicle, to a view down the road to assess upcoming hazards.

Again, the wrong bull bar may compromise this feature, meaning you’ve paid for tech that now doesn’t work.

The Ford Ranger Ironman bull bar is another favourite among Aussie buyers and includes integrated recovery points and winch mountings as well as a choice of shapes and models to suit different applications. (Image: Ironman 4x4)

Winch compatibility is another big issue. If you plan to fit a winch sometime down the track, the bull bar you need will be able to allow for this with strength in the right places and cut-outs for fairleads and cable.

Don’t forget the basic stuff, too. Does the bull bar, when fitted, still allow for the vehicle’s indicators to be seen from the appropriate angles for roadworthiness? Does the bar have its own indicators to allow for this?

And finally, does the bar you’re looking at have the basic functions that bull bars are famous for? That is, tabs to fit an aerial and mounting points for extra lighting. When it comes down to it, these are fitments that go hand in hand with a front bar, so don’t ignore them.

When it comes to the best bull bar for Ford Ranger models or a Ford Ranger nudge bar, many buyers make this purchase when they buy the vehicle in the first place.

Because of the brand’s reputation, Ford didn’t develop its own bar range for the Ranger, instead looking to one particular aftermarket supplier. That’s why a genuine Ford Ranger bull bar is actually an ARB Ford Ranger bull bar.

Winch compatibility is another big issue. (Image: ARB 4x4)

The exception to this is the Ranger Raptor model which doesn’t get a listing next to any of the other bars offered for the Ranger through dealerships. But never fear, because the aftermarket is your friend here.

In many cases, the Ranger Raptor bull bar is less complex device, and allows the aggressive looks to shine through rather than be obscured by the bar work.

But good ones like the TJM bull bar Ford Ranger Raptor part number features rated recovery points and some other great features.

Same goes for the Hamer bull bar Ranger Raptor unit, the Predator bull bar Ranger Raptor fitment and many others which can be found at a range of aftermarket accessory outlets.

The Ford Ranger Ironman bull bar is another favourite among Aussie buyers and includes integrated recovery points and winch mountings as well as a choice of shapes and models to suit different applications.

In many cases, the Ranger Raptor bull bar is less complex device, and allows the aggressive looks to shine through rather than be obscured by the bar work. (Image: TJM)

All the big names in aftermarket bars also offer various next-gen Ranger bull bar products, too, so you don’t necessarily need to go for a genuine Ford bar. Although you can.

The alternative for an older rig – say, a PK Ranger bullbar or a PJ Ranger bull bar – is to shop second-hand. The online classifieds are full of such things and you can save hundreds of dollars. And since a bull bar has no real moving parts, you should be able to easily pick a good one from a dud one.

If you are buying second-hand, make sure you know the score of what fits what. There are likely, for instance, to be subtle differences between a Ford Ranger PX3 bull bar, a PX2 Ranger bull bar, or even a PX1 Ranger bull-bar.

There may be some interchangeability, but subtle differences can catch you out when it comes to actually mounting the bar.

Similarly, a second-hand Wildtrak bull bar will often not have provisions for side rails (they’re more common on workhorse versions of the Ranger) so make sure the used bar is exactly what you need.

Ford Ranger bull bar prices start at about 00 for something brand new from an established brand. (Image: Off Road Animal)

The one to be really wary of is a modified Ford Ranger bull bar. You can’t always tell what the previous owner has done to the thing and those changes may have compromised safety or utility to some extent. Caveat emptor.

Ford Ranger bull bar prices start at about $2000 for something brand new from an established brand. You can easily spend a lot more, however, and bars costing $4000 and up are not unknown.

If you’re buying one brand-new, consider doing a package deal that includes fitting the bar. That saves a lot of hassle and you know the thing is then fitted correctly. Sometimes, fitting is included as part of the bar’s price, but you need to establish this first.

In other cases, the good brands should all come with extensive DIY fitting instructions if you want to install the bar yourself. But a second-hand bull bar? You might just be on your own there.

If that’s the case, do some research and learn what rating the mounting bolts should be as well as the recommended torque figures.