Question about bull bars, brush guards, rear guards, etc....

[LSUMBA]

I know that bull bars, brush guards, rear guards, hitch steps, etc are all popular accessories, but something said in another thread got me thinking.

When I receive my 06 LTD in a few weeks, I was planning on putting a bull bar & hitch mounted rear step bar on it. Then in another thread, I read that some of these accessories can impede the functionality of the air bag sensors. Now, I know that if you hit a vehicle with enough force, the air bags will likely deploy, but the article stated that aftermarket bolt on guards could alter the impact where the force is still distributed to the driver & passenger, but it could completely miss the air bag sensor & cause it to not deploy.

Has anyone looked into this & is there any reason for concern with these aftermarket bolt on accessories?

 

[Offroader]

Toyota USA's advanced Engineering.

You're right.

That's why Toyota Australia came up with this solution for the Land Cruiser Prado, and crash tested the airbag functionality:

Toyota USA came up with this solution for the 4Runner:

They didn't even have to crash test it, because it's so fragile, it protects the bumper as much as an extra coat of paint.

Way to go, Toyota USA!!! :awais:

 

[Koz]

I can tell you, NO brush/bumper/grill guard is designed or able to absorb any kind of impact. They are ONLY capable of withstanding a very low speed bump. The support brackets are only designed to hold the guard in place (up). I don't see any of these guards interfering when there is an impact.

Koz

 

[Jim_Chow]

Plus there are no bullbars/winchbars made for the 4th gen 4runner except a one-off prototype by ARB for car shows. Since having a bullbar and heavy-duty rear bumper (ie, 3/16" steel or better) were prerequisites for me to buy a 4runner, I ran out of patience for ARB after waiting over a year and bought a UZJ100 instead. Way to go ARB....

 

[Gromulus]

ARB Bull Bumper

I ran out of patience for ARB after waiting over a year and bought a UZJ100 instead. Way to go ARB....

LOL! I hear ya. Here is an e-mail I received the other day after I had inquired abou ARB's plans to make a bumper for the 4Runner:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry to us here at ARB.

Currently, ARB does not have a bumper available for this application. We
are always considering new products and this certainly is a bar ARB that
will be considering. I have taken your name; email address and bumper
request and entered it into our database. This database is being constantly
reviewed, and if or when this part is available, ARB will contact you with
that information. Thank you for being patient.

Best Regards,
Scott Cohen
Customer Service

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[abin]

I can tell you, NO brush/bumper/grill guard is designed or able to absorb any kind of impact. They are ONLY capable of withstanding a very low speed bump. The support brackets are only designed to hold the guard in place (up). I don't see any of these guards interfering when there is an impact.

Koz

This means air bag will deploy as it is supposed to. With or without the brush guard will do the same.
This makes me feel comfortable, since if there is an accident, the insurance company may say that the aftermarket "thing" confused the air bag sensor and caused the delay of its deployment, making more body injury....

Good to know otherwise.

 

[LSUMBA]

This means air bag will deploy as it is supposed to. With or without the brush guard will do the same.
This makes me feel comfortable, since if there is an accident, the insurance company may say that the aftermarket "thing" confused the air bag sensor and caused the delay of its deployment, making more body injury....

Good to know otherwise.

That's pretty much what I am getting at. Of course, I am less concerned with fighting with the insurance company than I am about fighting for my life. :