If you want to go off-roading without a care then a Landcruiser is what you should look for as these are the unbeatable kings of the bush. This is the case especially if you go for the 200 series which comes with a V8 under the bonnet that can power through some of the most challenging terrains.
While you won’t get the the same mileage as with the 300 series, at the end of the day that doesn’t matter as much since you’re off-roading. Toyota’s 4.5-litre diesel has extraordinary torque levels low in the rev range and it can get about a full day’s worth of travel thanks to the Landruiser’s 138L tank. For a large 4×4 that can bring you to any campsite without a sweat, the 200 series Landcruiser is quite economical as it uses an average of 9.5L / 100km.
Benefits of a Nudge Bar
Protection
Despite being somewhat different from bullbars, nudge bars are also able to provide protection just in different areas. If you decide to do only light off-roading and mostly driving in the city or the motorway, a new Toyota 200 series nudge bar is for you. That’s because it provides ample protection in those environments.
Cost-Effective
Unlike a bullbar, a nudge bar is also a more cost-effective solution since it’s not as heavy and thus costlier to repair and more taxing on your suspension. Their smaller form-factor is to blame for that which also makes them easier to install.
Attachments
With a nudge bar on your Landcruiser, you can attach accessories in the same way you could on a bullbar. You can still add a winch, some lights and a UHF antenna all without adding so much weight to the front of your 4×4. Just make sure that the nudge bar you go for has the attachment points for said accessories.
Approach Angle
While this is more for off-roading than anything, a nudge bar will make your Landcruiser 200 series have better approach angles. This means that you can go over large bumps and uneven terrain especially on a hill without damaging the corners of your front bumper. Even if the bumpers would to come in contact with the ground, the nudge bar is what will get scraped or damaged.
Nudge Bar Materials
Steel
The heaviest and toughest Toyota 200 series nudge bar you’ll come across will be made of steel. Steel bars are able to withstand the hardest impacts and don’t get bent that easily. They will wear out your front suspension much quicker than lighter nudge bars and they also increase fuel consumption quite a bit.
Aluminium
Unlike steel nudge bars, aluminium ones are lightweight and have better corrosion protection. Aluminium is a more malleable material that can be bent into shape once it gets damaged but don’t expect it to make for the strongest nudge bars. The lightweight design of aluminium nudge bars is what also makes them easy to mount.
Plastic
The lightest nudge bars you can get are made of plastic but they are also the least protective. Plastic nudge bars exist to provide an additional layer so that the bumper doesn’t get scraped as easily. You can’t bend a plastic nudge bar back to its original shape. You can’t really add any accessories either which is why a plastic nudge bar is perfect for driving in urban areas as most of the accessories are for off-roading.
What Matters in a Nudge Bar
ADR
Australian design rules require that a nudge bar does not obscure the number plate and that it should exceed the width of the vehicle it’s put on. A nudge bar shouldn’t protrude more than 100 mm of its base and it should go with the shape of the vehicle. The brackets shouldn’t be exposed so that they don’t cause injury when in an impact with a pedestrian. The driving lights shouldn’t be obscured either and the bar must have 100 mm of ground clearance. The nudge bar must come with rounded corners with either rounded or chamfered flanges.
Weight
The weight of the nudge bar is always going to add some stress to suspension components and increase fuel consumption. What’s important here is that you don’t go with a Toyota 200 series nudge bar that weighs so much be it with or without the addition of accessories, that it causes premature wear and excessive fuel consumption.
Finish
Be it steel or aluminium you can have a nudge bar with a different finish. Each finish offers a set of benefits be it regarding longevity, strength or appearance. For instance, a chrome finish nudge bar is going to make your Landcruiser look more luxurious but it will scratch a lot easier and it won’t add a considerable level of protection. A powder-coated nudge bar, on the other hand, is going to be a lot tougher and more durable but it won’t necessarily look that much better.
Supercharge Society 