When it comes to commercial vehicles that offer reliability and toughness, nothing beats a truck. First built and designed by Karl Benz in late 1985, the word truck has become synonymous with motor vehicles that are tough enough to handle, carry, and transport large, heavy loads over great distances. And because of these characteristics, trucks of all shapes and sizes can be found in roads today, although they share some certain characteristics in component construction. Heavy duty trucks, for example, use a powerful four stroke turbo intercooler diesel engines, while light to medium duty trucks such as pickups and SUVs use a more fuel-efficient gasoline engine. Trucks also share characteristics in their transmission as well. Trucks are often equipped with an automatic transmission or a manual transmission with a synchronizer. There are however, trucks that feature only a manual transmission without a synchronizer, as a synchronized transmission is heavier in comparison with unsynchronized ones. Such types of transmissions however, are getting less popular, as more and more trucks nowadays utilize automatic transmissions. And aside from the engine and transmission systems, trucks also have similar constructions in the chassis, axles, wheels, and certain pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
Another characteristic of trucks is that they can be fitted with special parts and accessories that both provide a special function and add to the aesthetics of the vehicle as well.
There are many types of truck parts and accessories available in the market today, and one such example is the push bar. Located in the front of the truck, Truck Push Bars are optional automotive components that add to the protection and appearance of the truck. The push bar is usually made of hardened steel or aluminum and is designed to serve as a protective shield to the front end of the vehicle while off-roading or in other rough environments. And aside from protection, the push bar can give a rugged look in the SUV and can be installed either alone or with optional attachments such as brush guards that provide added protection to the headlights. And to serve this purpose, push bars are made with thick high performance steel tube cross bars that bolt to the uprights with flushed mount screws for a clean look, while the uprights follow the contour of the front bumper. Also, push bars have locator holes found in the back to provide area for auxiliary light tabs, and have coupling rings at all contact points to avoid metal-to-metal contact. And aside from the standard push bar, there are also bull bars for full-size pickup trucks and a safari bars which have mounting points for auxiliary driving lights and is suited for midsize trucks and SUVs.
The is a great addition to any vehicle as it gives added protection, but since they are found in the front end they can also be quite vulnerable to damage. Collisions and can leave dents and dings in the push bar while corrosion can seep into the metal and cause deterioration. Proper care and maintenance is often the best way to prolong the life of the push bar, but worn-out or broken push bars must be replaced immediately.