If you're building up a GU Patrol and trying to decide between a tube bullbar and a plate bullbar, you're not alone — it's one of the most common questions we get here at Rag Customs. Both styles have their place, and the right choice depends on how you use your rig.
Tube Bullbars
Tube bars are built from heavy-wall steel pipe bent and welded into shape. They're lighter than plate bars, offer excellent recovery point placement, and have a clean look that suits most Patrol builds. They're also generally easier to fabricate as a DIY kit because the components are simpler to handle and weld.
Our GU Patrol Tube Bullbar is one of our most popular products. It's available as a full DIY kit (you weld it up yourself) or as a fully welded, ready-to-fit unit. The DIY kit ships flat-packed, which keeps freight costs down — a big deal when you're ordering to regional WA or Queensland.
Tube bullbar suits you if:
- You want to keep weight down
- You prefer a cleaner, traditional 4WD look
- You're comfortable with basic MIG welding
- You want more winch and aerial mount flexibility
Plate Bullbars
Plate bars are cut from flat steel plate and built up in sections. They're heavier and more labour-intensive to build, but they offer more mounting surface, a wider stance, and a tougher, more modern look.
Our GU Patrol Plate Bullbar is available in two styles: New Style (contoured front face) and Flat Style (maximum clearance, no-frills design). Both are laser-cut in-house at our Cardiff, NSW workshop — every hole is precise, every edge is clean.
Plate bullbar suits you if:
- You want maximum mounting real estate for lights, aerials, and jacks
- You're after a more aggressive or modern look
- Recovery and push protection is a priority
- You're happy to put more fab time in for a premium result
DIY Kit vs Fully Welded
Both styles are available as DIY kits or fully welded units.
- DIY Kit — all steel laser-cut and pre-drilled, you weld it up at home. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to freight. Ships within 7–10 working days.
- Fully Welded — welded in-house at Cardiff, you bolt it straight on. Ships within 14–21 working days.
If you've got a welder and a few weekends, the DIY route is genuinely rewarding. You'll end up with a bar you built yourself, which counts for something.
Which One Should You Get?
For a touring build or daily driver, a tube bar is hard to beat — lighter, proven, and flexible. For a competition-style rig or a build where look and mounting real estate matter most, go plate.
Either way, every bar we make is cut and built right here in Australia — not imported, not rebadged. If you've got questions about fitment or which option suits your Series, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.