The Holden Colorado was sold in Australia between 2008 and 2020. It has two available variants, several petrol and diesel engines, and single, space-cab and dual-cab designs. Second-gen RG cars were undeniably best-sellers, with reliable Duramax engines, decent safety tech in all trims and a capable ride on and off-road. Styling and options packages also threw in a ton of goodies at discount prices in cars meant for different uses. 

If you’ve picked up a used Colorado and missed the factory extras, there’s still a ton of aftermarket gear to dress the car for any occasion. The ute has decent towing capacity to get trailers, caravans and boats where they’re needed, a standard-sized tub for hauling duties or additions like toolboxes or canopies, and solid mechanicals for off-roading. Most owners also opt for bespoke Holden Colorado bull bars in steel or aluminium to keep the paintwork and engine intact when driving in the bush, and as a foundation for off-roading necessities like winches and light bars. 

Why Have a Bull Bar on Your Colorado? 

Bull bars replace the front stock bumper. Besides giving the Colorado a purposeful and aggressive look, this addition also plays a key role: 

• Front-end protection – Bull bars protect critical engine and vehicle parts (radiators, cooling fans, steering linkages, suspension components etc.) from direct animal strikes, thus the name. They’re useful in the bush, on unpaved roads and at the worksite. The parts also shield the lights, bonnet and windshield from road debris, spraying gravel, brush and other obstacles, ensuring you get to your destination unscathed. 
• Mounting point for accessories – Ensure any extras like CB antennas, LED driving lights, or light bars are secured to the vehicle, regardless of how or where you drive. 
• Winch accessibility – Winches are indispensable recovery gear when off the tarmac. While you don’t necessarily need a bull bar to install a winch, the protective parts make the process much easier. Look for winch-compatible  bull bars with integrated winch cradles if you do regular rounds off-road. 
• Improved approach angles – With bumpers off, bull bars make technical terrain easier. They provide improved angles when negotiating uneven ground, and take the damage instead of the ute. 
• Increased resale values – Buyers are more keen on utes and Colorados, already decently kitted. Bull bars in good condition get you more cash towards your next purchase. 

Common Bull Bar Designs

Aussies have preferred traditional triple hoops due to the increased protection, especially in kangaroo strikes. These designs shield a larger part of the Colorado’s front. Triple hoops generally sit wider and taller, and are particularly effective in strikes from the left or right sides. While offering the best protection and more space for additions, they’re the heaviest type and may require suspension tweaks to keep handling decent. 

Single hoops consist of a single bar curving just in front of the radiator. They’re cheaper and lighter, but miss out on side protection. Newer hoopless bars are a hybrid design, similar in appearance to single hoops but with the level of protection and customisation offered by triple hoops. 

Materials 

How effective bull bars are in protecting your Colorado is largely down to the materials they’re made of. These also determine looks and longevity. Choose electropainted and powder-treated steel Holden Colorado bull bars for maximum strength, the best protection against last animals, and relatively low-maintenance needs. 

Electroplating is necessary for increased corrosion protection, while coatings limit scratch marks and surface damage. However, a downside of steel bars, particularly triple hoops, is their high weight, sometimes requiring firming up the front with stiffer springs. 

Aluminium bars are up to half the weight, don’t rust in any weather, and offer good strength. They’re harder to maintain, needing periodic polishing, and are usually more expensive than steel bars in the same size and design. Plastic bars are cheaper and more flexible options for lighter trail use, are exceptionally good against gravel and spraying debris, but won’t last or protect your Colorado in kangaroo strikes. 

Buying Considerations 

When shopping for Holden Colorado bull bars, consider a few key buying factors: 

• Compatibility – Both OE and aftermarket bull bars are vehicle-specific. This also means size and design differences between Colorado RC and RG models. 
• ADR compliance – Observe state and federal regulations on front-end additions, especially size and positioning. 
• Airbag, tech and safety compatibility – Bull bars must not impede airbag activation in the event of accidents and collisions, or the work of standard safety tech like cameras and radars. 
• Weight and materials – How does the added weight affect handling, and are modifications (and additional costs) necessary? 

Matching Accessories 

Bull bars can be sold on their own, but there’s more value when going with packaged deals. Winch-compatible bars aren’t that more expensive than regular types, but offer more versatility. Matching electric winches, usually with high-strength synthetic rope and pulling capacity twice that of a fully loaded Colorado are lifesavers in solo off-roading, and help get out mates’ utes stuck in ruts, brush, deeper mud and loose sand. For safer recoveries, also look for rated recovery bars that bolt onto the bull bars and act as an attachment point for hooks and rope. 

For all-around protection, consider side brush bars that attach to hoops and protect the wheels, wheel flares and tires from side impact. And boost visibility on rural and unpaved roads with the right combination of driving lights and LED light bars in high brightness levels, and builds able to withstand typical bush conditions.