2022 Isuzu MU-X build: Offroad Animal Predator bar installed

When we started planning the build of our Isuzu MU-X LS-M, we wanted something a bit different for the front end when compared to what we put on our most recent build – the Isuzu D-MAX.

While the D-MAX wore a full-size bullbar and winch package from Ironman 4x4, we knew we needed to watch the weight on the MU-X to keep it within GVM; so we went looking for a metal replacement front bumper, not a bullbar.

Enter the guys from Offroad Animal; a Melbourne company that designs and engineers its 4x4 accessories at its Mornington Peninsula facility and then has the finished products manufactured overseas. We’ve known these guys for years, always liked what they do and were only too happy to fit one of its Predator bumpers to our MU-X.

Why replace a bumper with something that doesn’t offer the protection of a bullbar? As I said, weight was an issue here, but replacing the standard plastic bumper with a metal one not only gives you a stronger bumper bar, but clever design also improves the approach angle of the Isuzu with the new bumper.

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The Predator bar has mounting holes for auxiliary lighting and aerials when required, and it is also made to mount a 12-volt winch and most low-mount winch units will fit inside the bar.

The kit for the Predator bar even comes with a flip-up number plate mount to make access to any winch easier when using it.

The Predator bar is a welded steel one-piece unit which, in our opinion, is better than some of the screwed-together three-piece designs you see from other manufacturers due to the simplicity and strength of being a single unit.

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Other features of note with the Offroad Animal bar include the standard recovery points machined from 20mm-thick steel plate, slots in the bar to accept a high-lift jack, and provisions to mount the OE fog lights if your car has them as standard. Our MU-X, being an LS-M, did not. Same story with the front parking sensors; the new bumper has provisions for them but our car didn’t come with them.

The Predator bar is available with or without the top ‘Stealth hoop’ and has provisions for a pair of 22-inch LED light bars – one in the hoop and one inside the main channel of the bar. In standard form, the bars are powder-coated black after being zinc-plated for protection against corrosion.

Of course, the Predator bumper is compliant with all ADR standards and compatible with the Isuzu’s airbags and safety systems.

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We chose to get ours with the top hoop and got a pair of 22-inch Explora light bars from Narva to go inside the bar before it was fitted. These will complement a bigger lighting package from Narva to come later in the build, so stay tuned for some exciting new products to come there.

We also had the main section of the bar colour-matched to the car but kept the top hoop black, where it sits in front of the LS-M’s black radiator grille. Not wanting any chrome on our vehicle, the black grille was one bonus when choosing the base model of the MU-X range.

When it came time to install the bar, we called on our mates at Ontrack Automotive at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne’s south-east. Phil and the team at Ontrack did plenty of work on the Ford Ranger we built a few years back, and going back further the Hilux we put together and gave away. So we were only too happy to entrust the MU-X to the guys there. It’s great to see a workshop that is run by a four-wheel driver, and with a small team that knows the needs of other 4WD enthusiasts and the best way to deliver it.

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The guys said that fitting the Predator bar was a pretty straightforward job which took them around half a day to do, including fitting and wiring up the Narva light bars. The Predator bar is a full bumper replacement unit, so there’s no cutting and trimming the OE plastic bumper and reusing it. The bumper kit also includes upper and lower underbody protection that sit directly below the front of the bar.

Overall, we reckon the Offroad Animal Predator bar looks tough on the front of the MU-X. It’s aggressive without being over the top and blends in nicely with the colour-coding. More than anything, the Predator bar has the features we want in a replacement bumper that will improve the off-road performance of the MU-X, thanks to the improvement in approach angle. It also allows us to install more accessories if and when we choose to.

This is the first part of the MU-X build and we reckon it’s really going to come together well with the next installations.

Available from

W: www.offroadanimal.com.au
W: www.ontrack4x4.com.au
W: www.narva.com.au

Pricing

• Offroad Animal Predator bar: $2950 (plus colour-matching, Stealth Hoop, and fitting)
• Narva Explora 22-inch single-row light bar: $299 each
• Narva LED light wiring harness: $79