for back bumper protection, hitch step or steel bumper guard?

[Mihls]

Just got my first Subie, a ForesterPremium 2.5, not the latest model, its a 2013 but looking pretty good. The car market is insane right now so that's pretty much what I could come up with.
I'm checking in with you guys since you Subaru owners in AUS have a better market and this place in particular an understanding of protecting your car from wildlife, but also idiots parking their cars when in the city. I'm in the US and we do not have SubaExtreme so it's a guessing market what's best to get,
For the front I'm going to get a Subaextreme knockoff, hope that will work
And for for the back, it's one of these below. What's your opinion, anyone? Thanks!

Bully CR-600L Hitch Step, Chrome, Black​

Stainless Steel Double Layer Rear Bumper Guard | Fits 2007-2013 Subaru Fo...•

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F5LKNQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

 

[Kevin]

That should do the job @Mihls - so long as it does not reduce your departure angle too much

 

[Mihls]

That should do the job @Mihls - so long as it does not reduce your departure angle too much

Seriously, which one of them in your opinion is best for keeping two-legged wheel-driving maniacs away better?

 

[ABFoz]

Seriously, which one of them in your opinion is best for keeping two-legged wheel-driving maniacs away better?

We are talking about minor parking bumps, right?

If you wish to keep the hitch, the bully one looks sturdier and less of a hindrance to the crumple zone, as when impacted at low/crawl speeds, the force will just be distributed to the towbar/hitch assembly bolted to the unibody. The stainless rear bumper guard looks like it's properly rigid and my worry about that is that even low impacts can deform the unibody. The Bully one can dig into the vehicle behind while the double layer stainless one can damage what's beneath the luggage area.

The thing about SubaXtreme bumpers is that, they are alloy and are still not as intrusive to the crumple zones as many bull bars, because of their ADR certification.

I believe there are tube bumpers that have some sort of shock absorbing brackets but I forgot where I saw them - maybe Europe or Russia?.

 

[Mihls]

We are talking about minor parking bumps, right?

If you wish to keep the hitch, the bully one looks sturdier and less of a hindrance to the crumple zone, as when impacted at low/crawl speeds, the force will just be distributed to the towbar/hitch assembly bolted to the unibody. The stainless rear bumper guard looks like it's properly rigid and my worry about that is that even low impacts can deform the unibody. The Bully one can dig into the vehicle behind while the double layer stainless one can damage what's beneath the luggage area.

The thing about SubaXtreme bumpers is that, they are alloy and are still not as intrusive to the crumple zones as many bull bars, because of their ADR certification.

I believe there are tube bumpers that have some sort of shock absorbing brackets but I forgot where I saw them - maybe Europe or Russia?.

Thanks for the advice!
Yes, that makes a lot of sense. I did suspect the stainless bars could be a problem. Have seen quite a few of them on Toyota's Rav4 but not on Subies.
Yes, it's will hopefully protect against minor type but very irritating parking bumps.

I am not the only one that SubaExtreme opened shop in the States. I have seen what looks like a copy on eBay here, but who knows...

​

 

[ABFoz]

Thanks for the advice!
Yes, that makes a lot of sense. I did suspect the stainless bars could be a problem. Have seen quite a few of them on Toyota's Rav4 but not on Subies.
Yes, it's will hopefully protect against minor type but very irritating parking bumps.

I am not the only one that SubaExtreme opened shop in the States. I have seen what looks like a copy on eBay here, but who knows...

​

Welcome.

The nudge bar above may interfere with the airbag system. In Australia, they have ADR approved ones that have brackets that are designed to go under the car upon heavy impact.