unusual bumper bar setup

[motto]

Perhaps the terrain gives a clue for the inversion of the brush guard? Grass up to knee high which could easily mask obstacles presenting a danger to what is below bumper height. Maybe they had a bad experience with a sump or track rod at some time?
It is certainly no longer suitable for water bag use.

David

[Wayne Henderson]

The black square looks like the censor has deleted any identifying unit markings.
This mod would make a good brush guard against some of the ground covered or perhaps the bar is used as a step to aid in working on the motor... it is a Ford and the sun is up.

[Little Jo]

Hi Cliff

Maybe it's a step for short guys so they can get to the radiator to fill it up.

Cheers

Tony

[Jared Archibald]

I reckon Motto was on the right track.

Across the tropical north we have huge numbers of termite mounds. Most are not the size of the one the bloke is standing next to in the pic, but about knee high, and as hard as concrete when it comes to I-beam front axles and drag links.

With the bar inverted like that , it is the perfect height to shave the tops off the mounds to just below front axle height when travelling through long grass.If you hit a particularly strong one, it will stop the truck before doing steering damage.

A fine field expedient modification!