2015 Police Interceptor Utility Setina Push Bar Transfer Kit: What You Need to Know

If you've acquired a decommissioned 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility — or you're working with one already in your fleet — and it came equipped with a Setina push bar, you may be wondering whether that push bar can move to another vehicle. That's exactly what a Setina push bar transfer kit addresses. Here's how the concept works, what variables shape the process, and what differs depending on your situation.

What Is a Setina Push Bar?

A push bar (also called a brush guard, push bumper, or ram bar) is a heavy-duty steel or aluminum bar mounted to the front of a vehicle, typically in place of or over the factory bumper. On police vehicles, push bars serve several purposes: protecting the front end in pursuit interventions, reinforcing the bumper during nudge maneuvers, and carrying auxiliary lighting and equipment mounts.

Setina Manufacturing is one of the most recognized names in police vehicle outfitting. Their push bars are built specifically for law enforcement platforms and are engineered to mount to factory bumper structures on particular vehicle models and years — not as universal fits.

The 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility (based on the Ford Explorer) was one of the most widely deployed law enforcement platforms of its era, and Setina produced dedicated push bar fitments for it.

What Is a Transfer Kit?

A transfer kit is a hardware package that allows you to remount a Setina push bar — originally installed on one vehicle — onto a different vehicle of the same or compatible make, model, and year.

These kits typically include:

• New mounting brackets specific to the destination vehicle
• Hardware (bolts, nuts, spacers, and sometimes backing plates)
• Instructions for the new installation

Transfer kits exist because the push bar's main tube assembly is the expensive, durable component. The mounting brackets are the vehicle-specific parts. When a vehicle is retired or totaled, the push bar itself often has years of service life remaining — the transfer kit lets you carry that value forward rather than buying a new push bar entirely.

🔧 Important distinction: A transfer kit is not a universal adapter. It's engineered for a specific destination platform. The donor push bar model and the destination vehicle must both be within the kit's compatibility range.

Compatibility Considerations for the 2015 Police Interceptor Utility

The 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility had a mid-cycle refresh that year, which affected exterior dimensions and bumper mounting geometry compared to earlier model years (2011–2014). This matters because:

• A push bar from a pre-2015 Interceptor Utility may not transfer directly to a 2015 without the correct kit
• A push bar from a 2015 may or may not fit a different model year depending on whether the destination vehicle shares the same bumper structure
• Different push bar product lines from Setina (their Model 10, Model 20, PB400, etc.) each have different transfer kit part numbers

Before sourcing a transfer kit, you'll want to confirm:

1. The exact Setina model number of the existing push bar
2. The model year and trim of the vehicle the push bar is coming from
3. The model year and trim of the vehicle it's going to

Setina publishes fitment guides and part numbers by vehicle and push bar model. Cross-referencing all three of those data points is the starting point.

Installation: What the Process Generally Involves

Installing a Setina push bar with a transfer kit is a mechanical job that typically requires:

• Removing the original push bar from the donor vehicle (detaching the bracket hardware, disconnecting any wiring for lights)
• Inspecting the push bar's tube assembly and any welded mounts for damage or corrosion
• Fitting the new vehicle-specific brackets from the transfer kit to the destination vehicle's bumper reinforcement bar
• Torquing hardware to spec (push bars carry real load — under-torqued mounts can shift or fail)
• Reconnecting any auxiliary lighting, which may require new wiring if harness connectors differ between vehicle years

🔩 Some installers route this through upfitters or fleet outfitting shops familiar with law enforcement vehicle equipment, particularly when auxiliary lighting is involved.

Variables That Shape the Outcome

The transfer kit process isn't identical for everyone. Several factors affect how straightforward — or complicated — it becomes:

Civilian vs. Fleet Use Considerations

Push bars transferred from decommissioned police vehicles to civilian-owned Explorers occupy a legal gray area in some states. A few things worth knowing:

• Some states regulate forward-facing lights mounted on push bars (colors, use while moving, etc.)
• Aesthetic or off-road use of push bars is generally less regulated than active lighting configurations
• If the vehicle is going back into a security or government fleet, procurement documentation for the transfer hardware may be required

The rules vary by state and intended use. What's unrestricted in one jurisdiction may require permits or light-color restrictions in another. 🚔

The Missing Piece

Whether a specific Setina transfer kit works for your situation comes down to the exact push bar model you have, the year and configuration of both vehicles involved, and what your intended use is. The fitment guides, part numbers, and compatibility charts — combined with your vehicle's actual bumper condition and wiring setup — are the variables only you can confirm on your end.