D4 Bull Bar from ECB

[pm80]

Hi All,
Thought I would post a few pics of the new D4 with a full bumper replacement bull bar. It is even winch compatible! ECB will have it out soon I am told.
Cheers,
Peter

[CaverD3]

Looks pretty chunky compared to the ARB. But ECB will beat ARB to getting it to market.

[Dorko]

Very chunky... would look better without the top bars... do they do bull bars with the top bit?

I would like a bull bar on my D4, but i want it to look like a bumper, but tough.

Dorko

[Watpub]

Whoo-hoo, at last a manufacturer's got the friggin ball rolling.

It looks like either cameras or front parking sensors on one of the bars. Does anyone know how/if these guys have designed the bar for the surround cameras???

Regards, Ron

[DiscoSaffa]

dang that looks good, nice one! :)

I like the way they don't have to cut the wheel arch flares as they do with the ARB one.......

[Tombie]

That bar looks disgusting :(... There, someone had to say it!

The angled tubes up front ruin the lines of the factory grill...
The bottom plate is huge, wings arent swept up..
That thing is going to hit everything you try to get over.. No pushing a corner up to climb something.

Gussets in outer corners looks cheap and nasty...

Knock in the corner surely going to smash the flares off...

Whomever is the designer obviously has no passion, nor cares for the lines of the vehicle its due to fit...

[pm80]

Whoo-hoo, at last a manufacturer's got the friggin ball rolling.

It looks like either cameras or front parking sensors on one of the bars. Does anyone know how/if these guys have designed the bar for the surround cameras???

Regards, Ron

Yes, the one pictured has front sensors and surround camera fitted. I am told they will all have these holes on all bars and will have a grommet if you don't need them.
The production model may be slightly different, this was a pre-production version.
It did look better in the flesh than in the photos. The downside is it will not improve your approach angle at all and the winch will sit very low.

[Graeme]

I wonder why there is a rail across the centre where lights mount.

[DiscoWeb]

The angled tubes up front ruin the lines of the factory grill...
The bottom plate is huge, wings arent swept up..
That thing is going to hit everything you try to get over.. No pushing a corner up to climb something.

Tombie,

I agree, not so sure i would go so far as disgusting, however;

it looks very heavy and square and changes the front end view significantly, does not appear to increase front angles and actually looks like it might reduce angles;

As noted, one hit and those beautiful color matched front flares would be gone.

Whilst it is great that someone is getting on and trying to do a bar for the D4 this is not one I would choose, even for the D3.

Hopefully they can get some constructive feedback and lighten the look and feel up, increase the approach angles and reconsider the sides as retaining the flares might not be the best approach.

George

[Piddler]

That bar looks disgusting :(... There, someone had to say it!

The angled tubes up front ruin the lines of the factory grill...
The bottom plate is huge, wings arent swept up..
That thing is going to hit everything you try to get over.. No pushing a corner up to climb something.

Gussets in outer corners looks cheap and nasty...

Knock in the corner surely going to smash the flares off...

Whomever is the designer obviously has no passion, nor cares for the lines of the vehicle its due to fit...


A little bit harsh Mike?

I agree about the poxy gussets; with a bit of decent engineering you would not need those but over all from an Engineers perspective not to bad. I think it would look pretty good colour matched and stop most strikes. Question is would anything stop major strikes like you had a couple of months ago? Anwser: Probably not (only a D9 blade)

Its a better effort than we have seen from other manufacterers thus far.

All things can be improved!

My 2 cents worth
Cheers

[GeorgeK]

It's a start. Now we'll see what the competition can do. But you are right it is an ugly lookin' thing.

Cheers

George

[ADMIRAL]

Very chunky... would look better without the top bars... do they do bull bars with the top bit?

I would like a bull bar on my D4, but i want it to look like a bumper, but tough.

Dorko

Look up the ARB Sahara bar. Has a full bumper , centre loop and will take a winch. Unfortunately it is only available for the D3. I guess it depends on how easy ARB can modify the top half of their planned D4 bar.

I have used ECB bars on other vehicles. They make a good bar and will usually colour code to suit. The steel winch cradle adds a fair bit of weight, and it would be interesting to compare the alloy ECB, to the steel ARB.

Personal taste, but I will still wait for the ARB bar. I think their 'square' design on the deluxe bar suits the lines of the Disco a little better.

[ADMIRAL]

I wonder why there is a rail across the centre where lights mount.

I would guess for strength. The ECB centre hoop and side wings go higher than the ARB bar. May not help with the looks but it does actually assist with an important factor, particularly if you have a wife shorter than average stature. Looking at the ECB bar, I would say it would very be easy to place the front of the vehicle......and I can advise from experience, this does count a lot for SWMBO. Prudent to consider all factors, before dismissing the ECB bar as an option.

[Graeme]

I like the way they don't have to cut the wheel arch flares as they do with the ARB one.......
Me too and for a tourer retaining the flares wouldn't be the problem that it might be climbing rocky trails.

[rmp]

Not a great looking bar but good on them for even bringing one to market.

Looks like the top of it is visible from the driver's seat which I think is no longer permitted in some states. I'll have to check that.

[Watpub]

I've got to admit that coming back to it a second time (and a second day) it's starting to grow on me.

I originally thought it looked ugly-duckling like, especially around the wheel arches and those bespectacled fog and indicator(?) lamp wells:o. But I now think it's good that a bar can be fitted without butchering any (much) body work (e.g. cutting the arches).

I suspect it will look much better when it is colour matched to a vehicle. Black on blue wouldn't necessarily be my first colour choice (apologies to anyone out there that has black on blue colouring ;)).

...And let's give these guys all the support and encouragement we can (even sales) because we've heard didly-squat except for vapour promises from ARB! Here ya go ECB, a big fat thumbs up from me :BigThumb:

Regards, Ron

[DiscoSaffa]

Looks like the top of it is visible from the driver's seat which I think is no longer permitted in some states. I'll have to check that.

Interesting........ the top of my ARB bar on my D3 is definately visable from the drivers seat. Would be interested in what you dig up.....

Now about the 18 or 19 inch wheels..... :angel: :wasntme: :D

[CaverD3]

Interesting........ the top of my ARB bar on my D3 is definately visable from the drivers seat.

Depends what height your seat is set at and how tall you are.
Difficult to enforce that one.
I thought rule was nothing attached to be protruding above or in front of the bar?

[bbyer]

I expect from a Kangaroo's point of view, the bar may look a little too brutal; and it does not look too EU friendly either, however it does look like it could do a lot better job than a bar that does not yet exist.

Over here in the "other" colony, Canada, our reality is deer and moose in the evenings. They feed on the salt we put on the roads to corrode vehicles of far eastern manufacture. Given however, that there are more domestic vehicles here than off shore built, probably the net sum is fewer domestic built vehicles.

In summary, the ECB bar to me looks no worse than what I see going on many of our domestic pickups - some of these fences look closer to cattle gates than beauty marks.

And to a Roo, the ECB would definitely not look like a vapor bar.

[rmp]

About two hours ago we were cruising down a country road where I've never seen a roo or any other wildlife. Then all of a sudden a huge grey bounds out in front of us.

Five seconds later I'm very glad of the following:

1. That the D3 has excellent brakes and is stable under braking
2. My wife knows what to do in the event of an unexpected roo ecounter -- eg not swerve
3. We have a steel ARB bar on the front

The roo did one of the famous double-backs and somehow it missed us. I honestly thought it was a goner. Would have been the first for us in the D3, not a score I'm keen to see increase above zero.

[Graeme]

Good job Mrs RMP!

It is easier to hold the line when there's a bar as backup in case there's no time to stop, but it has to be done regardless, and sometimes the vehicle cops the lot but at least the occupants will fare a lot better.

[Celtoid]

Talking about ascetics and Bull Bars....

I saw a RRS in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago with a chrome behemoth hanging off the front. would have looked more at home on a Mack truck, It looked absolutely ridiculous.....IMO :)

[RoverLander]

I'm struggling... I want a bull bar on the D4 and I have had a carefull look at the ECB bar... even talked to the guys there who were very helpfull. They have now released the bar and its on their web site. I admire them developing it.

I like the polished look (my car is a white HSE). The bar looks heavy in the pictures, but I've just noticed that they may have had the car on Access Mode so maybe that doesn't help.

Then I'm concerned about the reflection back to the driver. Yes some black tape or painting will fix that. Then there is the Adaptive Lights. I suspect that the corner post on the bullbar will cause a significant shadow and maybe also reflect light back. I also have high beam assist... will the reflected light to the sensor cause problems with that? The ECB guys were not sure about these issues yet... although they were honest enough to say it probably would throw a shadow.

I dont want to add a winch... It looks like I end up with a big square cut out of the front to remind me every day that I didn't fit a winch. That doesn't help with the looks either.

Then SWMBO looks at the picture and just says "that's ugly". As she is the main weekday driver that could make life tough!

So all of that says... probably dont do it... but then Im doing a trip soon and I dont want a stray Roo spoiling our trip...there are no other options yet!

Am I thinking about this to much?

[rmp]

I have an ARB bar and adaptives. They still work. I wouldn't worry about a shadow.

Put a numberplate over the winch hole.

Get the bar and stop worrying. Or, wait for the ARB version which I'm sure will be better-looking.

[Graeme]

The polished bar on a dark vehicle sittting low next to a black bar on a dark vehicle sitting high isn't ever going to compare well. A polished bar on a white vehicle at normal height isn't going to stand-out nearly as much as in that picture.

[ADMIRAL]

I'm struggling... I want a bull bar on the D4 and I have had a carefull look at the ECB bar... even talked to the guys there who were very helpfull. They have now released the bar and its on their web site. I admire them developing it.

I like the polished look (my car is a white HSE). The bar looks heavy in the pictures, but I've just noticed that they may have had the car on Access Mode so maybe that doesn't help.

Then I'm concerned about the reflection back to the driver. Yes some black tape or painting will fix that. Then there is the Adaptive Lights. I suspect that the corner post on the bullbar will cause a significant shadow and maybe also reflect light back. I also have high beam assist... will the reflected light to the sensor cause problems with that? The ECB guys were not sure about these issues yet... although they were honest enough to say it probably would throw a shadow.

I dont want to add a winch... It looks like I end up with a big square cut out of the front to remind me every day that I didn't fit a winch. That doesn't help with the looks either.

Then SWMBO looks at the picture and just says "that's ugly". As she is the main weekday driver that could make life tough!

So all of that says... probably dont do it... but then Im doing a trip soon and I dont want a stray Roo spoiling our trip...there are no other options yet!

Am I thinking about this to much?

Hi Roverlander Having had a few bullbars from ECB, I found the polished alloy a lot of work. It is hard to clean the bugs off, and don't dare use anything even mildy acid, or you will wreck the finish. My last two were a black hammertone powder coat. Almost a slippery finish, and great for getting the bugs off. A hard call, but the polished alloy is hard work to keep in good condition.

[Piddler]

You could always Powder Coat it
Cheers

[BPTP7270]

called a local supplier here in tasmania about the ECB bar for my D4 and even he was shocked at the price. $3000 The D3 bar is over $1000 less.

[RoverLander]

Yes $2600 for bar $100 freight plus $360 fitting. Apparently it takes 2 guys a little over a day to fit!

I've decided that I will put up with the risk of hitting a roo until something better comes along.

[jonesfam]

I will testify that ARB steel bull bars on D3's, at least, stop reasonably large hoppers at 95kph with the nose buried under hard braking very well. The roo was very damaged but car, bar & occupants were all sweet.:D A similar collision with an alloy bar (on a different car) in the past did minor damage to the front & 1 side panel, about $5000 from memory.
BTW Every polished alloy bar I have ever had stains with red Gulf Country mud, black mud also leaves marks & they don't come off.:(
Jonesfam

[ADMIRAL]

Yes $2600 for bar $100 freight plus $360 fitting. Apparently it takes 2 guys a little over a day to fit!

I've decided that I will put up with the risk of hitting a roo until something better comes along.

If that is correct, it is damn cheap labour for 2 guys. Maybe the split is wrong. I would have thought $500- 600 to fit, tops $800.00. The balance in the bar.

[discojools]

Anybody had an ECB fitted to their D4? Looks to me as the approach angle is not that good, but otherwise I don't mind the look of it.. But is it strong enough? I wouldn't go for a polished, must be a pita to keep polished.
Did like Disoc4SE's Opposite lock one.. It looked almost identical to the ARB one

[Graeme]

I fitted an ECB bar to my D4 by myself easily. It cost $1805 incl delivery early November. I recall that I thought it looked a bit ugly at first but now it seems quite normal. Approach angle wont be a problem for me.

[Ace]

I dont mind it, it looks good.

Will be interesting to see what ARB come up with. Their deluxe winch bars are very good looking bits of kit.

[Mike_S]

Incredibly novice question here but, as we can't have bars like these on our cars (nor do we have the need) it's only something I've thought of as I've read through this thread

What happens to the airbags if you clobber a roo with one of these bars ? Do they go off or not ? I'm guessing not, but I'm not sure how much of an impact would be transmitted back through the bar. Or is it a case of no bar = airbags go off coupled with lots of front end damage, whereas having the bar means the airbags don't go off and the bar needs a wash afterwards ?

Just askin' :D

[dobbo]

Incredibly novice question here but, as we can't have bars like these on our cars (nor do we have the need) it's only something I've thought of as I've read through this thread

What happens to the airbags if you clobber a roo with one of these bars ? Do they go off or not ? I'm guessing not, but I'm not sure how much of an impact would be transmitted back through the bar. Or is it a case of no bar = airbags go off coupled with lots of front end damage, whereas having the bar means the airbags don't go off and the bar needs a wash afterwards ?

Just askin' :D


the bars are airbag compatible, whether the airbags go off or not all depends on the severity of the collision

[rmp]

Incredibly novice question here but, as we can't have bars like these on our cars (nor do we have the need) it's only something I've thought of as I've read through this thread

What happens to the airbags if you clobber a roo with one of these bars ? Do they go off or not ? I'm guessing not, but I'm not sure how much of an impact would be transmitted back through the bar. Or is it a case of no bar = airbags go off coupled with lots of front end damage, whereas having the bar means the airbags don't go off and the bar needs a wash afterwards ?

Just askin' :D

There are crush canisters on the front of vehicles. The bar is carefully designed to replicate that crush property so the airbag operation is unaffected. Airbag-compatible bars are so desginated and are the only ones that should be fitted to airbag eqiupped vehicles.

Doesn't take away the need for a mop up afterwards though.

Think of roo behaviour the way pheasants behave in England, but of course roos are slightly larger!

[jonesfam]

Roos are probably stupider than pheasants, come out at that time of evening/morning when they are hardest to see & have suicidal tendencies.
Jonesfam

[Nomad9]

Hi there,
Doesn't look like the head light removal is any easier, is it? Personal choice I like the shallower ARB bar and the way it cuts into the arch surrounds, sometimes you do have to compromise the good looks of the vehicle for the functionality of being a four wheel drive. Does this one have any antenna mounts? Can't see any.
Looks good and chunky though, looks strong enough.

[101RRS]

An acquaintance has the same basic bar in his D2. The bottom does drag (is looking to see if it can be removed) but the problem is when going in reverse, the bottom catches and stops the vehicle.

Is not the best thought out bar.

Garry

[Graeme]

Doesn't look like the head light removal is any easier, is it?The headlights fit through the ECB bar.

[Redback]

I don't understand this, Why are ECB the first to make a bullbar for a D4, Discowhite had an ARB bar fitted to his D4 yesterday.

Baz.

[discowhite]

I don't understand this, Why are ECB the first to make a bullbar for a D4, Discowhite had an ARB bar fitted to his D4 yesterday.

Baz.

this thread was started last year;)

cheers phil

[Redback]

this thread was started last year;)

cheers phil

Oh OK:whistling: