Alloy Bullbar for Disco 4

[Disco4SE]

Hi all,
I have recently gone off the idea of the steel bar for my D4 because of the weight issue.
In alloy, there is the ECB and soon the genuine LR bar as per Sydney Motor Show photos on this forum.
Does anyone know of another type in aluminium?
Cheers, Craig

[Tombie]

Travel out of the city much?

Alloy is great for shopping trolley dents.

Nothing beats steel in a Roo strike.

Alloy usually 2x the thickness of steel to get similar strength So your 35kg steel bar is isnt that much heavier.

But the steel variety has a construction will take a hit and keep on going, the alloy will tear, crack and bend quite easily (especially on the ends if a corner strike).

[Disco4SE]

Travel out of the city much?

Alloy is great for shopping trolley dents.

Nothing beats steel in a Roo strike.

Alloy usually 2x the thickness of steel to get similar strength So your 35kg steel bar is isnt that much heavier.

But the steel variety has a construction will take a hit and keep on going, the alloy will tear, crack and bend quite easily (especially on the ends if a corner strike).
Tombie2,
Hear where you are coming from.
Not too many roos where I live and figure its better having some frontal protection than nothing at all.

I would be interested to know the exact difference in weight between the two. My concern is the extra weight over the front end causing problems over time.

If anyone out there knows the weight difference, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Craig

[Graeme]

ECB advised me in an email that their bar is about 35kg but with fittings and winch cradle its about 60kg. For me its the availability right now (roos will be feeding at dusk very soon) and that nothing has to be cut. I intend fitting my winch for only special trips to keep weight down for everyday use.

[d3viate]

When I lived in Wyndham, If I had $10 for every alloy Shopping trolley bar that we had to weld back up (after they usually carried them in on the roof rack) from the corrugations I'd be living next door to the Packers and have a boat bigger than his.

[discomaniac]

I have heard that the LR Original bar is being designed and built by ECB. May even be available from ECB as well as Land Rover (not confirmed, just heard second hand). Availablility pushed out to about February.

Don't see many Big Roos around the coast here anyway, mainly little ones !!!

Discomanic

[Disco4SE]

Does anyone know the weight of the ARB steel bar?
Rang the Dandenong store today and asked them. They took my number and said they would get right back to me........................still waiting.
Cheers, Craig

[LeaRoy]

If what's being said is correct, then steel is surely the only option. If thats the case, what additional costs/work is required to correct the weight issues of steel?

[Bushwanderer]

Hi Learoy,
Zero changes need to be made.

When you take into account the "stuff" that is removed in order to fit the ARB bar, I think that the weight difference is negligible. The air suspension can readily cope.

With my coil-sprung D3, I noticed no change in attitude when the (non winch) ARB bar was fitted.

Best Wishes,
Peter

[Disco4SE]

Ok, so the ECB bar weighs 35Kg and the ARB steel bar 44Kg.
Is the extra 9Kg such a weight issue
Craig

[mowog]

I have heard that the LR Original bar is being designed and built by ECB. May even be available from ECB as well as Land Rover (not confirmed, just heard second hand). Availablility pushed out to about February.

Don't see many Big Roos around the coast here anyway, mainly little ones !!!

Discomanic

I was told this bar will only be available from LR. The expected time I was told was around April.

[gghaggis]

The bar is being built locally, to LR specs. Only available through LR so as to maintain warranty.

The local builder _may_ be ECB - I don't know?

Cheers,

Gordon

[CSBrisie]

Hope it can be colour coded!

[sniegy]

This is the LR bar in case some-one hasn't seen it.
Excuse the poor quality image from my pre-historic mobile.

[Stuart02]

That looks.... horrible!

[rwlse]

That looks.... horrible!

I agree the ARB is so much better

[gtp owner]

That is a modified Prado bar apparently, but it is what the approved ones are going to look like

[Jesse B]

That looks.... horrible!

Absolutely agree!! Awful. This has turned my thoughts upside down, seeing this pic. Had canned my order for an ARB bar and put my name down for the LR option - but now that I've seen it I think I will reconsider. Also need to go back over the steel v alloy question in my own mind, given the various thoughts provided in this thread. Why would LR want to produce such a poxy looking item for what is an avowedly spectacular looking vehicle?? :mad:

[cookiesa]

That is a modified Prado bar apparently, but it is what the approved ones are going to look like

Definately not a modified Prado bar... but just as ugly!

That is horrid!

[connock]

Absolutely agree!! Awful. This has turned my thoughts upside down, seeing this pic. Had canned my order for an ARB bar and put my name down for the LR option - but now that I've seen it I think I will reconsider. Also need to go back over the steel v alloy question in my own mind, given the various thoughts provided in this thread. Why would LR want to produce such a poxy looking item for what is an avowedly spectacular looking vehicle?? :mad:

I agree poxy.
If the alloy v steel is a weight / strength issue . concider the fact to get the the same strenght out of alloy it has to be so thick that it is allmost as heavy as the steel any how. Just a thourght that may help.

[Disco4SE]

I also agree. The new LR alloy bar looks crap. I couldn't bring myself to looking at that every day.
This is why I have gone for the steel Opposite Lock bar. I can live with the minimal weight difference.
Cheers, Craig

[Jesse B]

Craig - as a matter of interest, what price have you been quoted for the Opposite Lock bar, and are you able to get it colour coded? Seen any pics of it anywhere?

[Bushwanderer]

Hmmm! It may just be that the OL catalogue is still to be updated, but it doesn't list any bars for the D3 or D4.

[Disco4SE]

Craig - as a matter of interest, what price have you been quoted for the Opposite Lock bar, and are you able to get it colour coded? Seen any pics of it anywhere?
Hi Jesse B, the prices I have been quoted by OL in Mitcham, Melbourne are as follows: -
Bar itself - $1,649.00
Fitting - $250.00
Colour coding - $300.00
Total - $2,199.00
Cheers, Craig

[Disco4SE]

Hmmm! It may just be that the OL catalogue is still to be updated, but it doesn't list any bars for the D3 or D4.
Bushwanderer, this bar has only been out 1 week, so not alot of people know about it as yet. Opposite Lock Mitcham Vic only made the call to the Landrover Club yesterday to let them know that they are available.
I'll make sure that I post some pics.
BTW: They look very very close to the ARB bar and apparently fit against the vehicles body with a rubber strip.
Cheers, Craig

[Jesse B]

Thanks for the prices and the info, Craig. Look forward to seeing some pics, but it sounds like a good option at this point. Had a near miss with a suicidal roo last week, on a dirt road with the camper in tow - avoidance options were limited!

[gghaggis]

Hi Jesse,

Talk to Peter @ Bunbury Opposite Lock - he had one on display at the Perth 4WD show last weekend and it looked very nice.

Cheers,

Gordon

[AGRO]

Hi All,

??????

I was was at ARB Cannington this morning and asked about availability and costing for D4 ARB Bull Bars and was given the following reply.

"All Discovery 4 Bull bars are to be RECALLED due to design faults"

This was from the manager down there - I'm only relaying what was stated to me.

[cookiesa]

There is not a design fault, there have been several vehicles with very different tolerances in the front mount areas, so running changes are being made to accomodate those vehicles that are at the end of the scale.

[Graeme]

There is not a design fault, there have been several vehicles with very different tolerances in the front mount areas, so running changes are being made to accomodate those vehicles that are at the end of the scale.
This sounds like my ECB bar where 2 holes didn't line-up. I must get my installation report back to them.

[cookiesa]

Sounds like the same issue