D4 ARB Sahara Bar

[Mudrunner]

Some old threads dating back a couple of years suggested that ARB were not going to make a Sahara Bar for the D4. Now there seems to be thousands more D4's out there, has anyone heard any updates???
I would like a front recovery point (I have needed one,once before), I like the look of the Sahara bar and am willing to sacrifice a little safety, and not cover up all the lovely views of my front end with bar work. A nice little chrome centre bar and some chrome rock sliders would look awsome! And be more functional. :arms: C'mon ARB get movin!

[Guppy]

Hi There,
Before I ordered and installed my ARB winch bar, I asked the guys (Kilsyth, VIC) about the Sahara. They said there was still no plans to do one :(.
I would have also liked a more subtle bar, but I must say the full bar looks like it is part of the vehicle and of course the added protection is nice to have - not that I hope I have to have that aspect tested :)

Gup

[CaverD3]

You may have a better chance of getting Opposite Lock to make one, they seem to be more proactive.

[Learner]

Some old threads dating back a couple of years suggested that ARB were not going to make a Sahara Bar for the D4. Now there seems to be thousands more D4's out there, has anyone heard any updates???
I would like a front recovery point (I have needed one,once before), I like the look of the Sahara bar and am willing to sacrifice a little safety, and not cover up all the lovely views of my front end with bar work. A nice little chrome centre bar and some chrome rock sliders would look awsome! And be more functional. :arms: C'mon ARB get movin!

Why isn't the factory point suitable?

[clubagreenie]

Was in there the other day after one for my D2. They denied it would fit, until we looked at the mounts from early vs late where early chassis mounts bolt to the late bar. Quote "Amazing" from the guys there. But they don't have plans for a D4 version, at $2500- for a D2 model, I'm not surprised. Demand would be, well reduced at potential D4 prices.

[Ozzy119]

Why isn't the factory point suitable?

The front point looks like a tow point, not a recovery point. They aren't the same as recovery is designed to take much greater forces during stress. To be honest although the rear looks much tougher I'm not sure it is a recovery one either?

[gghaggis]

Both the front and rear factory points were/are used by the G4 and Land Rover Experience (LRE) teams for recovery, as do all other Land Rover training organisations in the USA. LRE claim that LR have rated them to 2 x GVM, and although I believe that, I've never actually seen that in writing. Mind you, I've never seen _any_ vehicle manufacturer put it in writing, and no aftermarket recovery point is rated for both the point and the fixing.

Personally I have recovered dozens of D3/D4/RRS cars with the std recovery points. I managed to bend the front one about 5mm up once, but that was when a recovery crane tried to lift me straight up with a winch extension strap at a rather rapid rate :eek::eek:

Made a mess of the bottom of the bullbar, but the recovery point held firm.

Cheers,

Gordon

[CaverD3]

Reality vs theory. LR do not rate the recovery points. Rear is a recovery point, front they don't say.
Many have used these points with no problems for serous recovery.
Some 4x4 clubs and events insist on reated points (and two sometimes)
I have no conserns using mine for recovery.

[discotwinturbo]

LR Cannington told me that they at both approved as recovery points at twice the weight of the car, but like Gordon I have not found anything written.

The rear looks strong enough but may be made of the same material as the safety chains points...and we have seen what can happen with those.

I have tested the front on a rear snatch of a 200 in deep sand.....the shape is still the same. It took 3 hard reverse pulls to get him out.

Brett....

[SBD4]

The front point looks like a tow point, not a recovery point. They aren't the same as recovery is designed to take much greater forces during stress. To be honest although the rear looks much tougher I'm not sure it is a recovery one either?

As per Gordon, the guys at Get About (Getabout Training Services 4WD training courses, driver training with a difference (http://www.getabout.edu.au/)) also said front is a recovery point. The back definitely is.

[2nd Rower]

When I owned my MY08 RRS TDV6 I had the same question and I did get an email from Land Rover Australia.. Its quoted over on the UK forum, follow the link:

RRSPORT.CO.UK • View topic - Snatch Recovery (http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic10323-15.html)

I obvioulsy don't warrant this, and anything is at your risk, but that's exactly what Land Rover Australia wrote to me.

[Mudrunner]

There isn't a factory front tow point!

[CaverD3]

There is on everyone elses. :confused:

[sniegy]

There is on everyone elses. :confused:

What he said !

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[Learner]

Hi Mudrunner,
You'll find it beneath the bumper, under a plastic cover at the centre-front.

Best Wishes.

PS: For future reference, it's best to not be absolute (ie there isn't one!) when you really don't know.

[Mudrunner]

OK Guys, quit the heckling....:mad:
I can only go on personal observation, and the knowledge of my local LR service department who said to me "there isn't one" when I was bogged in my back yard, 1 hr before I was due at work. I didn't have the time to start stripping away the plastic bumber for a closer inspection. So I just ran the snatch strap under the vehicle to the towhitch and was pulled out by a Hyundai of all cars. As if I'm not embarased enough!
I would appreciate a photo of the tow point (if anyone has one), indicating which piece of plastic I must remove before my next off road trip.....I will then send a copy of the thread to my LR dealer.

[MR LR]

Why don't you walk outside, with a torch because it is night, have a look at the black/bare plastic valance at the bottom of the bumper bar (its like a lip), smack bang in the middle you'll see a cover about 100mm wide, then have a look at how you get it off because i've never done it (probably a screw thing you twist with a coin, like on the rear), if you pull that off there WILL be a recovery point under there.

I would take a picture of ours, but you are the one that wants to know so have a look yourself, or google 'discovery 3/4 recovery point' and then hit images which is a tab at the top.

Sorry about the sarcasm, just hate it when people won't do things for themselves. Oh and if you're the type that wouldn't get down on your hands and knees, don't bother you'll never need it, but for interests sake i assume its in the manual.

Cheers
Will :)