Legality of steel bullbar repair?

[trif]

Hi all,

Firstly to the mods, if this question is in the wrong section please relocate.

I suffered the misfortune of my first decent roo strike recently in my D4, contacting the passenger side of the OL bar and pushing it back slightly. It was not enough to cause panel or headlight assembly damage but enough to buckle the bar at the access hole for the winch clutch release (see attached photo). I have since used the winch to pull the bar back to its correct location, but if another animal strike was to occur the bar will buckle more readily at the point of weakness.

I have received conflicting information. One source was adamant that bullbars cannot be repaired due to ADR compliance issues. Another source (my insurer) wants to send the bar away to be repaired. Any thoughts from those knowledgeable in such areas?

Regards Trif.

[rangieman]

A few years ago i had a strike from a P Plater;) i had to argue with my insurance to replace the bar as they wanted to repair it . I won and got a new bar took a bit tho;)

[Xtreme]

The point where your bar has buckled appears to be between the mounting points and if so, I think I'd be checking them for damage/distortion also.
Has an assessor inspected it yet?

[transtar]

Stick to your guns. I had same problem several years ago. A repaired bullbar will not meet Australian design rules after being straightened especially alloy.
My Insurer wanted to repair my steel ARB bar but i declined and got a new one by obtaining a letter from the manufacturer stating it would not be acceptable to repair and insisting on a letter from the bullbar repairer guaranteeing that it would have original strength and would meet Aust design rules after repair.The repairer wasn't prepared to do this so insurer had no alternative but to fit new bullbar.

[DoctorJ]

Who do you guys insure with? I had an accident a few years ago that inflicted only cosmetic damage to my bullbar and it was replaced without a question. I then got a payout and fixed it myself :D By the way my insurer was AAMI.

Cheers
Julian

[ADMIRAL]

The only people who are authorised to repair an ADR compliant bullbar, are the original manufacturer's of the bar. They won't do it. Not practical or economical. You may need an engineer to certify the bar is structurally affected, but that is the way to go. The insurance company will not be able to walk away from the replacement, faced with an engineers report.

[trif]

Thanks all for your replies so far. I have been in contact with the bar manufacturer. As eluded to above once the bar is damaged near the mounting points ADR compliance is affected. I'm hopeful of obtaining a letter to supply to the insurer that should compel them to replace the bar.

I suspect the insurance assessor (from a large insurer starting with N) well knows this but is playing silly buggers. According to my panel beater numerous bullbars have undergone repair that probably shouldn't have.

Regards Trif.

[rangieman]

Strange as i was insured with AAMI :mad:

Who do you guys insure with? I had an accident a few years ago that inflicted only cosmetic damage to my bullbar and it was replaced without a question. I then got a payout and fixed it myself :D By the way my insurer was AAMI.

Cheers
Julian

[clubagreenie]

I also an (soon not to be) insured with AAMI and they have twice now wanted to repair the bar. First one ended up paying out in. Now also trying to get docs from manufacturer to say the obvious.

Maybe we need to et these scanned and kept online as a resource (one from each manufacturer) so that they can be referenced whenever someone needs it.

[FenianEel]

Normally, damage to a bullbar is not repaired, or requested to be repaired by the the insurer, the bar is replaced.
I'd be challenging it for sure.

Have seen many,many bars replaced with less damage than that.

[Tombie]

You are entitled to a new bar, new mounts and new seatbelts for the front seats...

Dont let some POS insurance company tell you otherwise. :D

[clubagreenie]

Not questioning but what's the basis of the seatbelts? For any and all accidents with claimable repairs?

[sheerluck]

Not questioning but what's the basis of the seatbelts? For any and all accidents with claimable repairs?

They're the pretensioner type. Single use, just like an airbag.

[clubagreenie]

Is that an issue if they don't activate or replace regardless? "cause I might be owed 2 sets.

[sheerluck]

Is that an issue if they don't activate or replace regardless? "cause I might be owed 2 sets.

If they've not activated, no need to replace. Generally speaking, if the airbag's gone off the pretensioner will have done as well.

[clubagreenie]

Damm. So many insurance upgrades, so little time.