Terrafirma Tubular A bar availability

[debruiser]

Does anyone know if the TF001AC - tubular A bar (winch compatible & AC compatible) is available in Australia?

I really like the look of them and I think that they offer enough protection for what I do. Want to put one on the new D90 when I get it.

There are plenty for sale in UK.

[landy]

If its the one I think you are talking about, try British Off Road in Forest Glen, QLD. That's where I got mine from. Good prices too.

Cheers,
Nino.

[debruiser]

Thanks for that Landy. Are they are good bar? ie decent quality?

[chook73]

If they are anything like what I have had from Terrafirma its pretty poor quality stuff, I have a pair of radius arms and within two months the paint had started peeling off them and they were rusting which was the same with the big bore shocks.

Have you had a look at the Rovacraft bars? A lot of the guys run them and swear by them.

Rovacraft Land Rover Defender Tubular Winch Bull Bar | Buy 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Accessories and Parts Online Store | Expedition Centre Australia by Mulgo (http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au/online-store/vehicle-protection/rovacraft-land-rover-defender-tubular-winch-bull-bar.html)

[juddy]

We sell alot of Terrafirma parts, some of it is very good, however
the Terrafirma A Bars are Not ADR Approved.

We sell a few of this type happy to price you one. This one went out a not so long ago, also fitted with our Patriot Chequer Plate set.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1142.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1143.jpg

[chook73]

We sell alot of Terrafirma parts, some of it is very good, however
the Terrafirma A Bars are Not ADR Approved.

We sell a few of this type happy to price you one. This one went out a not so long ago, also fitted with our Patriot Chequer Plate set.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1142.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1143.jpg

Is that the rovercraft or terrafirma bar?

[debruiser]

correct me if i'm wrong but that's a rovercraft isn't it?

[chook73]

correct me if i'm wrong but that's a rovercraft isn't it?

I thought rovercraft.

[TheTinnie]

Yes that is a britpart / Rovacraft bar (same thing)

Both terrafirma and britpart are not ADR approved, unless someone has had them certified? Happy to be wrong here.

Rovacraft are repowdercoated to avoid paint issues, you can repowdercoat terra too ;)

[debruiser]

Yes that is a britpart / Rovacraft bar (same thing)

Both terrafirma and britpart are not ADR approved, unless someone has had them certified? Happy to be wrong here.

Rovacraft are repowdercoated to avoid paint issues, you can repowdercoat terra too ;)

Really? They're not adr approved. hmmmm. That's not how it sounded when I spoke to as supplier ..... :(

[29dinosaur]

Is that the rovercraft or terrafirma bar?


We sell alot of Terrafirma parts, some of it is very good, however
the Terrafirma A Bars are Not ADR Approved.

We sell a few of this type happy to price you one. This one went out a not so long ago, also fitted with our Patriot Chequer Plate set.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1142.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1143.jpg

The bar in the photo is a Rovercraft.

Terrafirma bars are available here. (http://www.sydney4x4accessories.com/31-defender-tubular-winch-bumpers)

[n plus one]

Really? They're not adr approved. hmmmm. That's not how it sounded when I spoke to as supplier ..... :(

Regardless, why you you want such a bar certified? As long as it meets the basic ADR protrusion/design reqs you're good - it's not like you need certificate for airbag reasons (ie an assessment that needs a testing process).

[debruiser]

Didnt' think it was so hard to get a bull bar.... I think I am going to just stick on something that looks cool, and will give me some recovery points, hi-lift points and winch mount (just in case i decide i want one)

Either that or I'll just forget about it for a while... might get a snorkel instead.... or an awning..... or a 200tdi for the 109....

[n plus one]

Didnt' think it was so hard to get a bull bar.... I think I am going to just stick on something that looks cool, and will give me some recovery points, hi-lift points and winch mount (just in case i decide i want one)

Either that or I'll just forget about it for a while... might get a snorkel instead.... or an awning..... or a 200tdi for the 109....

It's not, email Mulgo, get bar freighted, fit bar, brink beer, admire bar...

[debruiser]

It's not, email Mulgo DONE (no reply), get bar freighted, fit bar, brink beer DONE.... wait that's out of order... dam...., admire bar...

I think I'll go with a Terrafirma bar.... I like the look of those....

[Jondavball]

I am also looking at getting an A Bar and although I get the jist of something being ADR approved (or not), what does it actually mean? All I can find on google for ADR and insurance is Alternative Dispute Resolution which doesn't seem to fit.

[debruiser]

ADR = Australian Design Regulations.

[TheTinnie]

I think the relevant point is not whether the bar itself is ADR approved/certified it's that the ADR rules do not apply to the Defender.

Confused???? so am I, so the late night reading may have been worth it.

Defender 90 has a GVM of 2750kg making it's vehicle category / class NA2 (light goods vehicle OVER 2.7t) compliance plate says NA but there are two very distinct categories within NA (NA1, GVM up to 2.7t and NA2, GVM over 2.7t) source: attached PDF ADR Definitions finals section "5. DETAILS OF SUB-CATEGORIES OF VEHICLE CATEGORIES"

the ADR's in question for fitting bull bars on Defenders are ADR 69 & 73. (whilst not altering any other ADR, including 72 OR 42 - eg. visibility of indicator lights -easy fix) BOTH ADR 69 & 73 do not apply to NA2 class vehicles (ie . the Defender ) - note that only class NA up to 2.7t is called out for ADR 69. Not NA over 2.7t

so both britpart & terrafirma bars are not compliant with these ADR's , but they don't have to be for our vehicles. fit a tubular bar to anything else, which are mostly classed as Off road passenger vehicle (class MC ) - and then it's an issue

make sense?

no, Australian Standard for Vehicle Frontal Protection Systems ("bull bars") AS 4876.1-2002 now applies (since 2010 for NSW), but within VFPS it calls out that NA (NA1 & NA2) must maintain compliance with, you guessed it the ADR's above (which do not impact our Defenders)

so it's a vicious cycle that points back to the ADR's which don't apply for us " continued compliance with all applicable Australian Design Rules, including Australian Design Rule 69, is a condition of compliance with AS 4876.1."

so I think the question is whether the bar complies with VFPS AS 4876.1-2002 (manufacturer plate for I.D, not any part higher than 1m off the ground, not wider than the vehicle body excluding mirrors, no protrusions forward of the bar, sharp edges etc. see: RAA - Motoring - Car Advice - Bull Bars (http://www.raa.com.au/page.aspx?TerID=149) . Note: Tubular construction is preffered )

so it appears that ADR's really have nothing to do with it (for us in nsw) and that BOTH Terrafirma and Britpart tubular winch bars comply with the VFPS standard for "bull bars"

WHY have I gone to the effort, I just bought a Terrafirma instead of Britpart

Reference:
Third Edition Australian Design Rules (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_online.aspx)
Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 69/00 - Full Frontal Impact Occupant Protection) 2006 (http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012C00138)
Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 73/00 - Offset Frontal Impact Occupant Protection) 2005 (http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2005L03990)
Fitment of Non-Certified Front Bars - Vehicle Modifications Network (http://www.vehiclemods.net.au/fitment-of-non-certified-front-bars)

[debruiser]

"Thetinny"

wow, that sounds just about confusing enough to be true.... i think.... maybe... unfortunately I'm in QLd and not NSW so it probably doesn't apply to me :( but how knows.

I am ordering a terraferma and fitting it! I figure there are plenty of ppl making their own, so it can't be worse than that. I don't intend running into anyone with it so hopefully it'll never matter ;)

Thanks for the info though, very though-rough

[Jondavball]

TheTinnie,
Excellent. Well I am certainly convinced enough to go ahead with a tubular bar so your research is very much appreciated.

Thank you.

[TheTinnie]

Not a prob, i could be wrong though! so i would, as i have, still ask the question of the supplier whether *any* bar you are considering is legal/roadworthy in your respective state. (but you can even see differing responses eg. Rova-direct states Britpart bar is NOT ADR compliant, Mulgo & others say they are!?!?)

from what i have learnt over the last couple of days the ADR's are rules, which for us Defender drivers, don't apply. The Australian Standard is just that, a Standard (guideline) which does not have to be followed by bar Manufacturers, unless the State specifically calls out that to comply a given bar must meet that standard (AS 4876.1) in full

NSW has partially adopted AS 4876.1, my understanding is that it has not been completely adopted and that, yes, it has been brought in as an Australian Standard, but their are Australian Standards for everything (even roof racks) that simply document design "standards" or fitting instructions!

Of course local bull bar manufacturers (typically with 3 letters) are pushing to bring in AS 4876.1 in full,which would make fitting any imported bar (U.K , U.S, chinese etc ) illegal, for everyone.

I will be raising the question to the 4wd Association as well to see what their take is on it, as to which applies (as of now). AS, ADR or state requirements or a combination of each as i suspect

[TheTinnie]

all done, fitted Terrafirma rock sliders as well - didn't end up with a gap like others, if you follow the instructions exactly it all aligns perfectly.

58864

58865

58866

58867

58868

[TheTinnie]

alignment of sliders

58869

58870

[debruiser]

Wow, looks good!

Got my Terraferma bar delivered yesterday! Got it for $750. Can't afford sliders yet, or a snorkel :(

Got to wait another week till I get my car :(