My Defender Bull Bar

[Witchdoctor]

Just received the finished CAD rendered drawings of my designed Defender Bull Bar.

Like or Not?

I Love It!

Cheers
David

[Homestar]

Like it.:)

Now you just have to get it made.

[Hoffer]

Looks great

[Cracka]

Very nice............

[Wicks89]

Dude love it!

2 questions/comments though:

1 isn't that forward leaning hoop against the law now? (I just remember reading it in a few threads) and,

2 how much?

[Witchdoctor]

Wicks89
You are right, the bar will sit upright on the bars for sale.

I have not worked out a price yet.

Drawings go to the laser cutter later in the week, getting a couple made first.

Cheers

[Homestar]

Dude love it!
1 isn't that forward leaning hoop against the law now? (I just remember reading it in a few threads) and,


Are bars like that already fitted to vehicles still allowed to be left in situ? If so, maybe a wayward date stamp could be used...:angel::wasntme:

[Witchdoctor]

The reason the main hoop is facing forward it needs to, to enable fitment of a new style LED spot light.
I will adjust the angle to allow clearance of the grill.

David

[dullbird]

Hi David

If your going to start talking prices you really need to take out a vendor status.

otherwise prices and getting peoples opinions on items you intend on producing a number of will have to stop, I'm afraid :)

[Witchdoctor]

Thanks, i know the deal!

David

[dullbird]

As for the bar if its anything like your roof rack its gunna be awesome ;)

[Witchdoctor]

Just got the weights for the bull bar, including winch cradle & steel bash plate.
32Kg

Im happy with that

Cheers
David

[mzs]

Looks very good, but in the EU never would get a registration certificate :(

[Homestar]

Looks very good, but in the EU never would get a registration certificate :(

They proposed similar laws over here a bit ago, but there was such an outcry from the public that the Pollies put it to bed again. It would have been political suicide to go though with it.

[dullbird]

I'm guessing DIY bull bars will become a thing of the past here at some stage to with the introduction of airbags on everything now ie no more defenders being sold etc...

Eventually there won't be a car sold to put a DIY job on

[Witchdoctor]

mzs,

Why could you not get this bar registration certified in the EU?

Cheers
David

[Homestar]

I think it is the pedestrian impact laws that outlaw just about anything hanging off the front of a vehicle.

[Bess]

David, just looking at your cad drawings & was wondering if the side support bars from the main hoop might cut directly across the headlights on a Defender.
They only just clear the top of my headlights on my ARB delux winch bar.
Regards Chris.

[Witchdoctor]

Chris,

we built a full size model out of wood before we drew into the computer & everything cleared the way it should, but we will know better when i get it back from the folder today.

Cheers
David

[Witchdoctor]

Ok some progress,

The first bull bar went to Nugget who personalised it to his requirements, looks awesome if i may say so.

The first complete prototype is sitting on the garage floor ready for welding in the morning. All the bits from the laser cutter & folder with the hoops, bash plate & winch cradle, I'm just a little excited as this process has taken a long time to get the bar just to fit & comply with RTA.

Cheers

[Witchdoctor]

Well got the bar all welded up & fitted to the 90.

Cheers

[Wicks89]

Good job! That approach angle looks really good! And that design looks a lot more sturdy than most of the tube bars for sale.

Are you happy with it?

[Witchdoctor]

Wicks89,

Thanks for your kind words. Im rapped how the bar has come together, been a long process now some colour winch & lights.

Cheers

[Didge]

Looks the goods - looks surprising small from the side. Your comments reminded me of this pic - I agree wholeheartedly - you've done very well.

[dullbird]

looks so much like the bar I had on my 110 mantec winch bar with custom A frame of course yours is more refined..you should be proud of that its a good looking bar

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/10/202.jpg

[Wicks89]

that bar really looks legit.
I'm interested in building my own bar too, for the personalised factor but also in an attempt to save cash. But something tells me it's anything but cash saving. Lol.

Can you outline the process you went through to get the bar designed and then built? and roughly how much it all cost?

cheers.

[Witchdoctor]

The bar was designed by me.
First thing i did was build a 6mm craft wood full size template to see how it would look on the truck. I then payed a CAD drawer to digitise the bar, bash plate & winch cradle.
Then the DXF file was sent to a laser cutter & folder. The first one was given to Nugget to fit too his truck. This exposed a number of mounting issues that need to be changed, while we where at it we added recovery hooks on both sides of the bash plate.

I must thank Wayne for his assistance with this part.

We also wanted to have no problems with the Traffic Authorities so you need to study the rules!

We still had a few minor adjustments to get the bar to work & these related to the recovery points, every other part went together very well.

As a one of this is not a $ saving exercise if you build what can be purchased of the shelf.
I wanted a personalised front bar on my truck & that goes with everything that i can build on my truck.

Cheers
David

[Witchdoctor]

Very nice work on your bar Dullbird, looks great.

[dullbird]

Looked is a better word to describe it..the bar and the car is no more..

the A frame was made by a friend who at the time was going under DWE..

I enjoy watch you and nugget build up your trucks you have great skills when it comes to metal Fab and you both have good taste in what looks right on the defender :)

[Witchdoctor]

Cheers dullbird

[noyakfat]

Nice one David. It's all finally coming together :)

[Witchdoctor]

Ive managed to find a new delay, the truck is now in the panel shop with the bar on it not finished & no idea when ill get it back.
Waiting on a rear door.

Not happy Jan!

Im hoping to get it finished for our Christmas trip to the high country

Cheers

[tuesdayfox]

HI Dullbird,
Can you tell a bit more about the recovery points on the bumper?
looks interesting

Thanks
martin

[dullbird]

HI Dullbird,
Can you tell a bit more about the recovery points on the bumper?
looks interesting

Thanks
martin

If they had some I would but not in this thread as this is Witchdoctors build thread:)

If you are looking at what I think your looking at, they are not recovery points they are jacking points for the hi lift

[stealth]

I like the design and it is well built as a bumper bar and winch mount but it offers little protection as a 'bull bar'. Hitting a roo on either corner will wipe out your headlight and guard and even in the centre a roo would go straight through your driving lights and into your radiator.

Gotta love the finish lazer cutting allows these days though.

[dullbird]

I hit a roo in mine..funnily enough only damage was cracked plastic cover on the spottie :)

howevver car didnt fair quite so well with an almost head on (on the corner) at 80k, however believe it or not the bar did take the brunt the chassis took the rest