Smart Bar Bull Bar Disco 2

[cartm58]

Was at Yanchep Inn for work conference last 2 days this Discovery parked out front with plastic bull bar smart bar had one on my 1998 Nissan didn't think they made one for Land Rover's might see if they have on for the Range Rover classic plus his snorkel

[tombraider]

Was at Yanchep Inn for work conference last 2 days this Discovery parked out front with plastic bull bar smart bar had one on my 1998 Nissan didn't think they made one for Land Rover's might see if they have on for the Range Rover classic plus his snorkel

Those things are about as useful as a sore **** to a boundary rider....

If your going to fit a bar, fit one that will actually protect your vehicle....

Otherwise dont waste your money.

[Utemad]

That is a Disco1. Not a Disco2.

Having said that it might be a good enough fit for a Classic Rangie if there isn't a specific one for it.

[cartm58]

Smartbar will protect your vehicle in a crash as well if not better than an ARB steel or an Aluminum Bar. Only bar which is can meet ADR legal requirement not to cause more damage to pedesatrain than original front of vehicle

[ajh73f]

Those things are about as useful as a sore **** to a boundary rider....

If your going to fit a bar, fit one that will actually protect your vehicle....

Otherwise dont waste your money.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one Tombraider.
My father has had a Smartbar on his Disco 1 since '96 and only 2 months ago hit a cow up on the Tanami track on his most recent round Australia trip.
The Smartbar not only prevented significant damage, but restored itself back to original shape from it's plastic memory.
The weak link in the chain turned out to be the mounting bolts!!
Still, it did give Dad and his brother a chance to have their reputation proceed them as they headed down the WA coast. Word of their adventures spread long before they did!!

[Pierre]

We have one on Handbrake's Disco 1. It's survived scapes with walls, a head-on with a wedgetail and numerous carpark adventures. It hasn't deformed, it protected the front of the vehicle, though it was probably lucky that the wedgetail hit the base of the bar.

Best bit is, it weighs next to nought. The fitup is not spectacular and we needed to earth, with decent size braid, the HF antenna base. It carries the antnna without flexing.

It's been a good thing at 30% of ARB price.

Pete

[LandyAndy]

Have to disagree with you Tombraider.
I had the same opinion till I saw thier display at Wagin Woolarama.
They had a Hilux with one fitted,it was setup on a sliding rig,they fired the hilux into a wooden post at a 60kmh impact.It was impressive,the bar grew back after impact,the dent dissapeared.
After a session in the lost farthers tent we gave the operator/salesman grief as they were only smashing it up every 1/2 hour.He told us that was allow the plastic enough time to resume its memory position.
We got him to do a double hit in the end,worked the same even thou the dent hadnt had time to come out.It actually resumed its normal apperance in the same time as a single hit.
They had both alloy and steel bars on display that were fitted to the same vehicle on the same test rig.Both were beyond repair.This display went all day for 2 days,so plenty of hits and still as good as new.
Andrew

[dullbird]

i have one on my d1, i'm happy with it and it very light i could pick it up on my own......

is there any reason why it couldn't go on a d2 as they are air bag compatible or so the company states

[tombraider]

That display is always impressive...

However, see the vehicles that clobber something solid and the bars nice and straight and the car is buggered!

Solid Roo strikes on those bars have bent radiators, bonnets etc...

A real world highway speed hit will damage the vehicle...
But at least the bars spring back!!!!

But hey... To each their own....

My barwork doesnt protect the edges of the vehicle or even protect them from Roo strikes! only the radiator.

[willow17]

Thinking of getting either an ARB or TJM bar with winch rail. How hard are they to fit yourself?

[DiscoMick]

My D1 came with one and I have hit a post with it and the bar just bent back into shape over a short time. Very happy with it. Only issue is whether it can be used with a winch. Suggest you check the Smartbar website.

[adonuff]

Hi I had one on a landcruiser and hit a big roo at 100 klm and was very impressed with the results, I recently contacted them and was told they do not make one for a D2 at this time.

[fernockulated]

having hit a HUGE COW on monday with my Navara, I am totally sold on my steel winch bar (factory unit) 'T' bone a rather large beasty (pardon the pun) on way home from Queen mary falls,impact caused upward motion of bar and broken mounts of both headlights and grill,slight bowing of driver side guard,and totalled the spotties,full steel winch bar now has twist needing replacement
I would hate to see what damage would have been if only one of those spastic plastic bars had been fitted,as said above the bar may have reshaped itself to new ,but the rest of the front end would have been totalled,oh and the beast had to be put down
just my two bobs worth ;)

[Ace]

In terms of winching etc its not really practical however they offer more frontal protection when talking about animal impacts etc because they bend/flex and absorb the impact as opposed to bending and staying there like a metal bar would do.

The supplier i get my 4wd accessories through for The 4wd Zone stocks Smartbar, at present as mentioned above they dont make one for the D2, only the D1. Sorry to the poster above, nothing available for the RRC either. The RRP for a D1 bar is $1470, but AULRO people would get one cheaper than that if anyone actually wanted to buy one.

Matt

[cookiesa]

Hardly 30% of the cost of a comperative steel or alloy bar at that!

Having been involved in vehicle sales where a fleet fitted them, had 3 animal strikes (2 roos and a wombat) and removed them to be replaced with a more "substantial" bar I am with Toombie, if your worried about hitting people they MAY be better (A road safety expert once commented that the point missed in relation to pedestrian safety is that the issue is where the person is struck rather than by what. A car will generally hit/break your lower legs, a 4x4/bus/people mover/truck etc will generally be striking above the waist..... very few bits in this range can take that sort of strike without causing serious injury/death)

As for the demo's things are not all they seem, take a close look at the jig they use and how it is all set up.

Likewise animals are rarely considerate enough to let you hit them right in the middle of the mounts.... typically they get hit by the wing areas.

[Randylandy]

Have one on my D1 have yet to use it in anger does make me nervice how well it will stand up to the task. My biggest gripes with them not really able to use a hi lift jack on them, have to make up a complicated recovery point mount as no easy access to the chassis rail. No easy way to mount a winch. However love it how it is so light.

[cookiesa]

Have you had a look at the hi lift wheel mate? Basically two hooks on straps that hook in to your rim? Beauty is your only lifting the wheel as well... particularly good if your on a bit of a side slope!

[MightyJosh]

They actually are the strongest bar you can get. More so then steel and alloy.

[cookiesa]

You are having a lend......... right?

[MightyJosh]

You are having a lend......... right?

No Im not they are in fact the strongest bar you can put on. As it springs back into shape after a hit. Now I'm not saying it is the best bar you can get as more front end damage will get done, regardless if the bar re takes it former shape. Im more saying is that as the strength of bars go they are the strongest. But really ugly