Bought a winch bar, need some ideas!

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Originally Posted by DAMINK

Yea i see what your saying. Solid piece of thick metal lets say 12mm or so and cut it so it bolts onto the rails either side...... Hmmmm i like your thinking mate.
I know what im making tomorrow :)

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12mm should definitely be enough might be worth looking up bolt on recovery points even on eBay and look at the specs 1st and work off them as a basis. I look forward to seeing your brackets then I will have something to copy off :) I was thinking even a H shape on cut from some scrap. That way you have a flange underneath the chassis, one on each side for the bull bar bolts and then you will be left with a piece hanging down to drill holes for recover points. Hard to explain withought a sketch

Not 100% sure, but I have never seen a D1 winch bar. The D1 used a cradle mounted behind the bar, bolted directly to the chassis. As I said, not 100%, maybe it was the airbag models, but most D1 bars I have seen have deformable 'crash cans' to mount the bar to the car, and of course they don't cope with winches.
Even if yours is earlier, I'm tipping if you can fabricate, a chassis mounted cradle is a better bet.

I'd be happy to take a pic or 2 of mine if it helps.

I have an ARB winch/bull bar fitted to my D2a an it uses crash cans to mount to the chassis with 6 bolts.
I have used my 1200lb winch on many occasions and have done No damage whatsoever to the crashcans.

Just something to be aware of.

If you make a bottom plate to mount your winch you will find it hard if not impossible to fit the winch with the bar on the car.
No big deal infact it makes it safer so no sticky fingers will try steal it. But it does make the job a little more difficult having to lift the bar and winch all together.

Another thing. Looking back at those pics, i would be looking to weld some sides to the bar to make it flow with the guards instead of the way it sort of cuts off.

I honestly don't like the idea of winching off the bar anyway. Sure they could handle it but chassis is best in my eye, you wouldn't snatch off a bullbar (yes there's like 3 times load the on the snatch) and a winch can get some tension on it.
The original bumper had the crush cans but I honestly thought the chassis rail would have them built in being an airbag model.
I know the bullbar isn't an airbag one so I'll probably disconnect the 21yr old airbags I wrote about it in my other thread.
Making a cradle mounted to the chassis is what I'll definitely be doing there's plenty of room there.
I think I may have to cut the pointy bar off at the front I will probably get a fine with it. I have no idea what it's for either something for the winch wire to rest on or it just helps with impacts especially cyclists lol
Cheers Jim

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Originally Posted by DAMINK

Just something to be aware of.

If you make a bottom plate to mount your winch you will find it hard if not impossible to fit the winch with the bar on the car.
No big deal infact it makes it safer so no sticky fingers will try steal it. But it does make the job a little more difficult having to lift the bar and winch all together.

Another thing. Looking back at those pics, i would be looking to weld some sides to the bar to make it flow with the guards instead of the way it sort of cuts off.

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I think I may be able to drop the winch in from above there is a pretty big hole, but I'll have to take the bar off to fit the cradle anyway so yeah no big deal.
I think it had the sides originally it looks to have been cut and welded like that but it could be wear and tear. I will make something for the sides but I may buy some flares 1st and work it in with them.
Ive already damaged my rear guards a bit with 32 tyres and no lift the front rubs a bit also but the back is really bad. Lucky the tyres were already on the wheels I paid 150 for them, their were already at the end of their life.
Did you think about your support plates last night?

Pointy bit on the front of the bar will add a considerable amount of strength to the bar for winching, its there for a reason.

Watch length with a 16000lb winch, bar i made for my V8 D1 has a 9500lb Premier winch mounted in close between the rails, and only just fits length wise. I wouldnt have 5mm clearance.

I may be wrong about this(not unusual), but I reckon the bar is for a defender, not disco .. hence why no side returns for the front guards.

It obviously fits, so no problemo.

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Originally Posted by AK83

I may be wrong about this(not unusual), but I reckon the bar is for a defender, not disco .. hence why no side returns for the front guards.

It obviously fits, so no problemo.

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Old ARB himount winch bar for a RRC would be my guess...

Fit the missing mounting bolts (should be 6, not 4...1/2" UNF???), bolt winch in using 4 of the six mount holes on front face (as long as your winch has a std mount patern, may have to rotate motor and/or gearbox to suit), wire up and your good to go.

Mr rego man may have a different view if its a non SRS bar mounted to a SRS equipped vehicle.