Thread: to bash plate or not to bash plate, that is the question

Hi all,

I considered if this was to be placed in the technical chatter corner but figured it is too much of a generic question to justify that.

I am currently working on the bar work of my P38, which does not have many options other than custom made stuff for it. I have run terrafirma front and rear bars for, oh, about 10 years now and they have performed well thus far. I like that they have hi-lift jack points, swivel mounts for D-shackles and as per topic; bash plates.

Regarding the rear bar I do not have much of a choice, it won't fit the new rear of the vehicle anymore so I would need to modify it in any case. For the front, it still fits nicely it could just do with a good sandblasting and recoating, perhaps also fix some scratches here and there.

Now, I've had a D2 ARB deluxe bar (new in box) sitting around for ages, I think at least 8 years, since I read here and there that it would fit, might need to modify the mounts. So I have been eyeballing it and I am going to make up a set of aluminium mockup brackets for fitting. Should be strong enough to hold up the bar and I can make steel versions from the ali mockups later on.

But here is the big question: bash plates. Does one need them? In my experience the rear bashplate in the past would not have been needed since the most I could damage was the spare wheel well, not that important. What it did help with though was slide over rocks or other difficult terrain, preventing the bumper from catching. The front bash plate I can not recall to ever have needed, the scratches on them however prove otherwise. Question is of course if I will be wheeling quite as hard when traveling.

What pulls me towards the ARB bar are the hoops that will (should) protect me from animal strikes, the better mounting points for antenna's atop the hoops, integrated blinkers and overal perceived better quality. What I would "lose" are the recovery points (fixable, could integrate in the bar mounts) and the bash plate (not easy to fix since I do not believe there are mounting points on the ARB bar so I would have to strip some of the powder coating and paint it or have it completely redone etc.)

My arguments for bash plate in the rear: my secondary fuel tank now lives there and is certainly not fit to pull bash plate duty.
My arguments for bash plate in the front: I don't have many Perhaps protect the radiator (well technically the condenser first) from rock impacts but on the other hand it blocks even more airflow.

So, what do you guys think?

Cheers,
-P

@Ian, nah mate. I won't be doing any 4wd traction control (4wd action or whatever them boys call themselves these days) stuff breaking axles left right and center by just sending it just about everywhere. Some nice technical driving to get to beautiful spots maybe yes

@Tins, I agree. The rear plate has to stay because running out of fuel due to a broken tank is no fun in the middle of nowhere.

@randlover, I could indeed switch to ali it would be heaps lighter.

Well, I'll just have to see if I can get the roobar to fit properly and I'll make a decision at that point.

Thanks!