Any matal fabricators on this Forum

[isuzurover]

they have a crumple piece between the bar and chassis

Yep - it looks like a piece of RHS that has been cut lengthways along each corner, and then partially crushed (so it is corrugated). If you have a winch fitted it mounts to the chassis (behind the "crumple pieces"), rather than to the bar.

[tombraider]

Yep - it looks like a piece of RHS that has been cut lengthways along each corner, and then partially crushed (so it is corrugated). If you have a winch fitted it mounts to the chassis (behind the "crumple pieces"), rather than to the bar.

No it doesnt.. It mounts directly to the front face of the bar itself.

ARB crush cans for D2 are rated to require a 15t impact force before full deformation occurs.

[DaveS3]

Just modify the wings of your ARB bar.

Keep the middle lower section and the top sections, replace the lower wings with RHS and plate to suit.
Raise them ~75mm with 3mm plate.

This keeps the bar looking standard and protects your headlights and indicators. Whilst the tube looks great, it leaves the indicators especially vulnerable (BTW they are not cheap)

Having said that - I own a tube bar, but I would love something that protects the front 1/4's and indicators, but I couldn't find a reasably priced 2nd hand ARB/TJM bar to suit my needs.

Cheers and Goodluck.
Dave.

[MickG]

Just modify the wings of your ARB bar.

I condisderd this but the way the ARB bar is made, the support brackets and tubes come down very low on the underside of the bar. I was hoping to trim the sides to gain more approach but all the bracing etc is hidden behind it.....there simply is no way of cutting anything significant out without loosing most of the bars integrity.
I would love a tube bar set up for the simple reason of approach angle. Although the ARB bar is strong (I have bashed the hell out of it for 3 years now) it sticks out sooooooo far from the front of the car.

Another reason why I have left it alone is the air bag issue. I have seen a couple of custom D2 bars and although 1 in particular used the existing crush cans, it was not up to the task by a long shot. Clearly all the testing and certification that ARB do serves a purpose, so unfortunately until someone comes up with a viable and resolved alternative or ARB make a "leaner" bar for the D2, mine is going to have to stay on and take a hiding

Watching with interest though

Aye, Mick

[HAK]

On the 5th Gear episode where they have a head on collusion with a MPV the air bags didn’t even work, according to them the crumble zones in most 4wd aren’t all that safe any way

I like the ARB bars and TJM have a nice one too with a good angle approach however I want something lighter and again better angle approach not that the D2 hasn’t already

The bar that I like I cant see $1400 in it so I’m calling all Fabricators

[Outlaw]

maybe a PM to Brooksy could work... he's not on here often but fairly sure he's done a tube bar on his D2 and he does 4wd fabrication for a living

[HAK]

maybe a PM to Brooksy could work... he's not on here often but fairly sure he's done a tube bar on his D2 and he does 4wd fabrication for a living

PM sent if anybody has contact number Brooksy please advise

[wrex]

Hi Rovernit
I had these photos in the "I would like my 4wd to look like this" folder. These bars look similar to the one you are sourcing, allowing room for a winch and fantastic approach angles. I'm not sure though where you can buy them from, however I hope they help in getting ideas for someone to make one up for you.

[mcrover]

Nothing I have seen in any of those photo's would have any more approach angle than My Disco with a standard TJM alloy bar.

I think your chasing something that isnt worth worrying about while you still have to deal with having airbags.

D2's have the problem of the bar hangs out further than a D1 because of the Airbag cans and needing a crumple zone built into the bar.

The only thing you could realy do is have a bar specifically for 4wding and use a standard bar on the road but that would be a PITA as this way you could build quite cheaply a tube bar that doesnt have any of the airbag BS to go with it and then you could have a few less inchs of front length.

Im not a huge fan of the tube type bars, Im not realy a fan of my alloy bar, I would prefer a steel ARB bar but the TJM is working well for me at the moment but the tube bars dont really provide much protection at all, specially to the indicators and guards or bonnet and grill etc.

Each to their own though, legal problems will stuff you in thying to build one your self though as anything with air bags needs to be certified and without it, your cars unroadworthy and not insured with most insurers.

I'd be carefull and do a bit of research first if thats the way your going to go.

[MickG]

Nothing I have seen in any of those photo's would have any more approach angle than My Disco with a standard TJM alloy bar.

These photos are deceiving mcrover.......these bars would have heaps better approach angle than any off the shelf TJM or ARB bar. The custom bars sit much much closer to the grill of the car and have less metal on the sides, thus giving better approach....perhaps weaker, but improve approach angle immensly.

I would happily swap for a tube bar if there was not an air bag/legal issue, as the sort of driving I do, a considerd tube bar design would stand up enough to the vigours of my off roading i'm sure.

Aye, Mick