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Thread: Bullbar Discussion D3/D4

  1. 2nd November 2010, 10:15 PM #1
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    Bullbar Discussion D3/D4

    There has been a bit of discussion lately about aluminium v steel bullbars for the D4.

    I have a D3 and have some concerns regarding the weight of an ARB steel bullbar.

    If a landrover sanctioned aluminium bullbar for a D4 weighs 35 kg what does an ARB steel bullbar weigh?

    Having asked the above the aluminium bar retains the bumper & the steel bar replaces the bumper what does the oem bumper weigh?

    Does the aluminium bar require additional winch brackets & if so what would they weigh?

    As far as I know the steel bar does not require any additional brackets for a winch as they are already built in.

    I guess I am trying to establish real world weight comparisons.

    I am lucky as the bar for a D3 I would like is available now.

    Is there any basis for my concerns regarding the weight of a steel bullbar?

    Regards

    Chuck
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  2. 3rd November 2010, 04:49 AM #2
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    Hi Chuck,
    I contacted ARB again on Monday re: the weight of their steel bar. They are going to get back to me today. I'll let you know.
    From the information I have gathered so far, the weight of the steel bar will cause extra wear over time.
    Keen to hear others opinions
    Cheers, Craig
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  3. 3rd November 2010, 08:41 AM #3
    CaverD3
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    There is not a lot of difference between the steel bar and the Plastic LR bumper. LR bumper has a large steel cross member. Extra wear is minimum as the self leveling will bring the vehicle back to the correct height. (air susp)
    Not a lot of difference in the weight between steel and aluminium (I think the ARB is 44kg) but a big difference if you hit a roo, steel is easy to repair.
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  4. 3rd November 2010, 08:50 AM #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Disco4SE View Post
    Hi Chuck,
    I contacted ARB again on Monday re: the weight of their steel bar. They are going to get back to me today. I'll let you know.
    From the information I have gathered so far, the weight of the steel bar will cause extra wear over time.
    Keen to hear others opinions
    Cheers, Craig
    Information gathered from where?

    The only people I know who tout alloy over steel are people who like to fabricate alloy bars, then sell you a cradle for a winch etc...
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  5. 3rd November 2010, 09:16 AM #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tombie2 View Post
    Information gathered from where?

    The only people I know who tout alloy over steel are people who like to fabricate alloy bars, then sell you a cradle for a winch etc...
    Hi Tombie,
    This was from a Landrover guy who has been servicing them for around 30 years. I trust that he would know what he was talking about?
    Cheers, Craig
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  6. 3rd November 2010, 09:55 AM #6
    CaverD3
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    Bullbars and vehicles have changed a lot in 30 years. They used to weld gates to the front of leaf sprung 4x4s.
    These days steel bars are engineered and weigh a lot less.
    I would rather put up with a little more wear and get less body damage if i hit something. Besides steel is better for pushing over trees.
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  7. 3rd November 2010, 10:04 AM #7
    WhiteD3
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    Given air bags and crumple zones, and the fact that any sort of bull bar has to be compliant; is there really a difference between hitting something (hard) with an alloy or steel bar? I would have thought they'd both have to give/crumple.

    This statement is made in total ignorance of the law, physics and things mechanical
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  8. 3rd November 2010, 10:45 AM #8
    CaverD3
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    More elasticity in steel then aluminium. You are right though the old gate welded on would have been more effective than the new steel ones.
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  9. 3rd November 2010, 01:35 PM #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by WhiteD3 View Post
    Given air bags and crumple zones, and the fact that any sort of bull bar has to be compliant; is there really a difference between hitting something (hard) with an alloy or steel bar? I would have thought they'd both have to give/crumple.

    This statement is made in total ignorance of the law, physics and things mechanical
    Hi WhiteD3,
    True, the bullbars have to be compliant. Does that mean that they have to crumple? No. There are airbag triggers behind the bullbars, all that needs to happen in a collision is that they are triggered.

    The common belief (which I agree with without any technical info) is that the alloy bars are inherently weaker, meaning that they are more likely to deform, possibly causing damage to the vehicle. I think ECB try to address this somewhat by having the bar located further from panels.

    I also note Tombie's comment about bar repair.

    Best Wishes,
    Peter
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  10. 3rd November 2010, 01:45 PM #10
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    I recently swapped an alloy (non-winch) bar for a steel (ARB ) winch bar (on a 110, but the principle is the same). As an aside, the alloy (dissimilar metal contact) had caused the attachment bolts to rust significantly - some were threaded into the alloy bar - which made it worse still.

    There was very little difference in the weight of the two bars. If you added a steel winch cradle to the Al bar, it would likely have been heavier.

    If you are adding a winch, then the weight difference between an AL or steel bar is insignificant compared to the extra weight of the winch.

    I cannot see the bar(and winch) making and difference in wear of components (maybe the brakes will wear out 1/10th of a percent sooner.

    Remember that the alloy bar will be ~8mm Al vs ~3 mm steel for the steel bar.
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