Thread: L322 Bullbar development! Finally

Are these still on offer?

Originally Posted by chaybra

Good news L322 owners, the possibility of a bull bar (And other bar work eg rear) is now very very close.
I have been busy contacting the bull bar manufactures around Australia and with much disappointment have been told a flat out no from all the majors...however, I have now been in contact with a smaller manufacturer who, after the explore aust expo has realized the demand for the L322, is willing to do some research and development to make a fully ADR and airbag compatible bull bar with winch mount!! (parking sensors and all)

After seeing some of the products they had available at the show myself I have to admit these are one of the best looking bull bars out at the moment, the finish quality is just sublime.

This is a sample of what I am expecting from them (For a jeep)
Patrol


All we need is 10 votes of interest (Deposits) to finally have some front end protection!
Estimation of price is from $1500 to $2200 depending on complications of course, and that's not bad!

Please PM me or reply here so we can get some numbers together and finally get some after market products for these fantastic cars.

There appears to be a fixed $110 shipping cost for those around the country. (Will have to confirm)

I will also be putting info on ever L322 i see parked around Melbourne haha

Here is what happens if you don’t have a bar and meet a big red on Nullarbor

Gippy

Originally Posted by ramjet285

Are these still on offer?

There was never any on offer, it was a pipe dream that will never happen unfortunately.
Not a big enough market for them.

Found a Perth bullbar manufacturer who happened to already have a front section of a bar made up, for an L322 buyer who didn't come back to have it fitted.
Don't know if he paid a deposit.
They are happy to fit it to my car ($2900 fitted) and say it is designed to fit over the front bumper and mouldings, with fog lights and park sensors moved to bar and extra indicators mounted on front. They want 3 days to fit it.

I attach pic. First concern being that front lower vent might be too small, and when I mount spotties between upper bars, that airflow might be greatly reduced.
Irvin bullbar.jpg
Having recently removed the plastic underbody covers, I can see there are not a lot of options for mounting such a bar (especially if they leave front bumper on as likely mounting plate options might be where the current bumper rests against). They did say they would be 'doing a bit of cutting" of under bumper mouldings to accommodate mounting brackets
Underneath only seems to have the sub frame that holds motor/gearbox as a mounting option, which might not be a great option for mounting, and precious little there anyway being round pipe.
My ARB bar on the D3 took the place of existing bumper and used some of the original bumper mounting points, which this bar evidently isn't using.
I'm wondering if it is possible to actually adequately mount a bullbar on L322 given there does not appear many options underneath and plan is to leave original bumper on?
Would like to hear from anybody who has abetter understanding of what is needed to mount a bar adequately on an L322 and whether there are enough mounting options.
I might have to opt for one of those rubber face mounted type "bars" that I've seen on some L322's, and hope for small roos.

First thing... Find out your front axle max load, then find out your current weight.

Now check this bar, and work out what will happen when you load the vehicle - L322s are very borderline and you'll likely blow over on front axle.

If it hasnt been crash pulse tested, its not legal either, and may well end up hurting you (and writing off the vehicle) under the wrong crash pulse...

Wouldnt this be a question to the manufacturer?

Originally Posted by irubix

Wouldnt this be a question to the manufacturer?

Which part?

Originally Posted by irubix

Wouldnt this be a question to the manufacturer?

No, the OEM won’t care what you want to do. There’s no one who’s done the testing so it’s technically not legal, but it’s up to the individual on what risks they want to take with such things. Front axle load is almost on the limit - with the winch and factory rubber bar fitted it’s right on max so you might get away with a bar alone but a bar like this and winch would put it over I think.