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Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

General Tech Talk

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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by Shadow »

bananas wrote:Maybe I should just contact a lawyer and ask for a legal standing. :P

If you cant fit a winch plate by itself legally, how can you fit one simply because it comes with the bullbar.
How does a winch plate for a bullbar differ from a plate by itself?

And how much does the average steel bullbar weigh?
On most airbag compatible bullbars, the winch bolts to a cradle which then attaches to the chassis.

The bar attaches to crush-able brackets, or rubber connected brackets (like engine mounts) which allows a solid bar to crush back toward the vehicle.

There is always a gap between the bar and the winch itself, so the bar can push back some and absorb some impact before hitting the solid winch/chassis/engine block/whatever, and triggering airbags.
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by bananas »

Shadow wrote:
bananas wrote:Maybe I should just contact a lawyer and ask for a legal standing. :P

If you cant fit a winch plate by itself legally, how can you fit one simply because it comes with the bullbar.
How does a winch plate for a bullbar differ from a plate by itself?

And how much does the average steel bullbar weigh?
On most airbag compatible bullbars, the winch bolts to a cradle which then attaches to the chassis.

The bar attaches to crush-able brackets, or rubber connected brackets (like engine mounts) which allows a solid bar to crush back toward the vehicle.

There is always a gap between the bar and the winch itself, so the bar can push back some and absorb some impact before hitting the solid winch/chassis/engine block/whatever, and triggering airbags.
So the problem with the plate by itself is that the winch is the first thing that gets hit and not say the bumper? And because the winch has no "give" it will set the airbags off too easily?
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Location: Brisbane Australia

Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by Shadow »

bananas wrote:
Shadow wrote:
bananas wrote:Maybe I should just contact a lawyer and ask for a legal standing. :P

If you cant fit a winch plate by itself legally, how can you fit one simply because it comes with the bullbar.
How does a winch plate for a bullbar differ from a plate by itself?

And how much does the average steel bullbar weigh?
On most airbag compatible bullbars, the winch bolts to a cradle which then attaches to the chassis.

The bar attaches to crush-able brackets, or rubber connected brackets (like engine mounts) which allows a solid bar to crush back toward the vehicle.

There is always a gap between the bar and the winch itself, so the bar can push back some and absorb some impact before hitting the solid winch/chassis/engine block/whatever, and triggering airbags.
So the problem with the plate by itself is that the winch is the first thing that gets hit and not say the bumper? And because the winch has no "give" it will set the airbags off too easily?
correct.
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by XTREME MMM »

It all depends on the brand of bar you buy. ARB bars have the winch mounted in the bar. I have only ever fitted one TJM bar into a Patrol and the winch was in a cradle.

No one has mentioned this yet.

If you want to fit only the cradle, where are you going to mount the fair lead?

I do not think the plastic bumpers on any vehicle would be suitable for this. But if you do mount it on the bumper let me know when you are first going to use it. Be good to watch as the bumper gets pushed off when winching.

Keep in mind that the fair lead takes a lot of load in tricky winch excerise's.

Cheers David.
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by Struth »

You could manufacture a winch cradle with a fairlead support easily if you are fab minded.
the legallity then becomes wether or not placing a solid winch cradle and winch behind a plastic bumper is legal.

I can't see why not in a non airbagged vehicle.
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by Skegbudley »

XTREME MMM wrote:
Skegbudley wrote:
bananas wrote:
XTREME MMM wrote:The ADR's concerned, regardless of age of vehicle will be to do with "Protrusions".

If it is outside the bumper area it would not comply, but if everything was tucked in behind it will be ok.

What type of vehicle is it going on?

Cheers
David
I dont think it will fit behind the bumper. It's a gu patrol.

If you have a GU then you can fit it no worries.
The winch mounts between the chassis rails on a cradle.
TJM and Tigrez11 sell the cradles. I have the TJM one.
Correct they do, but what do you mount the fair lead too?

And as per last post, does it have an airbag?

Cheers
David
Having a airbag does not matter if using the TJM winch cradle. They are certified to be used on airbag equiped vehicles.
As for the fairlead. It bolts onto the winch cradle. If you look at a TJM T15 steel bullbar you will see that no part of the winch cradle or the fairlead touches the bar.
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by XTREME MMM »

Skegbudley wrote:
XTREME MMM wrote:
Skegbudley wrote:
bananas wrote:
XTREME MMM wrote:The ADR's concerned, regardless of age of vehicle will be to do with "Protrusions".

If it is outside the bumper area it would not comply, but if everything was tucked in behind it will be ok.

What type of vehicle is it going on?

Cheers
David
I dont think it will fit behind the bumper. It's a gu patrol.

If you have a GU then you can fit it no worries.
The winch mounts between the chassis rails on a cradle.
TJM and Tigrez11 sell the cradles. I have the TJM one.
Correct they do, but what do you mount the fair lead too?

And as per last post, does it have an airbag?

Cheers
David
Having a airbag does not matter if using the TJM winch cradle. They are certified to be used on airbag equiped vehicles.
As for the fairlead. It bolts onto the winch cradle. If you look at a TJM T15 steel bullbar you will see that no part of the winch cradle or the fairlead touches the bar.

I hate to say you are wrong, but you are.

On the Patrol the cradle is behind the crumple zone of the chassis and the fairlead is attached to the bull bar.

I have never seen a fairlead that is not attached to the most forward position of a vehicle, hence the bull bar.

This is even the case on mid mounted winches, the fairlead or guide is always attached to the most forward part of the vehicle.

Please look again.

Cheers
David
David Metcalfe, runs Xtreme 4X4 Sport which is the home of ARB Xtreme Winch Challenge Series, Xtreme International & 4WD Angel Adventure supporting Angel Flight Australia
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by XTREME MMM »

Struth wrote:You could manufacture a winch cradle with a fairlead support easily if you are fab minded.
the legallity then becomes wether or not placing a solid winch cradle and winch behind a plastic bumper is legal.

I can't see why not in a non airbagged vehicle.

Your comments are correct, if it is not an air bagged vehicle.

If it is no.

Cheers
David
David Metcalfe, runs Xtreme 4X4 Sport which is the home of ARB Xtreme Winch Challenge Series, Xtreme International & 4WD Angel Adventure supporting Angel Flight Australia
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by Skegbudley »

As you can see. The fairlead is bolted to the winch cradle.
Image

The fairlead pokes out a hole in the bullbar.
Image
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Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by XTREME MMM »

Skegbudley wrote:As you can see. The fairlead is bolted to the winch cradle.
Image

The fairlead pokes out a hole in the bullbar.
Image

Stand corrected on that one.

Cheers
David
David Metcalfe, runs Xtreme 4X4 Sport which is the home of ARB Xtreme Winch Challenge Series, Xtreme International & 4WD Angel Adventure supporting Angel Flight Australia
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:44 pm

Re: Can you fit a winch without a bullbar legally?

Post by bananas »

How much would the average steel bullbar weigh?
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