Which winch bar???

[300TDi]

I need to stick a new airbag compatible winch bar onto a 94 Discovery (300TDi), to take a Brawn 9500Lb low mount winch.

The obvious question is TJM or ARB -what are the pros and cons?

Being an airbag compatible bar you aren't supposed to snatch off it - can you fit chassis mounted recovery points along with either bar?

I currently have the LR Genuine (but not fitted as standard) recovery points that include a plate on either side of the chassis rail bolted through the 2 bull bar mounting bolts, and are connected by a cold drawn steel hoop. Can you retain / access these recovery points with either TJM or ARB winch bars fitted?

Has anyone had any experience with Sportsrange 4x4 bull bars? (They do bars looking very similar to both the TJM and ARB ones but at about 2/3 the price.

Thanks in advance,

[300TDi]

Doesn't anyone have a winch compatible bar on a series 1 Discovery with airbags?

[BIg StEvE]

My mate who is not on this forum has a TJM bar on his disco and it looks petty good! Seems to do the job well enough also.

They all look pretty similar so i would loose the airbag and go custom!

Thats about all i got sorry mate!

Cheers

Steve

[Shy Industries]

Go custom its worth it for the same price as a TJM or ARB you can get exactly what you want. I have to agree with steve in having the airbag removed to increase your options.

[300TDi]

I had thought about the custom option, but I'm concerned about loosing my ability to get insurance if I remove the airbags and add custom barwork (there is an Australian Standard on bull bars, so if front barwork doesn't comply the insurance companies may still try to leave you high and dry after an accident).

I've just spoken to the TJM tech guys. Apparently there is no difference between the Disco TJM bars for airbags / no airbags. Also - when the winch frames are fitted they bolt onto the bar forward of the chassis mounts, not onto the chassis. Makes me wonder if their winch cradle is strong enough.

Has anyone had any experiences with winching of a TJM bar on a Series 1 Discovery? Keen to hear if there are any dramas with bar starting to twist etc of if they are rock solid.

[Slunnie]

The ARB bars seem to be pretty strong. Ive seen the TJM ones bend relatively easily.

[300TDi]

Slunnie - is that bending under the influence of winching or cows?

[stuee]

I have read previously that it is illeagal to fit a non-airbag bar to an airbag equiped vehicle. When it come time for airbag replacement on my disco ('97 so due to be replcaed in '07) I will be speaking to an engineer regarding removal of the airbags and fitment of a custom bar. If you go the custom route keep us posted.

Out of the tjm and arb I would go the arb as they seem to have a proven track record. There are complaints from some guys overseas that the crash cans (??? mounting thing-a-ma-jigs) on the arb bend too easily doing hardcore stuff but I think its a question of what you want ot bend, your chassis or some replaceable mounting points.

[300TDi]

I have read previously that it is illeagal to fit a non-airbag bar to an airbag equiped vehicle.

Not illegal - ARB have told me there isn't an ADR on bullbars, but there are Australian Standards. The AS apparently states that airbag approved bars must be tested to prove their compatibility. So apparently if you fit one that doesn't comply with the AS and there is an accident, you won't be charged as it isn't illegal, however your insurance will likely be void and anyone else injured in the accident may be able to sue. Ie for not complying with the AS you are liable under civial law, not criminal law. I hope my use of the word apparently came through clearly enough there.

I am still concerned about the removal of airbags as there is little evidence I can find of this being done legally. I therefore don't wish to be part of any 'test case' going through the courts if it all goes pair shaped!!!

[cutfenders]

Sorry Ben, I don't have the answers but I do have a few more questions for this interesting thread.

1. Would it be possible for the airbags to be deployed if a vehicle involved in an accident had not come to a complete stop? ( I would hope not!)

2. I have heard/read that the airbags are deployed via a speed sensor (working on rapid deceleration) mounted behind the head lights or in the centre console. That being, my question is; What part (if any) do the crush cans play in airbag deployment?

I have just been to Torrak Tractor (Landrover wrecker) who have shown me multiple front end wrecks with their air bags fully intact. Makes you wonder eh?

I am going through a winch bar/airbag compatability/non compatbability issue at the moment. I have had a noncompatable ARB winch bar fitted to an airbag vehicle, on the advise of a Pro Bull Bar company. Now I'm having second thoughts!

My priorities are: 1. Safety
2. Insurance
3. Functionality

comments appreciated

Cheers Dean

[Rangie Wrecker]

I hate to hijack this thread but seeing as no one has posted since Sunday I feel I'm fairly safe.

On the subject of winch bars on Discos I was wondering what people out there have done to mount Hi mounts? I took the Hi mount and ARB winch bar off my Rangie thinking it would bolt onto my '95 Disco only to find out the body work on the Discovery comes forward significantly more interfering with the bull bar.

Have been told that the ARB deluxe winch bar for Discos does not fit hi mounts. As far as I can see my options are limited to either extending the brackets on the Rangie bar or chopping up the standard non winch ARB Disco bar and stuffing the winch in it. I don't really want to go down the full custom route, as I prefer the look of the ARB bars.

I was just wondering what others have done in the hope it might save me some R&D headaches.

Andy