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Factory Patrol Bull bar

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:13 pm
by Wilko76
Guys

Wanted to get an electric winch but have realised that i have a factory bull bar on the GU. Can the factory bar be modified in any way to mount a winch?
If not i will just get myself a hand winch.

Thx

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:45 pm
by MART
Any thing is possible , just whether it worth it , if you can do the work then it probably is worth it , on the other hand if someone else does it and you have to pay then maybe not. Handwinches are fine and are probably the be end of winches as they will work as long as you can. YOU must if purchasing a hand winch solidly mount it and its accesories into the vehicle as they are quite heavy. I had a shorty and tipped it on its side . That was ok , but when putting it back on its wheels the handwinch was thrown through the side window some 10 metrea so just make sure you secure it properly as what would of happened if it had of come forward , Cheers Paul.

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:34 pm
by chimpboy
I have to admit that I didn't think GUs came with a factory bull bar, just a bumper bar.

But anyway, it should be possible to buy or make a winch cradle that attaches to the chassis rails at the front of the car, then cut a suitable aperture into the factory bar for it to poke through. Same deal as with alloy bars basically.

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:07 pm
by cloughy
chimpboy wrote:I have to admit that I didn't think GUs came with a factory bull bar, just a bumper bar.
They sure did ;)

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:12 pm
by nastytroll
TJM sell winch cradles for the GU I think around the $200 mark but not sure on price. GU bull bars are locally made for nissan. There are 2 different winch cradles depending on year. They are for low mounts only

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:12 pm
by sudso
Winch cradle pffft!

The "winch cradle" on my Rodeo's ARB winch bar is two pieces of flat bar on the inside of the bar with holes in it for the winch bolts and a plasma cut hole for the roller fairleads.

And yes it is an authentic ARB winch bar.

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:15 pm
by nastytroll
Winch cradle pffft!

The "winch cradle" on my Rodeo's ARB winch bar is two pieces of flat bar on the inside of the bar with holes in it for the winch bolts and a plasma cut hole for the roller fairleads.

And yes it is an authentic ARB winch bar.


arb usually mount the winch to the bar, the TJM cradle mounts between the chassis rails. Some people need to research before forming an opinion.

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:28 pm
by sudso
I know, I was having a dig at the seemingly lack of reinforcement for winches on my ARB bar.

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:33 pm
by Wilko76
Contacted both ARB and TJM re cradles. They both indicated that they will not work for a bull bar that is not winch compatible.
Oh well. I need a roof rack more than a winch. shame that both arb and tjm racks cost an armand leg.

Any one know where i can source a cheaper one? and yes i check ebay all the time!!

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:35 pm
by Wilko76
Contacted both ARB and TJM re cradles. They both indicated that they will not work for a bull bar that is not winch compatible.
Oh well. I need a roof rack more than a winch. shame that both arb and tjm racks cost an armand leg.

Any one know where i can source a cheaper one? and yes i check ebay all the time!!

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:28 am
by bazzle
Is yours an ALLY or steel original bbar?
Steel one will take a winch. IF factory supplied. (Made by ARB)


Bazzle

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:17 pm
by manno74
The factory Nissan alloy bar can't take a winch... Even with a "cradle", it can't mount to the chassis with the alloy bar.

Go for the hand winch in the mean time mate.

A roof basket made from wire mesh and mount it on some standard roof racks might be a cheaper option too. Can't recomend a decent rack enough though. I got mine from ARB when they were doing up one of their shop trucks for a show, and needed to swap over to the new model - stuffed if I could tell the difference, but it saved me about $700!!!

Good luck champ.

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:51 pm
by sudso
Wilko76 wrote:Contacted both ARB and TJM re cradles. They both indicated that they will not work for a bull bar that is not winch compatible.
Oh well. I need a roof rack more than a winch. shame that both arb and tjm racks cost an armand leg.

Any one know where i can source a cheaper one? and yes i check ebay all the time!!
Both TJM and ARB bars are pretty much the same bars for winches or not.
The Tjm bar has the removable plate for the roller fairleads and you buy the winch carrier brackets to put in.
On my ARB bar it just has two pieces of flat bar welded ito the inside of the middle of the bar with holes in them to mount the winch too. It also has the hole for the roller fairleads and the roller cover bracket welded on.
Thats the only 3 things different to their non winch bar.
They're plenty strong enough.
The winch carriers in their alu bars are still steel.

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:54 pm
by manno74
He's not talking about their bars champ... he's talking about their mounts on a Nissan bar. :roll: