Bar help needed from fabricators.

[mach.25]

Question for the fabricators out there, what thickness angle would you recommend I weld across the front of the fore aft chassis rails to attach a tube bar to. I've not seen a zook done this way yet but I'm sure some one has. I don't want to weld the tube straight to the chassis or try to fab a nice piece around the front tube and bolt it like the ARB bar and some people do as I don't have the tools to do a great job of it but I do have a welder and do a pretty decent job.
I will build the bar off this bit of angle.

[want33s]

Don't weld anything to the chassis.. especially a bar.
It won't be legal or safe.
The weight of the bar and vibration will fatigue the welds and cause them to crack, probably taking a section of chassis rail too.

Bolt the bar on using the four holes at the front of the rails.
Extra reinforcing can be added if it's a winch bar... See my build thread in members.

Jas.

[ajsr]

Don't weld anything to the chassis.. especially a bar.
It won't be legal or safe.
The weight of the bar and vibration will fatigue the welds and cause them to crack, probably taking a section of chassis rail too.

Bolt the bar on using the four holes at the front of the rails.
Extra reinforcing can be added if it's a winch bar... See my build thread in members.

Jas.

Im with jas on this one
besides if you weld on one how do you get it off when you bend it???
I extened my chassis 60mm and added another two holes each side (ie 4 per side) also weld in crush tubes inside the rails as the coke cans the rails are made of just crush other wise. The othe advantage of the chassis ext is your all set up for a rear up front if you need later.
cheers andrew

[mach.25]

Thanks, I was going to weld across the front and bolt the bar to the angle and perhaps put fillet welds across as well.
Hmmmm.
I have to ask the question, why would 4 bolts be better than a weld, it's not a winch bar, when I actually get this thing back out into the bush I always go in company. It's 1/2 cosmetic and 1/2 just to avoid damage to the area in the bush.
I'm not a qualified welder or engineer so I just don't know and need to ask.
I've seen your bar Jas, good work and I'm interested how you go about your rear bar when you get to that also.

[ajsr]

you could probably weld it on fine its just really hillbilly agricultural and a pain to get off again if you need to.
it not just if you bend the bar what it you need to remove it for other mods etc

id make decent brackets that bolt on and then weld whatever you want on top of that far safer

[mach.25]

Sorry, I was going to weld the angle, bar or bracket on and then build bar work to bolt up to this frame across the front. Nothing else to do to mine up front, no ruf or anything to go on. Body lift and springs is all that will go on and that's done already.

[GRPABT1]

I can't remember where I saw it but you can buy pre fabricated whinch cradles made out of angle to mount whinches in custom bars.

[ajsr]

tigerz11

[built4thrashing]

i made a winch tube bar up with the help of a mate and it is a bolt on bar. What we did was use the mounting holes in the end of the chasis with crush tubes and then used stainless U bolts to fix it to the front cross member. The outriggers have been cut off the front cross member and it has been strengthened by sliding another thicker walled pipe into it and welded in place. Way easier than what your thiinking of doing


B4T

[mach.25]

It's hard, the zook has sat idle for about 2 years and I haven't been around to see up close what everyone else has done. I think I'll just get some good cardboard and try the bracket way.

[want33s]

I've pulled luxes, patrols, cruiser etc with this winch bar.
It sits on the inside faces of the chassis rail. You can see the mark.
My front recovery hook also mounts to it.
I would quite happily lift my car off the ground by the winch and be sure the mounts wouldn't let go.
After all the winch itself is only held on with four bolts.

Jas.
PS: There is pics of my rear bar in my build thread too.