Bull Bar with no winch space

[tritonman]

Hi Guys, I need help. My bull bar is non winch version for a Triton and I would like to put a winch on it. The problem with this there is no place on the Bar to take the winch. Can the bar be adapted to take a winch were the number plate goes. If so how can it be done and where can it be done in Melbourne. I fnot would I be better just replacing the bar.
Cheers

[bogged]

I fnot would I be better just replacing the bar.

replace the bar would work out abotu the same.
there was a thread elsewhere on other GQ or lux bars, and mods were $700ish to sort out winch. new bar is $1000, sell old one for $400 ...

[Loanrangie]

Have your bar braced with extra plate for the winch, no way would it cost $700 ! Another option is to have a cradle made to hold the winch that mounts to the chassis then you only need to mount the fairlead roller to the bar and cut the hole. ARB have cradles to suit other vehicles, so give them a call.

[Shadow]

yeh $700 sounds very extreme to strengthen a bar.

At most it would involve cutting the middle section out and welding in thicker material.

Easiest is as Loanrangie said, make up a cradle. Might need some modifying of your bar to make the cradle work, but nothing $700.

[Dee]

If you bought a winch cradle to go beween chassis rails, is it legal to cut a fairlead etc. into an airbag compatible bar.
Would an alloy bar be strong enough for a fairlead. Ie the side to side/up & down pressure of the winch cable when not pulling in an exact straight line...? Or would you be better off welding some support brackets for the fairlead to the winch cradle?

[Shadow]

If you bought a winch cradle to go beween chassis rails, is it legal to cut a fairlead etc. into an airbag compatible bar.
Would an alloy bar be strong enough for a fairlead. Ie the side to side/up & down pressure of the winch cable when not pulling in an exact straight line...? Or would you be better off welding some support brackets for the fairlead to the winch cradle?

normally the winch cradle is bent with a return up the inside of the front face of the bar

the fairlead bolts through the bar and through the cradle.

[lethal weapon]

I did this to my non whinch bar, i used a big thick piece of 'C'section and cut the bottom part of the bar away, welded the 'c' section to the rails that go into your chassis, and also welded some more plates to brace it back to the chassis as a safe measure, all up round $150 got me a nice looking bar.......

[Ruffy]

Have your bar braced with extra plate for the winch, no way would it cost $700 !

It may not cost 700 bucks for you to mod your bar. BUT if you took your car somewhere to have it done?
Most reputable workshops and engineers are 70 plus dollars an hour. By the time they remove it, measure, cut and shut the bar an make mounting brackets etc. Materials. powder coat the bar because they take pride in there work and want a professional job. 700 bucks is easy to get to!

[lethal weapon]

If your not very handy at home, or have no tools to work with its not worth doing it, buy a new one. I just did everything at home and got a welder to mig it all in, and then painted it at home. All depends on what you have and who you know...

[Loanrangie]

If you bought a winch cradle to go beween chassis rails, is it legal to cut a fairlead etc. into an airbag compatible bar.
Would an alloy bar be strong enough for a fairlead. Ie the side to side/up & down pressure of the winch cable when not pulling in an exact straight line...? Or would you be better off welding some support brackets for the fairlead to the winch cradle?

Ah crap, disco's with airbags use a cradle mounted to the chassis and the fairlead roller is mounted to the bar - this is how ARB make them.

[Cossie]

If you bought a winch cradle to go beween chassis rails, is it legal to cut a fairlead etc. into an airbag compatible bar.
Would an alloy bar be strong enough for a fairlead. Ie the side to side/up & down pressure of the winch cable when not pulling in an exact straight line...? Or would you be better off welding some support brackets for the fairlead to the winch cradle?

Ah crap, disco's with airbags use a cradle mounted to the chassis and the fairlead roller is mounted to the bar - this is how ARB make them.

Yeah but who the hell would own a disco anyway???

If its an airbag equipped car its not a good idea to dick about with it. If its not airbag and it looks like the mounts can handle the loads of a winch then have a play, but if you're paying someone to do it I dont reckon it'll be too cheap.

[Loanrangie]

If you bought a winch cradle to go beween chassis rails, is it legal to cut a fairlead etc. into an airbag compatible bar.
Would an alloy bar be strong enough for a fairlead. Ie the side to side/up & down pressure of the winch cable when not pulling in an exact straight line...? Or would you be better off welding some support brackets for the fairlead to the winch cradle?

Ah crap, disco's with airbags use a cradle mounted to the chassis and the fairlead roller is mounted to the bar - this is how ARB make them.

Yeah but who the hell would own a disco anyway???

If its an airbag equipped car its not a good idea to dick about with it. If its not airbag and it looks like the mounts can handle the loads of a winch then have a play, but if you're paying someone to do it I dont reckon it'll be too cheap.

And that would be your rust bucket of a boat anchor in your avatar ?