Steel Winch Bullbar (Ebay)

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Shan,
The paint finish looks very 'matt'. Is that how it is in real life? I expected it to be a bit glossy.

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Shan,
The paint finish looks very 'matt'. Is that how it is in real life? I expected it to be a bit glossy.

Yes Andrew !! It looks very matt in real life, but that's because I painted it with matt black. The powder coating inside wasn't great so I thought couple of courts of Rust Kill might help.

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Ahh! Personal preference I guess but I would have liked something semi-gloss at least.

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Guys, I was looking around about this ADR-69 compliance issue and found the following in the RACV website

"Australian standard for bull-bars
In September 2002, the first Australian Standard for Motor Vehicle Frontal Protection Systems (more commonly termed 'bull-bars') was published. At present, the standard is voluntary. However RACV encourages motorists who choose to fit a bull-bar to their vehicle to purchase one that complies with the standard."(Link)

I'm trying to find out the truth about this. It's not ideal to drive around with a bull bar which doesn't meet the standards but since I have already got the bar, it could be my get out of jail card !!!

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

So Shan - a few months of ownership later - any further impressions of these ARB-copies? How much movement do they have, relative to the bonnet?

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

So Shan - a few months of ownership later - any further impressions of these ARB-copies? How much movement do they have, relative to the bonnet?

I have no complains about the bar so far... movement is normal (same as my Toyota bar) and mounting is pretty solid.
After few trips and using the winch couple of times It didn't let me down. All my mates checked it out says it's a good looking bar...

All that said.. If I have the choice now I would pay the extra $750 and get ARB one instead. Just to have the peace of mind, knowing that the air bags will definitely work in a collision.

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

All that said.. If I have the choice now I would pay the extra $750 and get ARB one instead. Just to have the peace of mind, knowing that the air bags will definitely work in a collision.

I wouldnt, the ARB is no gem, thats for sure, I not happy with the poor design of mine at all and would never get another.
Just because they have some sort of cert, doesnt mean they are any better in my book.
The OL bar for the Prado are a much better design bar, TJM might be too but I have no experience with them.

I think you got a good score with what youve got.

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

I have no complains about the bar so far... movement is normal (same as my Toyota bar) and mounting is pretty solid.
After few trips and using the winch couple of times It didn't let me down. All my mates checked it out says it's a good looking bar...

All that said.. If I have the choice now I would pay the extra $750 and get ARB one instead. Just to have the peace of mind, knowing that the air bags will definitely work in a collision.

According to their eBay listing they are "Built To Australian Standard AS4876.1-2002 & ADR 69". A lack of sticker does not mean the airbag will not deploy, but possibly it has not been crash tested. Does anyone know if the Xrox Comp Bull Bar has an airbag compatibility sticker?

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

I know not having the compliance cert doesn't mean that the air bags will not deploy in a collision. Who knows probably it will pass the compliance and more importantly will work as it should in a collision. But when it's not proved it feel like you are the dummy for their crash test... That's all I have against it !!

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

Thanks for the update, Shan.

One further question: Is this bar the same weight (75kg or so) as the ARB one?

Regarding airbag deployment, the air-bags need to have a bar whose mounts progressively crumple in a head-on accident - thus absorbing some of the load. Otherwise, if you had no crumple zone, then the airbag would go off if you hit the bar with a hammer...(well, almost).

So the issue is not that the airbag would not deploy in an accident, rather that it would deploy "too often" in non-life-threatening accidents.

I think this is what the insurers are interested in: they don't want to replace the interior of your car (and airbags) just because you hit a possum!

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

One further question: Is this bar the same weight (75kg or so) as the ARB one?

That I'm not sure... I don't think it's any lesser because my front dropped considerably after that..(Winch included).
If this helps at all the courier slip stated 98KG for both bar and the winch. How accurate that was is another question.

So the issue is not that the airbag would not deploy in an accident, rather that it would deploy "too often" in non-life-threatening accidents.

Thanks Rob !! Feels good now...that's a good problem to have out of the lot.

[newbie prado owner Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close newbie prado owner]

Does anyone have anything further to add regarding the Airbag compliance issue regarding making a claim to insurance if something bad happened? I am looking at one of these Pinnacle BB's as i do like what i see and from other ppl's experiences with them/

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

It was confirmed to me today that the Xrox Comp bar is air bag compatible. As far as the Pinnacle bar is concerned, the reason it's so cheap is probably because it has not been crash tested for air bag compatibility approval.

[newbie prado owner Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close newbie prado owner]

Pinnacle Wholesalers BB ARB copy

I have been researching this regarding the Pinnacle Wholesalers BB for $640.00. It says on their ad that it is made IAW AS4876.1-2002 & ADR 69 "These Bullbars Are Top Quality And Are Built To Australian Standard AS4876.1-2002 & ADR 69"
Now i have been reading ADR 69 and it says for a BB to be compliant to this standard, it must bear the a sticker just like any other compliant BB.
I understand what you say Peter, but i am concerned of worst case scenario from an insurance point of view.
But geez i would like one of these BB's.
Does anyone work in the insurance game to get a better understanding of it all?

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

As shown in post #64 at present it is voluntary... I have confirmed this with AAMI over the phone as well but were not keen to give it to me in-writing, saying they don't want to promote people putting backyard BBs.