Bull bar Causing cracks in 200? (1 Viewer)

[cc93cruiser]

Just seen this video on YouTube.. Yes I am keeping in mind that down under these rigs are under a lot harsher conditions day in and day out... Just wondering if anyone here in the states has had this happened to the mounting plate on frame due to bullbar/winch extra weight.

 

[mark71]

Appears valid.

If DTT255 is still on this forum, I'd be curious to hear if he can see any sign of failure on his.

 

[Romer]

I ran a bullbar from ARB on my 80 and my 100. I never saw any cracks. My 200 is too new to tell

 

[Output Shaft]

That dinky bracket on the 200 is designed to hold the 25 lb OEM bumper nicely. Not a 200 lb winch/bull bar combo. The older cruisers had the bull bar mount directly on the frame. I'll bet the ARB engineers winced at that, but the marketing dept said go for it.

 

[Romer]

That dinky bracket on the 200 is designed to hold the 25 lb OEM bumper nicely. Not a 200 lb winch/bull bar combo. The older cruisers had the bull bar mount directly on the frame. I'll bet the ARB engineers winced at that, but the marketing dept said go for it.

The 80 had it mounted to the frame. The 100 is similar to the 200

 

[cc93cruiser]

Yea but the hundy mount is bigger and beefier and mounted on the side of the frame rails iirc, not like this flimsy looking plate welded at the end of the frame rail of 200 series.. Wonder if problem will become more apparent now that older 200 series cruisers are becoming somewhat more affordable and peeps start buying and modding.... Just catching up on the 200 since all be in the market for one in about a year...

 

[Romer]

Looks like something worth keeping an eye out for

 

[txtortoise]

Notice he was also running an alloy bar vs steel most folks run over here.

 

[cc93cruiser]

Notice he was also running an alloy bar vs steel most folks run over here.

Good point, if I had a 2Hundy with added weight in the front, I'd definitely keep in eye out or try to run some more beeds on the original welds to try and reinforce the stock setup, maybe a beefier plate... Only time will tell if this is truly a issue....

 

[NLScooby]

I think the conditions of travel down under are far more harsh than what we encounter on a regular basis. There was a video of a 200 series in slow motion driving at speed on the wash board roads for hours on end and you could see the rig just being punished!
As these vehicles get more "comfy", I think folks are subjecting them to more abuse, not realizing the beating all the other components are taking so that they don't spill their latte while driving

I don't imagine we'll see much of this state-side. (Fingers crossed)

I also think the ARB mounts differently than this bar did (with some through-bolts going through the frame.)

My favorite line in this video was "Every crack always needs a place to start"....

 

[linuxgod]

I've never been to Australia, but after driving an LC Prado in Costa Rica and a Jeep in Belize, I'm surprised that every vehicle in those countries don't just spontaneously collapse into a pile of bolts and metal after 30 or 40k miles.

 

[mark71]

Notice he was also running an alloy bar vs steel most folks run over here.

He said his bumper and winch were 98 kilos (or something like that). Seems kinda heavy for an alloy bull bar.

 

[txtortoise]

Winch rig almost looked heavier than the bull bar. Any idea what they weigh. Steel TJM weighs about 175lbs, best as I could determine.

 

[Rigger]

Does anyone have a pic of their frame ends that would show how the ARB unit connects?

 

[linuxgod]

Seems like some sort of reinforced L brace that mounts in front of the plate and bolts under the frame might be in order. Slee?

 

[bjowett]

This is an issue ONLY if the front eight vertically mounted frame bolts are utilized to hold more than the stock bumper. Most after market units, including ARB, bolt into the recovery point mounts... and sometimes more, to mount the bumper

 

[r3run33]

Hey I don't fault the 200 series for this that plate with all that weight and then you have to consider how many times this guy winched etc to put more stress on the plate. its how that but bar was attached. I don't think he was bashing the 200 all in maybe putting little blame on both parties the 200 and the instal of the bull bar

 

[linuxgod]

This is an issue ONLY if the front eight vertically mounted frame bolts are utilized to hold more than the stock bumper. Most after market units, including ARB, bolt into the recovery point mounts... and sometimes more, to mount the bumper

That's great to know.

 

[xkennx]

Also does not look like the bumper was installed correctly. I have installed 100's of Ironman and ARB bumpers on our armored TLC 200. There are also a bracket that is installed at the tiedown point going vertically up. Also the bumper is not just bolted with those bolts coming out at the end, there is a mounting cradle that goes over the chassis.

 

[Markuson]

Maybe one of you who can explain this issue with installation could comment under his YouTube vid... Would be nice to dispel the idea that this is somehow the LC's weakness...when it actually sounds like improper installation...?