ARB deluxe winch bar

warn winch

ARB bars have a great reputation, and generally they live up to it. I wanted to fit my "bargain" Warn 9000 winch (now superceded) on the Landy and decided to splash out on an ARB bull bar. The winch fitted to the bar easily, and fitting of the unit to the chassis was very simple.

The only downside is that the towing eyes on the ARB bar do not meet the criteria for chassis-mounted tow hooks for some 4WD events. Mounting of towhooks becomes a bit problematic, requiring a bit of innovative thinking. You can fit hooks back on the chassis rails easily enough, but the rope may then rub on the underside of the bar during recoveries.

Initially I used the eyes on the bar, but they bend a bit too easily. Then I tried some recovery hooks mounted to the rails behind the eyes. They bend the rails. Now I have had some L-section steel braces made running from the chassis forward to strengthen the rails and eyes, and mounting recovery hooks on them. If anyone has a better idea I'd be interested in finding out!.

The bar also has mountings for two spotlights, and a CB aerial.

Sept 2000 - a tree jumped out in front of me in the Pureoras and put quite a dent in the bullbar. While the bullbar was off getting straightened I hatched some cunning plans to do a few fixes and additions...The first thing was to get everything off the bullbar. That took a while - I hadn't realised how much stuff was bolted on. Spotlights, winch controller, winch, indicators, mud guard, roller fairlead, recovery hooks, support plates, steering guard...The chassis rails were full of mud. I waterblasted it out and did some rustproofing. A new metal grille has been made up and fitted to replace the weak plastic one. (Thanks Ian!) It has a cunning feature to make fitting a radiator blind easy.

June 2001 - While getting the rollcage fitted I also had siderails completed from the bullbars back to the sidebars, and a plate made up to close the gap between the steering guard and the ARB bar to stop the rush of mud onto the radiator from below.

September 2001 - The old winch finally gave up the ghost, and a new 4.6 hp Warn 8274 winch was sourced. It looked like it could _just_ fit...with a bit of steel removed. Tim did the honours, grinding out a section of the lip and the middle bar. Acker Bilt welded in a new middle bar shaped to clear the winch and allow the spotlights to be refitted. I also took this opportunity to relocate the winch control inside the vehicle, out of the rain and mud.

March 2004 - galvanised the plate between the bullbar and steering guard.