Homemade bullbar

[Jeepster Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeepster]

Looking good!

Dit lyk goed, 'n boer maak 'n plan!

[tim_c Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tim_c]

I'm not an engineering type, but my basic understanding of the issue is that a regular bull bar mounted to a vehicle with airbags can cause the airbags to trigger at a low impact, when they wouldn't (or shouldn't) otherwise.

This is because the vehicle body and chassis includes crumple zones which absorb the energy of an impact, but a solidly mounted bull bar, apart from being the first thing to hit something in an impact, transmits the 'shock' of the impact directly to the chassis, causing the airbag system to interpret the crash as more severe than it actually is. This might mean a much higher cost of repairing the car after a small low-speed impact but I've also heard it can be dangerous for the airbag to 'go off' in a low speed impact.

The ARB bars that are designed to work with airbags (most of them these days!) have corrugated mounts which absorb some of the shock from any impact.

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

I'm not an engineering type, but my basic understanding of the issue is that a regular bull bar mounted to a vehicle with airbags can cause the airbags to trigger at a low impact, when they wouldn't (or shouldn't) otherwise.

This is because the vehicle body and chassis includes crumple zones which absorb the energy of an impact, but a solidly mounted bull bar, apart from being the first thing to hit something in an impact, transmits the 'shock' of the impact directly to the chassis, causing the airbag system to interpret the crash as more severe than it actually is. This might mean a much higher cost of repairing the car after a small low-speed impact but I've also heard it can be dangerous for the airbag to 'go off' in a low speed impact.

The ARB bars that are designed to work with airbags (most of them these days!) have corrugated mounts which absorb some of the shock from any impact.

Hit the nail on the head there.

When i fitted my Ironman bar it was clear to see the Concertina area in the Mounting Bracket to act as a Crumple Zone.

Regards, Jason.

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

Once again i'm reminded about how many other people are more skilled than me. Good work.

Mike

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Still a great effort to build