Danielh4ll
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Has anyone got any experience fitting steel bull bar/ bottom section of front bumper to a freelander 2?
Freelander 2 off road mods
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Nodge68
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Bit of a grey area really.
The DVLA say that Bull bars fitted to road vehicles have to be tested to ensure they don't pose a greater risk of injury to other road users than the front vehicle they are fitted too. LR sold a front protective item which was tested to make sure it posed no greater risk than the front of the vehicle. There are also the impact sensors to consider, which will be affected by a bar that the vehicle wasn't designed to take. There's not even anywhere on the front of the FL2 to actually carry a bar without an amount of re-engineering of the front structure, again effecting the way the vehicle would behave in a collision.
Insurance companies don't like metal bars because of that massive increase in severity of injury to pedestrians.
There is a winch tray available from Muddy Mods, but that fits behind the front bumper shell, avoiding increase injury to a pedestrian.
From a personal point of view, there's no need for anything more than the LR accessory protection bar, except maybe in the Australian outback where kangaroos are an issue.
The DVLA say that Bull bars fitted to road vehicles have to be tested to ensure they don't pose a greater risk of injury to other road users than the front vehicle they are fitted too. LR sold a front protective item which was tested to make sure it posed no greater risk than the front of the vehicle. There are also the impact sensors to consider, which will be affected by a bar that the vehicle wasn't designed to take. There's not even anywhere on the front of the FL2 to actually carry a bar without an amount of re-engineering of the front structure, again effecting the way the vehicle would behave in a collision.
Insurance companies don't like metal bars because of that massive increase in severity of injury to pedestrians.
There is a winch tray available from Muddy Mods, but that fits behind the front bumper shell, avoiding increase injury to a pedestrian.
From a personal point of view, there's no need for anything more than the LR accessory protection bar, except maybe in the Australian outback where kangaroos are an issue.
300bhp/ton
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Most of this info is not correct.
The .gov site is very clear. Bullbars are LEGAL, only that the selling of them is potentially illegal:
Bull bars
Read it carefully, it has some key words to pick. up on. My hunch is this legislation is related to Type Approval, not aftermarket. As it just doesn't make sense any other way.
You are also mot correct about insurance companies. I'm guessing you have no first hand experience here.
Comparison sites like Compare the Market even have bullbars as a selectable option and LV had no issues when I contacted them.
Do also note that there is no official definition of "bullbar". How does one differ from a winch bumper or heavy duty bumper?
And they can offer protection, not just in places like Oz. General off roading can cause things to hit the front or headlights that a HD bumper or bar may well protect.
300bhp/ton
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What country are you in?
If you spend some time on Google there are a few images of FL2's with bullbars. But they are in Australia and I suspect pretty rare there.
Biggest issue is fitting it to the vehicle. It isn't like doing to a ladder chassis vehicle. If you are in the UK I'd say your only option would be to fabricate one. Although you could argue a different vehicle type might suit better.
Nodge68
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Straight off the DVLA.
Pretty straightforward to understand really.
Pretty straightforward to understand really.
300bhp/ton
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Do you have a link?
Although that doesn't say they are illegal. It only states sold or fitting, not owning or using. Also if we employ a little common sense here. Bullbars are not restricted items like firearms. If the above is to be taken at face value then selling a 2nd hand one on ebay could be illegal or selling them for vehicles not intended for the road would be too.
Clearly there is more going on than a simple black & white statement.
300bhp/ton
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e.g. if you are correct, this company (and hundreds more in the UK) are illegally selling bullbars. You better get on the phone quick to the Police.
