Multi-Purpose Light/Brush Bar w/optional Skid Plate & Winch

[baja_gernaut]

I'm getting a bit anxious to get the bar. Will it be another 2 weeks or so? Just need to know to get the rest of the money for the deadline.

[Skemcin]

Looks like quality work. Are those prices final? Is the power coating still included? I dont see the tow hook or the fancy round bars around the winch. Are you just bolting the winch to it, lowering the cost?

Thinking about the rear attachments, have you considered shear bolts? That would cause the back end to break away on a hard impact, I'm thinking like a grade 5 shear bolt, to take the load normally, but break in really hard impact allowing the car to crumple. Heh that would be a great project for the undergrad senior engineering year. I would suggest stainless wing nuts to remove the skid plate so you can change the oil easily without extra power tools, if you can.

Thank you for the post. I will update the original post with the final details. The bar price is accurate, the skid plate will be a little cheaper than posted, and for this initial run we will still include powder coating free - otherwise the price posted for it will be accurate for future purchases. The tow hook has not been added to this bar yet and the winch will be, as stated, the same mounting system as on the Impreza. We put the winch on the bar in the picture above so that folks could see how it would sit in the bumper. The mounting system will still be required and it will have one additional tube. On the Impreza bar, there is one single bar coming from behind the winch to the radiator cross tube. The Baja bar will have two, in a V shape where the wider part will be on either side of the winch mount coming almost together to the center of the radiator cross tube.



Although I do like the idea of use break-away bolts it isn't a viable solution for this product given that the rear most mounting locations and bolts reuse the stock hardware - one of which is a frame stud. The additional cost is something to consider as well. The buy can obviously switch the hardware to anything they prefer, but wing nuts would easily be sheared off should they come in contact with something underneath. We probably will end up using hex-head bolts as we've been concerned that the allen head will collect dirt and debris what would make it harder for them to be removed.

I'm getting a bit anxious to get the bar. Will it be another 2 weeks or so? Just need to know to get the rest of the money for the deadline.

It might be as many as three weeks. I have to update the main post with the final pricing and then give folks a little more time to get in - especially since this design allows us to delete the top hoop to provide a savings of $65. I just need a couple days to get all the payment stuff set up and figure out a production schedule.

We're eager to get going to, but we don't want to rush getting things organized.

[koehlean]

Looking good. Any pictures of how the tow hook would look?

[Skemcin]

Looking good. Any pictures of how the tow hook would look?

If the winch option is selected, then the tow hook cannot be added. I do not have pictures of a tow hook, I have to find the one I have for the Impreza bar - I'll post it as soon as possible - sorry.

et al : here is the production and payment schedule.

03/09 - Deposits Due
03/15 - Electronic Final Payment Invoices Sent
03/15 - Production Begins
03/19 - Final Payments Due
03/23 - Bars Shipped

This schedule is subject to change but we a re pretty confident there will not be any issues.

If you have any questions, please let me know. The original post has been updated with the deposit form and the options form.

[steven765]

Bump for $199 superwinch just do it...

http://www.superwinch.com/products/prod ... 0.0.0.0.0?

Just heard back from my contact there - 9 winches left as of today. Good news, the bolt patter on their winches is consistent across their product line, so you have alternatives.

Thats cool. I just ordered one... It's nice to know i'll be able to upgrade in the future if neccesary.

So since the 199 ones are gone, and the bolt pattern is consistent, can anyone confirm if the replacement one fits?
581 eek, fail should have bought it. For reference http://www.superwinch.com/products/cate ... 2487.0.0.0

Also say i get myself badly stuck, is there a hitch block to route the cable through and pull from behind? Would that place too much downward torque on the bar?

[Skemcin]

So since the 199 ones are gone, and the bolt pattern is consistent, can anyone confirm if the replacement one fits?
581 eek, fail should have bought it. For reference http://www.superwinch.com/products/cate ... 2487.0.0.0

Also say i get myself badly stuck, is there a hitch block to route the cable through and pull from behind? Would that place too much downward torque on the bar?

I'm pretty sure we have one $200 UTV4000 left in stock. I'll double check.

Superwinch has told me the Terra Series bolt patterns do match up. Typically, you'll want line rating of 1.5 times your gross vehicle weight to be sure you have the power needed to pull you (or something else) that is likely to have some roll resistance. For the Baja that would be 5,500 pounds. When I spoke to Superwinch about his a while back, they informed me that all their winches are under rated and any 4000 or 4500 line rated winch would suffice for the stuff we'd likely need it for.

If it turns out that we do not have the UTV4000 mentioned above, the appropriate replacement is $150 more, the Terra 45:
http://www.superwinch.com/products/prod ... .0.0?pp=12&

These come with everything you need to get it hooked up - I was (still am) very impressed with the quality of the entire package. I'm looking forward to a tentative trip out to the Michigan Dunes once they open up this spring (a sort of off topic side note - sorry).

As for your other question, if you're stuck to where there is no way forward, even 45 degree to the left or right, then I would suggest being properly pulled a rear two hook. Either your winch would not even be accessible or (as you summize) the angles and cable route would not provide a mechanical advantage.

Hope that helps.

[Skemcin]

Actually - the tiger Shark is rated 9k lbs is only $350
http://www.superwinch.com/products/prod ... .0.0?pp=12&

but I'm not sure if you really want something that powerful as I'd rather have the winch die out than my car/truck ripped in half. i have an e-mail in to my Superwinch contact - I'll post more information when I get his reply.

[just an additional thought should anyone be fishing around the Superwinch site).

[steven765]

Actually - the tiger Shark is rated 9k lbs is only $350
http://www.superwinch.com/products/prod ... .0.0?pp=12&

but I'm not sure if you really want something that powerful as I'd rather have the winch die out than my car/truck ripped in half. i have an e-mail in to my Superwinch contact - I'll post more information when I get his reply.

agreed, rather have the winch die than watch the vehicle pop apart at the tack welds like that honda civic did in a video I saw a few years back.
found it, skip in a minute or two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDjmylmXxew

[Skemcin]

A quick update ...

I've been in touch with another local (Chicago) Baja owner. We are discussing the logistics of stopping by the shop for a test fit. This is very good news since the truck is a non-turbo - so we will be able to assess the modifications to the skid plate bends much more accurately. I'll let you know how that works out.

In the mean time, we are taking deposits still and I've posted a link to submit your order details both in the original post.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

[steven765]

What would shipping be to a commercial address in zip xxxxx? The business addresses are usually much cheaper.

[Skemcin]

What would shipping be to a commercial address in zip xxxxxx? The business addresses are usually much cheaper.

PM Sent

## UPDATE ##
I spoke with Superwinch today and they have confirmed the Terra 45 is the most appropriate winch for the Baja. The Tiger Shark is way too much winch for the vehicle, as I suspected and I will be working out a distributor deal with them so I will be able to get the winches cheaper than what is listed on their site - don't know by how much yet, but I will post details as soon as possible.

[Skemcin]

## BUMP ##

Please post questions if you have any. To stay on schedule please:

## MAKE DEPOSIT HERE ##

then

## SUBMIT OPTIONS HERE ##

For those who have done this, and subsequently those who do, I will be sending final payment invoices on Monday.

Thank you all for the support.

[Buck Rogers]

I will take some pictures of the underside of my truck this weekend with measurements of header, and of the area that concerns me about fitment because of my bodylift ( if there is an increase because of this, so be it, I want it to fit)

Buck

[Skemcin]

I will take some pictures of the underside of my truck this weekend with measurements of header, and of the area that concerns me about fitment because of my bodylift ( if there is an increase because of this, so be it, I want it to fit)

Buck

I don't think there will be any issues with your lift - unless the the plane that the center jack stand, sway bar bracket, and front lower radiator support has changed, the bar will mount fine.

To be honest, you might be better of (custom headers and all) to pass on the skid plate and get a local shop to cut and bend one for you. Even if we get the non-turbo in and we do get the skid plate to work around that exhaust, there really wouldn't be any guarantee that we would have accommodated the extra space the Borla's take up. Our bar will have the skid plate tabs mounted - so you just need to source a local shop that can cut and bend 1/8 or 3/16 aluminum. Otherwise, I don't see an issue with the bar mounting with a lift - I run 1" spacers on my Impreza and the same bar/design works on stock Imprezas and those with Forester struts and springs - again as long as the mounting points remain on the same plain you are set.

[baja_gernaut]

That black powder coat is going to look good on the car. Now that the bar is in progress, I need to start shopping around for some lamps that won't look to big for the car and functional.
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Big thanx to Cosmictech for his contribution. Thank you.