Topic: Discovery winch bumper? (Read 23880 times)

Disco Matt · « **Reply #30 on:** May 29, 2009, 17:25:46 »

I was just about to PM you and ask if you'd had trouble!

I have just spent a very frustrating hour trying and failing to fit mine. The outer part of the "jaws" that go around the chassis legs seems to be too long, and hits the body mounting there. The whole thing also appears to be too low and doesn't sit tightly against the base of the trim below the headlights like yours does. I've just sent them a message via ebay to ask what they suggest, as I can't see how it's supposed to fit at all and having paid the best part of £250 I'm not too happy!

Looking at yours, mine definitely sticks out further presumably as I ordered the aircon type. I would therefore wonder if there's a design problem with these?

Yoshi · « **Reply #31 on:** May 29, 2009, 17:35:16 »

No idea, mine was lifted at first by a high lift on one side, and my 15 year old step son on the other side :D

Basically i found it was fouling on everything, so i jacked it up, managed to get the top 2 bolts in place, and then it just seemed to go how it was supposed to when i let the jack down!

Also mine looks the same as yours in the picture?

Yoshi · « **Reply #32 on:** May 29, 2009, 17:36:30 »

I take that back, mine is alot slimmer than yours in the pics!

Disco Matt · « **Reply #33 on:** May 29, 2009, 18:28:46 »

Mine's evidently intended so that the winch ends up in front of the grille, leaving plenty of space for the aircon gubbins to do their work. It just looks as though they welded the brackets onto it too low and made them a bit too long. I'll see what they say, may well have another try on Sunday and get some photos to show the problem if they want evidence. However, it doesn't look "fit for purpose" to me at the moment.

Really frustrating as it's well made and I like the design, it just doesn't fit!

Yoshi · « **Reply #34 on:** May 29, 2009, 18:38:42 »

I hate it when that happens :D

Its a shame you have air con, cos this fits nicely in and doesnt protrude too far at all!

Jake · « **Reply #35 on:** May 29, 2009, 18:45:25 »

Nice work
:D

Yoshi · « **Reply #36 on:** May 29, 2009, 18:48:16 »

Cheers Jake :D

I have been waiting for a winch and bumper since i got me first discovery in 2003 :D

So finally i have nearly everything on a Land Rover that i wanted :D

Last big thing is some MT's on this one, then its just small things like hi lift mounts and stuff :D

Disco Matt · « **Reply #37 on:** May 29, 2009, 22:22:46 »

If you want a hilift mount, take a look at the Wizardbilt ones. Really well made, simple fit in about 5mins tops. No drilling or cutting required.

For things like waffles/shovels it is possible to modify the standard LR roof bars (get a spare set from ebay for about £20) as carriers. I'm planning to get some decent photos of mine with a view to documenting them in a thread here, as I'm very pleased with the results.

Jake · « **Reply #38 on:** May 29, 2009, 22:36:39 »

Quote from: Yoshi on May 29, 2009, 18:48:16

Cheers Jake :D

I have been waiting for a winch and bumper since i got me first discovery in 2003 :D

So finally i have nearly everything on a Land Rover that i wanted :D

Last big thing is some MT's on this one, then its just small things like hi lift mounts and stuff :D

I love it when you start to get the car the way you like it
I'm well pleased with mine at the moment

Yoshi · « **Reply #39 on:** May 30, 2009, 09:24:04 »

Thats a good looking truck Jake!

I have yet to cut the grill on mine though, waiting til i have enough time to look at it properly!

landroverkeith · « **Reply #40 on:** May 31, 2009, 13:10:01 »

Looking Good there Dan m8

Odd that u had to bend up the grill stay bits ? I remember when i fitted my bumper it was a pig too and had to strip off the front but nothing needed bending out the way lol

cant wait to see it in person at billing so i can winch ya out of the mud lol

cheers keith

Disco Matt · « **Reply #41 on:** May 31, 2009, 18:17:49 »

Winch Solutions asked for some photos showing the problem with mine, I've emailed them but will also post the shots here:

I can't fathom it out at all, especially why one side has a larger gap than the other! I suspect that this is due to the infamous Land Rover build tolerances but the bumper clearly isn't right. It's as if someone did a body lift on the front of my truck when I wasn't looking (and put an odd number of shims on each side)! :lol:

I did manage to get all four bolts in this time however.

Jake · « **Reply #42 on:** May 31, 2009, 18:23:33 »

Blimey thats low on the drivers side :shock:
How does it sit accross the front? Got any pictures ?
:)

Disco Matt · « **Reply #43 on:** May 31, 2009, 19:02:47 »

Quote from: Jake on May 31, 2009, 18:23:33

Blimey thats low on the drivers side :shock:
How does it sit accross the front? Got any pictures ?
:)

I didn't get any across the front, as with the headlamp trims and grille off it wasn't particularly obvious. I know that my original LR bumper didn't sit level but it was nothing like that bad, there might have been a 1/2in gap on the driver's side which would have closed up if I replaced the missing bracket bolt.

A few years ago the truck was involved in a shunt with an artic. However, it only sustained panel damage and was repaired by the insurance company. I don't think this is leftover from that incident as it didn't appear bent when I got it back and it's probably one of the sweetest-handling Discos, judging by how I can happily corner it far quicker than most. I have never had any problems with misaligned doors or anything else to suggest a deeper problem.

Jake · « **Reply #44 on:** May 31, 2009, 19:09:02 »

With that in mind the chassis rail could be only slighty lower on one side causing the bumper(s) to sit unlevel.
This would'nt show on door alignment, vehicle handling or appearence
Could you not just open the holes on the bumper a little bit and level it by eye?
:D

Disco Matt · « **Reply #45 on:** May 31, 2009, 19:19:19 »

I don't really see how I could do it safely - the lower holes are very close to the bottom edge of the metalwork, considering how far it needs to come up.

Edit, just been out to have another look (having reassembled it with the original bumper so I can get to work!)

It looks as though the front left corner may be slightly bent downwards, rather than the bumper or chassis being bent upwards. So in other words the thing sits too low on both sides, but the body is leaning down to meet it on the left hand side!

I do know a tame welder who would probably be able to sort things out one way or another, but obviously I'm not too happy with having to pay more to get it fitted. I suspect that if the thing were to be raised to fit on the right hand side the bodywork could be pressed up to fit on the left.

Yoshi · « **Reply #46 on:** June 01, 2009, 01:31:54 »

Very odd, mine is a perfect fit?

Disco Matt · « **Reply #47 on:** June 01, 2009, 13:42:40 »

Right, I've dug up some old photos and there is no way that the slanty bumper is leftover accident damage. I've got a couple taken a few months ago, long after it was repaired and the bumper is both dead straight and tight against the wings. It's increasingly looking like I'll have to take it to the local garage and ask their advice, as I've really no idea what has happened there.

Yoshi · « **Reply #48 on:** June 05, 2009, 18:49:55 »

Have you sorted this out yet?

Have been waiting to see whats up with it! lol

Disco Matt · « **Reply #49 on:** June 06, 2009, 08:25:56 »

Well I emailed them, response came a few days later that it was "normal, even our demonstrator has a gap" or words to that effect. Not too impressed but evidently they're not about to offer an exchange/refund.

I've got some ghastly cold/flu thing at the moment so have been unable to lift a spanner for about three days, but when that goes I'll bolt it on again and take a tape measure to it, try to work out what's wrong then if I can't sort it I'll at least have useful information for my local garage when I ask them to put it right. I suspect that if it included the captive bolts (as fitted on the original bumper to tie the front wings to the bumper) these would be enough to pull it all together properly.

Yoshi · « **Reply #50 on:** June 06, 2009, 13:14:00 »

I dont think mine fitted to the wings?

Mine just sat perfectly from the outset?

Disco Matt · « **Reply #51 on:** June 06, 2009, 18:48:00 »

Most aftermarket ones don't, but the original bumper has two metal straps that come from the bottom of the wings and hook over captive bolts on the ends of the bumper (you then put a nut on the bolt to secure them). I suspect if this new bumper had something similar it would solve the problem.

It'll be a while before I can do anything with it anyway, as I need the car to get to work in the week so can't hand it over to the garage to play with. As I said, I'll have a go at sorting it again and see what happens. I can't believe that the chassis or body are bent, I have photos taken long after the insurance repair work and it's all perfectly straight there. I would surely have caused serious damage to my aluminium bash plate (as in bolts torn out) if I'd hit the ground hard enough to bend the chassis since.

Tape measure time. I hate doing that as I always seem to find something in need of expensive professional fixing!

Yoshi · « **Reply #52 on:** June 20, 2009, 19:38:01 »

Any updates on this one?

Disco Matt · « **Reply #53 on:** June 21, 2009, 10:22:24 »

Not yet - the MOT is due in a couple of weeks, so I'm planning to ask the garage if they can sort it out then. I have a set of new springs ready for them to fit too, which I don't fancy fitting due to a Disco being a rather heavy beast to prop up on stands while I fiddle about with spring compressors!

Thing is, my metal bashing skills are just about up to straightening a bent steering guard. If I fiddle about and something goes drastically wrong at a later date then I'll be liable (the main reason why I won't touch steering or brakes beyond topping up fluid and fitting new pads). I've been lucky enough to find a specialist who doesn't mind fitting bits that I've bought and then found rather beyond my skills to bolt on. :lol:

mukkybugger · « **Reply #54 on:** June 21, 2009, 14:13:28 »

sit the bumper on a level floor ,get a tape measure and measure the distance from floor to bottom of bumper at each end
that should show any differences, im sure its worth a phone call to trading standards if they wont refund or exchange,
we all have our rights...... :dance:

Yoshi · « **Reply #55 on:** June 21, 2009, 15:21:47 »

Quote from: mukkybugger on June 21, 2009, 14:13:28

sit the bumper on a level floor ,get a tape measure and measure the distance from floor to bottom of bumper at each end
that should show any differences, im sure its worth a phone call to trading standards if they wont refund or exchange,
we all have our rights...... :dance:

He didnt say they had refused to refund or exchange, he said evidently they wouldnt, which means they havent made any overt attempt to!

However, i have met them and spoken to them, so might be worth just giving them a ring, as opposed to emailing them, as i found them to be very helpful and a good bunch of lads, the emails are dealt with by the woman in the office, not the company owner.

Disco Matt · « **Reply #56 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:10:19 »

I don't think it is the bumper though. On closer inspection the original one is slightly down on the driver's side, and the new bumper looks perfectly straight to me. It's as if the very tip of the right hand chassis rail is slightly low (by a centimetre or so). I did email Winch Solutions a photo and was told that the gap was "normal", I don't really want to push it as I like the workmanship on this thing and it does look as though my truck is wrong rather than the bumper.

I'll ask the garage to sort it. They did a great job with my sills, so a little bit of straightening shouldn't be beyond them.

mukkybugger · « **Reply #57 on:** June 22, 2009, 14:25:29 »

i thought all winches made on a jig ,so there should not be any difference from one bumper to the next,
seems a cop out from the manufacturers,stating this is normal...........

Yoshi · « **Reply #58 on:** June 23, 2009, 17:37:09 »

I have just finally fitted the front grille!!

I know its a bit rough in places, but it will do til i get meself a saudi grille :D

Disco Matt · « **Reply #59 on:** June 23, 2009, 17:57:00 »

You probably don't want a Saudi grille with that bumper, as you'd have to hack the grille and the mesh around a fair bit to make it fit (why I wanted a bumper that puts the winch in front of the grille). Looks good though.

I'm going to have another go at fitting mine this week I think, at least I plan to get the steering guard off and straighten that out. I'll see if a couple of thumps with the big hammer help the other problem. It only needs to go up by a centimetre or so and if that works I can save some time and cash when it goes in for MOT/service/spring fitting. If you hear a lot of banging and swearing from the direction of Wales on Thursday then that might well be me!

I have all the other bits sorted, apart from some more M10 washers and a new numberplate (the current one has a couple of holes in where it bolts to the original bumper) I'll be keeping the original as a spare in case the double sided tape I have for the new one turns out not to be strong enough to hold it on during river crossings... :lol:

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AuthorTopic: Discovery winch bumper? (Read 23880 times)