Can you legally fit a non airbag bullbar to a airbag equipped vehicle? I have just bought one off TM, but when I went to fit it today, it had a sticker saying non airbag compatible, even though it was clearly advertised as compatible
I have sent them an email today letting them know its the wrong one, but its just going to be a PITA having to organise to get it back
Yeah, just wanted to make sure I had my facts straight before trying to return it, as I'm unsure if they will try to talk their way out of it. Bar was cheap as its been sitting for a while, so hope they don't try to make excuses, as they will be $100 out of pocket for the return freight
i guess it all depends on what you ordered....ifyou stated it was for a vehicle with Airbags...if there problem...if not..yur problem. if you got it real chap you might be able to flick it on & make a profit .
Was on Trade Me advertised as Airbag Compatible, but sticker says otherwise. Since its for a GU, there is a limited market for it, so it would take a while to sell, if at all.
Well, after contacting the supplier of my bar and having packed it up ready for pick up and return, I got an email today stating " I have been speaking to TJM and they tell me that this bar should be Airbag Compatible so I have asked for an executive summary for you, which states that your bar has passed all the necessary testing for use on a vehicle fitted with airbags"
What is an "executive summary"? Just seems strange that the 2 stickers on the bar clearly state the bar is non compatible, and the fitting instructions say the same (going by the model number of the bar)
An executive summary is usually a term used to head up a section on a report that goes in front of a large report so executives don't need to read the whole thing - usually intended for Director types who don't have time to read screads of paper but just need the important conclusions or facts to make decisions.
If the TM traders have an executive summary on offer, ask for the whole report. The ES is supposed to cover all important details but it doesn't necessarily need to cover everything. On its own it may be useful but can also be used to 'bluff'. In the main body of the report there 'could' be information of importance to you but not considered vital to the author so was not included in ES.
~ Good roads lead to bad fishing. ~ Eric Wight, Maine Game Warden ~
DaveM wrote:Well, after contacting the supplier of my bar and having packed it up ready for pick up and return, I got an email today stating " I have been speaking to TJM and they tell me that this bar should be Airbag Compatible so I have asked for an executive summary for you, which states that your bar has passed all the necessary testing for use on a vehicle fitted with airbags"
What is an "executive summary"? Just seems strange that the 2 stickers on the bar clearly state the bar is non compatible, and the fitting instructions say the same (going by the model number of the bar)
Dave
Could it be that TJM has since had the bar tested and certified. But since yours was already manufactured, it has the non-compatible sticker. Don't know about it. A certificate from TJM would be much better than an executive summary of a report.
Will try to get something from TJM themselves I think, as I can see it turning to custard should there ever be an insurance claim, and every time our work vehicles go for a WOF, the sticker on the bullbar is checked to ensure they are suitable for use with airbags.
It can be a serious PITA there are some vehicles with crumple zones and some with g-force sensors and giro's but it does not matter what type you drive (the G force and Gyro have no chassis requirements) if you have a bullbar for an airbag equipped vehicle you need to have airbag compatable bar certified for that vehicle.
Some Taxi drivers and couriers have found out the hard way and have had to remove the tube bumper running around the front of the car, and it get's worse some side impact airbags are deployed if a car is punted in the rear so Airbag compatable towbar legislation was looked at in Aussie but put in the too hard basket for now.
Legal disclaimer: Any information I may have provided is worth exactly what you paid me for it.
First thing, go and save a copy of the trademe auction. Print it as a PDF (download cutepdf) so you've got the records.
If it's advertised on tardme as being airbag compatible then you've got him fair and square. In addition to Windsocks comments, an "executive summary" is american for "abstract".
Fully Equipped are now happy that the bar is in fact airbag compatible, and are even sending me replacement stickers for it to replace the "non compatible" ones currently on it, so not sure what to do now
DaveM wrote:Fully Equipped are now happy that the bar is in fact airbag compatible, and are even sending me replacement stickers for it to replace the "non compatible" ones currently on it, so not sure what to do now
DaveM wrote:Fully Equipped are now happy that the bar is in fact airbag compatible, and are even sending me replacement stickers for it to replace the "non compatible" ones currently on it, so not sure what to do now
Fit it?
will have to, although I'm not fully convinced that it's the right bar but as long as the stickers arrive it will be fitted. I guess being alloy, it won't offer a lot of protection anyway, might stop minor scrapes
Don't quite understand what the difference is between a compatibile and non-compatible bullbars is. If you hit something in a vehicle equiped with non-compatible bullbar (as this one was originally stickered) what'll happen to air bag deployment? Will they deploy at the slightest nudge or will they not deploy even under a serious smack?
~ Good roads lead to bad fishing. ~ Eric Wight, Maine Game Warden ~
Windsock wrote:Don't quite understand what the difference is between a compatibile and non-compatible bullbars is. If you hit something in a vehicle equiped with non-compatible bullbar (as this one was originally stickered) what'll happen to air bag deployment? Will they deploy at the slightest nudge or will they not deploy even under a serious smack?
some add to much rigidity to the front of the truck so your "crumple" zones dont workhow there intended to anymore anythign with a airbag is generally designed from the bumper back for max impact absorbsion though the body and very little through you obviously more rigity meand a amplified signal to any deployment sensors
just as a side note, has anyone looking into removing there airbags and having them certed like that? i no of race cars etc that are also road going certed wof reg cars that have had air bags removed (due to danger during racing) and i believe you can get some sort of cert or exemption for not having them? It may be something worth while looking into.
Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level then beat you with experiance!
When I was looking at getting a winch bar made up for my Air Bag equiped 02 Grand Vitara, (no one makes them off the rack) I went and saw Brian Howatt. He reckoned he could make a bar with crumple zones etc in it that could then be certified with the airbags still fitted. Didn't go ahead with it in the end though.
Got an email from TJM, so that has cleared any worries I had:
"For many reasons, that do not exist these days, early Bull Bars were sold as air bag and non air bag even though the original design was tested and passed compliance, as in the case of the 070AP01N13J.
Today all new designs are sold as air bag compliant.
If you forward me your postal address I can send you the correct air bag compliance stickers. Please remove the non air bag stickers currently on you bar and apply the correct sticker. This action is approved by TJM in your circumstance."
I will be looking at the removal of the airbag system eventually, but the certifiers were unsure if they were a requirement in my vehicle, as there is a rule in place where any vehicle under 10yrs old must have airbags replaced should they be set off through an accident or otherwise, so they weren't sure if the same rule applied for removing them from a vehicle of the same age
will have to, although I'm not fully convinced that it's the right bar but as long as the stickers arrive it will be fitted. I guess being alloy, it won't offer a lot of protection anyway, might stop minor scrapes 
