Everybody with ARB bumpers

[Rover75]

Is there any real airbag issues with their reg bumper vs the airbag version, or is it just manufactor blah blah blah. I've had jeeps with aftermarket steel bumpers and never had an issue, on or off road.

Next.... What winch set ups are you using, that fit inside the this bumper, brand and size recommendations and what to stay away from, steel cable or synthetic. Where are you mounting your control box.

Thanks in advance, just trying to get my ducks in a row, I know what lift, roof rack, snorkel, sliders and tires I'm going to use. I was thinking about the ARB bumper with a 8000 warn winch.

[Racer X]

The airbag bumpers are designed to absorb impact energy much like the factory crush cans do. If you fit a non-airbag bumper to your airbag equipped vehicle, and have an accident, all the impact energy will be transferred to the chassis rather than partially absorbed, which can result in airbag deployment when there normally wouldn't be.

That might not sound like a bad thing, but if the airbags get deployed prematurely, you stand a real chance to get hurt, especially if it's a full force deployment.

[antichrist]

Actually just the opposite. If it's a full force impact (whatever that means, though I assume you mean high speed) the airbags will deploy mere milliseconds sooner than they normally would.

During a low speed impact they might deploy when they normally wouldn't, but I wouldn't worry about it. I didn't when I built my bumper.
FWIW, there are no laws in the US regarding bumpers and air bags. The regulations addressing energy absorbing features of bumpers are only towards reducing vehicle front end damage.

[Racer X]

Originally Posted by antichrist

Actually just the opposite. If it's a full force impact (whatever that means, though I assume you mean high speed) the airbags will deploy mere milliseconds sooner than they normally would.

During a low speed impact they might deploy when they normally wouldn't, but I wouldn't worry about it. I didn't when I built my bumper.
FWIW, there are no laws in the US regarding bumpers and air bags. The regulations addressing energy absorbing features of bumpers are only towards reducing vehicle front end damage.

From Wikipedia:

Variable-force deployment

Advanced airbag technologies are being developed to tailor airbag deployment to the severity of the crash, the size and posture of the vehicle occupant, belt usage, and how close that person is to the actual airbag. Many of these systems use multi-stage inflators that deploy less forcefully in stages in moderate crashes than in very severe crashes. Occupant sensing devices let the airbag control unit know if someone is occupying a seat adjacent to an airbag, the mass/weight of the person, whether a seat belt or child restraint is being used, and whether the person is forward in the seat and close to the airbag. Based on this information and crash severity information, the airbag is deployed at either a high force level, a less forceful level, or not at all.

Adaptive airbag systems may utilize multi-stage airbags to adjust the pressure within the airbag. The greater the pressure within the airbag, the more force the airbag will exert on the occupants as they come in contact with it. These adjustments allow the system to deploy the airbag with a moderate force for most collisions; reserving the maximum force airbag only for the severest of collisions. Additional sensors to determine the location, weight or relative size of the occupants may also be used. Information regarding the occupants and the severity of the crash are used by the airbag control unit, to determine whether airbags should be suppressed or deployed, and if so, at various output levels.

This is of course using the assumption that the Disco II uses variable force airbags, or as they're commonly referred to, "Next generation" airbags.

The airbag sensors measure the force of deceleration of the vehicle, and trigger deployment when a certain threshold is exceeded. Collision energy absorption by the OEM bumper and crush cans will attenuate the rate of deceleration, to a degree. The issue with a non ABS bumper is that the airbag system is not tuned to the lack of attenuation provided by those bumpers, resulting in premature deployments.

Anywho... the real takeaway from all of this is to not hit things, ABS bumper or no.

[fishEH]

The real takeaway is that those ARB bumpers with the accordian style crush cans have been known to twist and bend up/down when winching or getting pulled. Lots of guys avoid these specifically for that reason or they weld up support around the accordian cans.

[99duxrr]

I was under the impression that one of the main functions of the crush cans was to provide a few milliseconds more time between initial impact and full impact so that the airbags would have time to fully deploy. Of course, they will also allow the bumper to deflect in lesser impacts to prevent the airbags from deploying.

[Rover75]

That's good info everybody, thanks alot, I think I will buy the non airbag version, should I disconnect airbags, if so how is the best way to do that?

Anybody have any winch preferences, or know what the biggest winch I can fit in that bumper is? Thanx

[honda50r]

It's easy to unplug your driver's side airbag if you remove the horn button, just unplug it. Though, you'll have an SRS light on the dash. You may be able to, but I couldn't stand it.

I run a Warn "Tabor" 9,000 lb with conventional steel rope. Granted, the bumper likes to twist and turn a little bit.

[fishEH]

Originally Posted by Rover75

That's good info everybody, thanks alot, I think I will buy the non airbag version, should I disconnect airbags, if so how is the best way to do that?

Anybody have any winch preferences, or know what the biggest winch I can fit in that bumper is? Thanx

I see no need to remove the airbags. Not sure how the insurance companies would feel about that too.
I have my airbags in my truck still and havent had any explode in my face while wheeling. I thought airbags were only deployed at a certain speed?

[Racer X]

Originally Posted by fishEH

I see no need to remove the airbags. Not sure how the insurance companies would feel about that too.
I have my airbags in my truck still and havent had any explode in my face while wheeling. I thought airbags were only deployed at a certain speed?

Deployment is based on impact force, not speed. If you were stopped and got hit head on, you would definitely want the bags to deploy.

Also, I wouldn't remove the airbags. The risk of unwanted deployment is there, but I'd rather live with that than them not being there when I want them to be.

[Spike555]

I have a non SRS ARB, no problems with the airbags.
Dont mess with the airbags.