Skemcin
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Posts posted by Skemcin
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I know its been a while since I've posted in this forum. I try to stay true to customer base and not try to pretend like I have something to offer everyone. At this time, the oldest vehicle we've confirmed a fit on is a 1999 Legacy/Outback. Some of our products might fit older Subarus but regardless we are constantly looking for opportunities to work on any Subaru. We hope to resume work on an 81 Brat later this year.
In the meantime, I leave the links below should people find themselve interested in learning more about what I'm doing and/or shuold you have stumbled across this post looking for something similar to what we're working on and offering.
Thank you.
Product Information:
http://www.gorillaoffroadcompany.com/product-list.cfm
Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/GorillaOffroad/photos_albums
Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.gorillaoffroadcompany.com/faqs.cfm -
Thanks to the guys at Oak Leaf Auto Salvage for awesome service, got me a new radiator in two days! Put it in last night and works wonderfully.
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Thanks for the reply.Hmmmm, sounds like the OEM, long-style bar is the beefyer of the two options. That is what I would go with. Function over form ftw!As for fitment, it will fit any EA81 from 1980-89, assuming it is the same basic front end as the car you are working on. Brat, wagon, hatch, coupe and sedan share sheetmetal from the a-pillars forward.
No idea what other "makes" this bar might fit, but excluding the actual mounting points, anything with the same general dimensions should be close. Vw golf/rabbit comes to mind...
I really like the stuff you've done for bugeyes, I would have a wonch bar on my WRX, but can't justify the added weight...
Yeah, there is no question the OEM long-bar is beefier but it would also cost more money and that wasn't in our customer's budget - I would have preferred going that route too and adding a skid plate that covers everything down there. But, the good news is we have a local vehicle that is fairly accessible should anyone wish for that bar to be made.
To elaborate on that point, this project was meant to at least show that we have access to an older Subaru that will allow us to do some work for this community. Completing this bar (finished product photos still to come) hopefully shows that I'm not just hoping in here and there to "advertise" me company but that I am series and able to provide high quality products for these older vehicles.
So, should anyone wish for one of these bars to be made or if you'd like a long bar replicated with a few slight variations please feel free to contact me so we can discuss how to make that happen.
Thanks again for all the feedback. I'll post some pictures with the mounted finished product as soon as I can.
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Sorry about the large pictures, I forgot this site doesn't resize images and I thought it was my browser that wasn't registering the javascript that does that.
Looks nice! Are these something that will be available soon?Thank you. Availability is explained below.
What about having it protect something like the oil pan? Run some tube down towards the front cross member on each side and then a tube between those that goes in front of the oil pan, and then a skid plate that bolts on that covers that space?There was some thought about doing that but it was going to affect the ground clearance and approach angle quite a bit that the customer didn't want it - so we stuck to a light bar and within his budget. But, we would really like to do a more complete bar like we did for the Impreza and Baja.
I'm sure if you started reproducing the factory A-bars (Long or short style) you'd be able to sell a decent number of them, but demand would probably be limited...We actually have one of the Long Bars in the shop that this customer brought - a pretty heavy and bulky piece, much more so than I expected. Personally, I really would like to run a batch of either this bar or a replica of the factory Long Bar but from a business perspective I needed to test the waters with this bar. Hopefully with this project and post I can gauge interest/demand and if its there move forward with a production run. I have a Brat scheduled for the shop in March so if this withers I have a "second wind" opportunity.
What I will do this week is put together a cost for this bar and post it here with pictures taken after it is powder coated. And we'll take it from there. My problem is, I don't know what other years and makes this will fit as I am not as well versed on the older Subarus - any insight on that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the responses and the interest. Let me know if there are other questions or concerns.
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Just out of curiosity ,What type of material are you using for the light bars, and skid plates?
cheers
Chromoly tubing, powder coated and 1/8 6061 aluminum for the skid plate.
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Powder coating is next.
Thoughts/Impressions ...
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how much for one for a 96 impreza lx?
Gorilla Bar = $399
Skid Plate = $175 (optional)
Winch Mount = $125 (optional)
Shipping ranges $135 to $180
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Hello Everyone,
Our company recently applied for a grant and I am asking you for your help / vote. FedEx is giving away $25,000 to companies who qualify and we recently were accepted and entered into the drawing. Although the decision to award the money is not entirely based on votes, the rules do state it does help them select the finalists. So, again, I am asking for your help and your vote. I am hoping you have liked what we have done in less than a year of opening our doors and I am asking that you vote for us EVERY DAY through November 24th. And please help us forwarding the web address to your friends, family, co-workers, and customers if you feel us worthy of the award, asking them to do the same.
Link:
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this message and consider my request.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let me know.
Thank you in advance for all you help.
Sincerely,
Gorilla Offroad Company
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Hello all.
Due to our somewhat last minute decision to become a sponsor of the upcoming Ojibwe Forest Rally on August 25 we have decided to push our production schedule back a couple weeks. This will allow for our promotion efforts to take affect, so to speak. As I reviewed our calendar I realized that any sales coming from the rally would require another production run to be scheduled. So, in the interest of being more productive and more efficient, I felt it would be in our best interest to post-pone the schedule.
The revised schedule also collapses all products into the same run - rather than staggering them as before. Here is where we are at this point.
Light Bar (all versions), Intake (all versions), Trailing Arm (all version)
Deposits for all accepted now.
Thu. Sep. 06 = All Deposits Due
Thu. Sep. 13 = Production Begins
Wed. Sep. 19 = All Final Payments Due
Fri. Sep. 21 = Packing & Shipping (throughout the weekend)
Other News
We have a few builds we are working on scheduling too. The cars include 87 GL Wagon, a 97 Legacy, a 11 Forester, and a 11 WRX
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Where did you acquire these adjustable trailing arms?
It's the latest product we just introduced at GorillaOffroadCompany.com. They were fit on a 2002 Impreza OBS do my research found these would fit the following models/years.
Impreza 93-07
Forester 98-08
Legacy 95-99
(corrections welcomed)
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Yeah, I always read posts twice to make sure I don't "read into it" - I don't tend to react to that anyhow but I totally understood where you were coming from and as I mentioned I welcome and appreciate it. I'm definitely not one to portray myself as someone who knows anymore about something than the next guy. So I appreciate all your input.Cheers. And I tried to use wording that would make it obvious I wasn't trying to be a jerk.
I appreciate your time in explaining your observations and your ideas. Best of luck, we don't have too many folks catering to imprezas/legacy/outbacks when it comes to off road stuff.
Something to know about winches. If it says 4500 on the winch, it is only good for 4500 on the final wrap of the cable. Every time you let out a wrap, the rating changes for the worst, drastically. Scroll down to page 7 to see what I mean, I chose a 4700 lb WARN for example. WARN user manual
I have spoken to a Superwinch representative who actualy told me how the documented winch rating are much lower than their actual capabilities. This is basically because of the common misconception you point out - so many folks seem to think 4,500 lbs is available when you pull even just a foot of cable out of the winch (which is obviously not the case).
There is a lot of good documentation here as well:
Anyway - good discussion and thanks for sharing your thoughts. There is a lot more to winching than many folks tend to think. I've tried to incorporate that knowledge into our designs and our disclosures.
Anyway, thanks again for the conversation. Let me know if there is anything else that comes to mind.
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I don't think you're being rude at all - valid questions and concerns.Not trying to be rude by all means, but I'm kinda cusiose how many places the bar bolts to the body and where? From what I can see in the pictures it's only 6?Now for me and where I live I'd be curious to see how much it can handle on the roads over here in Oregon going under a "milde use" to me, it could be small trees growing down the center of the road running them over along with small bolders. Needing a lot of brute streangth to push them over.
I'd make one and put it on a rig you want to beat up, and really see what it can handle. Ram some trees and give it a good ol beater upper down some rocky gnarly roads.
-Prwa AAE
On the bar with the winch mount there a total of 10 mount points. They are:
- Two on the front corners of the subframe
- One on each side of the front main frame
- One on each side at the back/end of the bar to the main frame
- Two on the center jack mount
- Two throw the bumper beam where the license plate bracket used to be
The skid plate covers the width of the lower radiator support funneling back to the area just behind where front axles come out of the front diff - that includes protection of the front section of the exhaust too.
I've hit a few mild trails out here going a little faster than I should and in areas that my clearance was challenged - and the bar has done its job well.
I would love and look forward to testing it more each time out but until I can afford a test/beater vehicle I have to go with what I've done and what my customers have done.
I am just beginning a conversation with a local owner of an 81 wagon so I'm pretty excited about the opportunity to build something with a more deep offroad purpose - we'll see.
Sent using my iPod
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Honest feed back here.
Um, I think your winch idea is a nice idea, but stops at that.
One, I wouldn't trust the way the whole A-bar/skid bar is attached to the car to hold up if it was depended on to pull a 3500 lb Outback stuck in mud. I think the combination of 12mm or 14mm head bolts won't be strong enough to keep it from getting pulled off of the car.
Two, have you studied the idea of approach and departure? That winch will be full of mud/dirt/turf first thing, cuz it's waaaayyy too low.
Three, the winch itself. What is it, a 2500lb? Even with a snatch block, it's gonna get fried trying to pull a 3500 lb Outback out of anything or up anything.
Four, your Abar set up. And it is an Abar, not a new idea.
It looks sweeet. Looks like it would keep gavel out of your engine compartment, help you slide along muddy grass at a muddy rally x. But it looks like if you tried to recover a 3500 lb outback that it would bend and warp and pull apart.I would recommend you field test the winch idea extensively before you market it as a product folks can trust and depend on.
Cheers.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and particularly for providing a good amount of detail to which I can respond. You make a lot of valid points and I'll be happy to share my perspective on them.
Winch Mount
When we opened the winch itself we were sort of surprised at the hardware that came with it - in a good and bad way. First off, everything about the Superwinch we like - everything that was needed for mounting and wiring was there - no issues there at all. The only thing we did do is replace/upgrade the mounting bolts. As far as the winch mont design, we do acknowledge a couple things. First, there is a greater number of modern Subaru owners that use their car as a daily driver as well as for mild offroad or rallyx events. Second, we also realize the the more modern Subarus aren't engineered with the same purpose or mind set as some of the older ones. In other words, I think it is safe to say (in the world of comparisons) the older Subarus are much closer to the Jeep class of vehicle than the newer ones. That being said, the light bars to date have been build with that mind set and therefore we realize drivers aren't likely going to put themselves in the sort of predicament that would require them to have a winch and mount that is capable of dragging the non-rotating wheels, dead weight of the vehicle along a flat surface, let alone an muddy incline. These bars are engineered - at least for the current line up they are fit for - for mild to moderate off road self or assisted recovery. We would rather the bolts snap and the bar ripped off the vehicle than leave a car inoperable with bent strut towers, destroyed a-arms, and whatever else might result from an over engineered bar/ and an over-rated winch.
Approach/Departure Angles
Yes. Having several years of experience in offroading prior to and while owning my Subarus I have a very clear understand of the meaning an importance of approach and departure angles and your point is right on. I completely realize how much this bar reduces these angles as well as over all ground clearance. But, like the winch mount, the demographic for the bar is more geared toward mild/moderate offroad use (dual track trail and/or dune riding), rally and rallycross driving and not so much deep wood tight track offroading. Keeping in mind, the vehicles these are fit for can barely handle a 3 inch lift before all sorts of things start needing modification. That means these cars would be lucky to have a foot of overall ground clearance - and there isn't too much you can reasonably do with that. Having said that, we do intend to make full front and rear bumper replacements with nothing but the more serious offroader in mind - where the number one concern is going to be the approach and departure angles as well as overall strength. Another side note related point here is that I wanted to make something bolt on without any modification to the vehicle - something that anyone could install. That was achieved with this design which also leaves us the opportunity to make front and rear bumper replacements without worrying about our own products competing with themselves by being to closely positioned in the market.
Winch Choice
A winch should be rated about 1.5 times the gross vehicle weight to which it is being mounted. The winch on my car is rated at 4,500 lbs which is just under that recommendation. For me, I'd rather burn my winch out and have no harm to my vehicle than have my winch rip my car up trying to get unstuck. I have consulted a couple offroad specialty shop owners / enthusiasts and have provided them the details on the bar and the winch set up. All have agreed that for the target audience and the capabilities of the vehicle all is within reason. Now, as I mentioned, I do have intentions to build full front and rear bumper replacements where I will have to research which datum points are the best one's to use for the intended use of those products.
A-Bar Design
I, honestly, did not know the design already existed. What you might not be able to see is the two additional mounting points in the center, upper loop. This are two bolts that go through the bumper beam and give the top of the bar plenty to hold on to. Now, I fully acknowledge that the videos I am about to reference do not nearly compare to what one might encounter in an offroad situation, but it is demonstrating the bar and winch combination easily pulling the weight of the vehicle (neutral with all tires normally inflated) some 32 feet up a 4.5* slope/driveway. I know its not all that impressive but that is the only opportunity I've had to do anything close to a field test.
Part 1 =
Part 2 =
Part 3 =
Part 4 =
With the eight mounting points beneath the vehicle and the two on/through the bumper beam, I am confident the bar would last longer than the winch, perhaps even with a snatch block in play. Of course, I don't know for certain and I am more than willing to openly disclose that. I am not advertising the bar as being capable of pulling a car out of a mud pit or anything similar.
Testing
I couldn't agree more with you point. And once I am able to find a car that I can mount a bar to and do some extensive stress/field test to I will post the outcomes - good or bad - with great excitement. Until then, I fully disclose that the winch / mount / bar have not been tested but they have been analyzed and built under advisement of experienced offroad drivers and fabricators who understand the limits and purpose the vehicle was designed for.
As I mentioned earlier, I sincerely appreciate your feedback and cannot discredit any of the points you make - again all very valid. I hope my response shows how we have thought through the design and purpose of the bar and winch to a degree that satisfies our customers. I know one of our Baja customers has posted a few stories of his offroading experiences with the bar where he has winched himself and other vehicles out of some interesting situations. I will make a point to touch base with him to see if he has any video or if he will take some video the next time he is out.
Anyhow, I truly respect your comments and really appreciate you taking the time to post them. Of course, I welcome more feedback to these thoughts as I am always looking to learn more.
Thanks again.
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Nice!
That is a great idea for the trailing arms!
Thanks. I've heard several stories of people breaking the trailing arm bracket bolts and how much of a PITA it is to fix that (back seat out, welding, etc.). I've seen other adjustable trailing arms (mainly the OBX) but wasn't sold on how many use a Heim joint in that same bracket - for off-road use I think the bushing is a better application.
Anyway, I'm very pleased with the results.
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Thank you and I got you're e-mail and responding accordingly.I have a 1981 wagon that I'd like to bring by your shop. I am about 25 minutes away---wish I'd have seen you sooner. I am not always on the usmb, so best to contact me at: alxxhipp@gmail.com I will also try your email address. Your product looks very nice. -
Installed adjustable trialing arms to correct the geometry of my lift.
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Thank you very much. We've had a lot of positive feedback with all our bars and, in fact, do have a production run planned for the end of August that we are currently taking deposits on. So far we have fit all years for the Imprezas with most bumper variations confirmed and also all year Bajas. Its my understanding the Baja bar should fit a couple years of the Legacy and Legacy Outback models but we have not yet confirmed that.I really love what you've done with those brush guards. I'm currently using one made by Manik. I really think I'd want the ones your making.Let me know if there is any other questions I can answer.
Thanks
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Gorilla Light Bar (all versions) and Adjustable Trailing Arm
Monday, July 9 = Begin accepting deposits
Wednesday, August 15 = All deposits due
Thursday, August 23 = Production Begins
Wednesday, August 30 = All final payments (or arrangements) due
Monday, September 3 = Ship orders
Gorilla Top Mounted Air Intake (MAP & MAF)
Saturday, August 18 - MAF Intake Fabrication
Monday, August 22 = Begin accepting deposits
Friday September 14 = Deposits Due
Friday, September 21 = Production Begins
Wednesday, September 26 = Final Payments Due
Monday, October 1 = Ship orders
NOTE: All dates subject to change based on demand, availability of materials, work load changes, natural disasters, any number of things that life throws at you.
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The following items are officially open for deposits. More details will be posted and reference in the coming days. Items are currently scheduled to be packed August 31 and September 1 to be shipped Monday, September 3.
ALL DEPOSITS DUE - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012
Light Bar - Impreza 93-01, 02-07, and 08-11
$ 399 = Powder Coated
$ 175 = Skid Plate
$ 115 = Winch Mount
$ 049 = Tow Hook
Light Bar - Baja 03-06
$ 399 = Powder Coated
$ 175 = Skid Plate
$ 125 = Winch Mount
$ 049 = Tow Hook
Adjustable Trailing Arm
$ 275 = Powder Coated
Please post questions and comments.
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Here are some pics of the build today. Obviously this is not a 100% complete bar as far as finished welds and it not being coated of course, but this shows you the finished product with respect to mounting points and the design perspective. If you followed our Baja Build, you will see a lot of similarities. As it turns out, the chassis of the 93-01 shares similar mounting points with the Baja. So this bar doesn't have the base loop like the other Impreza bars but offers the same light and winch configurations as all our other bars.
I will be organizing the buy thread Monday - it will be for any bar we make as well as our adjustable trailing arm.
Here are the pics:
I'm just realizing that I never snapped a shot of the bar (other than with my iPod that I posted on twitter) with the top hoop. These are the only shots I have (at the time of the post) that show the top hoop:
Sorry for the lower quality images of these last two - they will get updated.
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Orders for 93-01, 02-07, 08-11 Impreza and all Baja models will be open on Monday
(information to be posted then)
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would the brush guard for the impreza have a big enough gap for kc daylighters? I got those for free and dont really want to buy hellas
pm me with a price for that please
*by gap i mean the space between the hoop, im pretty sure they are the same size in diameter but wide i know the KC daylighters are quite a bit wider than the popular hellas
PM Sent
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Any news on the brat one that I sent you pics and dimensions about? Just curious.
I studied the pictures and there just isn't enough to go on without the truck in the shop. Getting the bends and the mounting brackets would be pretty difficult.
Sorry I didn't reply sooner - got pretty busy the last couple weeks. I'm still looking for a Brat in the area - checking for sale listings and such. Its a bit of a stab in the dark, but hopefully I'll find something.
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Thanks for the feedback and interest. You bring up some valid points that we did discuss during the design process. Basically there were two reasons we went with them. First, we wanted to put as few bend in the tubing as possible as each bend weakens the metal that much more. Keeping the tubing on the same plane will retain the most strength and provide the most predictable reaction to any impact. The second reason spacers were used in some cases was to basically do exactly what you were commented you wanted to avoid. We feel better about the bar breaking off at the bolts/spacers with a massive impact rather than it bending the frame and doing who knows what else to other parts under the car. Another positive result of having the tubing on the same plane is to help in the other impacts you describe. The bar will disperse more energy of an impact over the entire surface area because everything is on the same plane. If there were more bends then the absorption of an impact would be more unpredictable.These are nice looking bars for sure! I'd love one but I now have a 2" cross member drop which would make for some funny angling in the front and probably incorrect bolt hole locations. One concern I have with it is the spacers that mount it to the frame. I can see those bolts getting bent or sheared off if you hit something hard enough. A small bracket welded to the bar, something that wraps around the bar partially (Similar to what you have for the skid plate mounts on the Baja bar) then extending up to meet the frame, rather than using a spacer, would be tougher. Less side load stress on the bolts. Really tough would be bending that bar upward in the middle make that mount point flat on the frame across the whole length of the front. Then when the car lands full weight on a rock, the brackets don't get shoved up through the frame.Don't want to pick apart your design too much though. It's still a lot better than what some others come up with.
And the cost is very reasonable to boot! All of the Legacy line has the brake and fuel lines run in through the firewall and inside the car along the drivers side rocker panel / floor pan. Keeps them away from rust and damage from using the car like it was meant to be.
I appreciate the feedback and when we do our fitment on our next vehicle, I'll be sure to bring these points up for consideration.
Thanks again for the input.
Light Bar / Brush Guard / Bull Bar / Skid Plate
in Products for your Subaru
Posted
Hi all,
We've been pretty busy getting more and more vehicles fit for our Offroad Bar - the latest is the XV Crosstrek.
All fitments available on each of of quarterly builds - our year-end one is almost ready to begin but there is time for you to jump in if you like:
http://www.gorillaoffroadcompany.com/_ads/build-2014Q4.htm
Here are a couple pics of the XV:
Let me know if you have any questions.