Another Bullbar thread

[Bigpat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigpat]

Hi All

I've just got an 07 GXL and am starting to kit it out. My first major purchase will be a bullbar and driving lights. I've had a good look at the posts here about Bullbars and although they are great posts I am still confused about which bar to buy.

From reading the posts it strikes me that a persons choice of a bullbar is a bit like the old Holden vs Ford debate in the schoolyard. You're either an ARB or a TJM person or you stick with the Genuine Toyota that came fitted by the dealer.

My question is if you had your choice again would you stick with your original purchase or would you change?

Also I am keen to hear about members opinions of the other bars that are out there such as TUFF, ECB and Ironman.

many thanks
Bigpat a Prado newbie

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

When it come to the aftermarket bullbar options - most people buy whay they like to look at themselves. As for the most part, regardless of the brand name they all offer pretty much the same thing - that is the better approach angles, winch fitment, protection. There is no right or wrong choice or answer...

Difference with the genuine toyota is that the apprach angles are not improved and some would debate whether the alloy is suitable for some applications... Again, its a personal preference...

As for me - its the ARB deluxe (and I removed the sovereign bar to fit it), however, I did look at all the options. And if i had to do it again, I think it would be the same...

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

We had a fleet of 4wd's that we used for 4wd training for the govt. Never had an issue with ARB ever. Other brands we did have.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Hi All

My question is if you had your choice again would you stick with your original purchase or would you change?

many thanks
Bigpat a Prado newbie

I did have my time over again, I sold my Toyota bar and went ARB deluxe. I had some quality issues with ARB (see my rig build for details) but in the end am very happy with what i have.

ARB Vs TJM i think is a Ford Holden argument, both are good, just depends on which one you think looks best and how the price compares. I considered Ironman but in the end heard of too many issues with them so went ARB.

I good guide for any mod is to look through all the posts and Rig builds on here, I would think that ARB outscores TJM by at least 10:1. Not sure if that is a true indication of quality but its a good start. Along the same lines, last weekend we had a PP trip. 9 120 series Prados, 7 ARB deluxe bars, 1 ARB Sahara bar and 1 Toyota soverign bar.

With the ECB alloy bars one problem I have noticed is the clearance between the bullbar and the tyres, with 70 series tyres fitted the gap isn't big enough to fit my finger through, I did a comparrison when i had my soverign bar and i could put my fist in the same gap.

There is no right or wrong answer, just whatever suits your needs and budget. Maybe decdide alloy or steel first, then winch or not, might narrow down the available options.

Cheers Andrew

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Bigpat - I am in the same boat as you. I was on the trip with AJ and have the sovereign bar. Overall, I can't fault it. I just don't really like the look and I want a winch, and I would rather winch off a steel bar.

For me - the main things are looks and whether or not you can fit recovery points if you plan to go offroad. I am not convinced you can fit them effectively with the TJM 13. The ARB deluxe definitely has recovery points but that's really the only one. You can't fit after market recovery points on the ironman bars either. And I'm not sure about the Sahara bar.

Having said that, do you need recovery points if you have a winch?

In the end there are too many decisions to be made. For me, recovery points are a must. No argument about it.

Ian.

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

I have had the sov bar and the ARB now. I would def go ARB if I had the choice from the beginning.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

I have had the sov bar and the ARB now. I would def go sov if I had the choice from the beginning.

Matt - please expand on this. I have the sov, but am thinking of getting rid of it. Why would you go sov if you had your time again?

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

Got it arse about, ARB over sov anyday....

had a few too many beers this arvo

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

Have had both the Toyota Sahara bar and the ARB steel winch bar.
I prefer the ARB steel bar as it is a real pain to keep the Sahara bar shiny, however the globes for the parkers and blinkers are nearly impossible to replace, so I don't bother. I changed the assembly to LED on the Sahara

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

I have a steel ARB winch bar. I would never go an alloy bar as they don't stop an animal destorying your radiator when in the middle of no where which would then mean you can not limp soemwhere for help. A steel bar will stop a roo and, with luckj, wont show much for it. Car is still drivable. Simple to me.

[rabs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rabs]

happy with the TJM outback bar and the price . Would go the same again.

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

The prado is our first 4wd and we got the Sov bar. Having seen a few of the ARB bars on prado's and other 4wd's if I had the spare cash I'd swap mine for an ARB.

[tj5233 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tj5233]

I went with a TJM new style T13 bar in steel because of animal strike protection (we also have had a steel bar on a 100 series which hit a roo; killed the roo unfortunately, but didn't damage the bar or radiator, intercooler etc at all).

Steel is better than Alloy. I write this from experience having unfortunately having hit a couple of roos and a ram over the years when living in the Flinders Ranges while travelling at twilight-pretty much the worst time to be on the road. The steel bars will take more hits without deformation and keep your engine running which is one reason the bars are fitted. Only downside is a bit more weight than alloy. Winch bars come in both flavours if braced properly so there's no real issues there....

The other reason I went with TJM was price, it was a new bar and pricing was hot compared to ARB. However I would suggest you look at the recovery point options. The new TJM T13 sucks big time when trying to fit an off the shelf recovery point. You'll find ways around this on PP. I'm finding i'm having to do this right now.

Another aspect to the ARB or TJM is who has what in stock when you need it.

Not sure about the other brands of bars though.
Cheers

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

I went with a TJM new style T13 bar in steel because of animal strike protection (we also have had a steel bar on a 100 series which hit a roo; killed the roo unfortunately, but didn't damage the bar or radiator, intercooler etc at all).

Steel is better than Alloy. I write this from experience having unfortunately having hit a couple of roos and a ram over the years when living in the Flinders Ranges while travelling at twilight-pretty much the worst time to be on the road. The steel bars will take more hits without deformation and keep your engine running which is one reason the bars are fitted. Only downside is a bit more weight than alloy. Winch bars come in both flavours if braced properly so there's no real issues there....

The other reason I went with TJM was price, it was a new bar and pricing was hot compared to ARB. However I would suggest you look at the recovery point options. The new TJM T13 sucks big time when trying to fit an off the shelf recovery point. You'll find ways around this on PP. I'm finding i'm having to do this right now.

Another aspect to the ARB or TJM is who has what in stock when you need it.

Not sure about the other brands of bars though.
Cheers

Just wondering what your plans are re - putting on recovery points with the TJM? Have you found a way other than outback ideas points fitted backwards?

Ian.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Hi All
My first major purchase will be a bullbar and driving lights. I've had a good look at the posts here about Bullbars and although they are great posts I am still confused about which bar to buy.

Maybe also work out what you want it to do first. Is it to mount a winch on later on? Is it primarily for animal strikes? Is it for approach angles? Is it to mount lights on?

These things would effect what you need as much as the brand.