Iron Man bullbar problem

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

The people who fit out our work vehicles ordered in a heap of Ironman steel bullbars for 120 series Prados only to discover that when fitted the bonnet will not open!

Just a warning to others out there contemplating purchasing.

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

This seems a bit odd. I have an ironman stainless bar as do quite a few others and there is no problem. The back of the Lightforces come close to the grill but that is because I have moved the lights back as far as I can to give them more protection. The bar itself is well out of the way. Is the grill hitting the centre loop? Cannot imagine how the bar fits onto the chassis if that is the case.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

Yes, sounds odd, I think more info is needed on this to ascertain whether it is a mounting issue or ????

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

Sounds like incorrect fitment to me...

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

No, it's for real. The bonnet/grill fouls on the upper centre bar which looks to have too much of a rearward lean.

Our government department, like all others, was instructed to save 3% in operating costs. So the civvy in charge of the biscuit tin told the fitters to cut costs. Ironman half the cost of the ARB equivalent. We've always had ARB steel bars on the cruisers and alloy OEMs on Prados, Rodeos, etc.

My local ARB dealer says the Ironman product is made in China? Like everything else in this world, they buy our wheat, gas and iron ore and in return we get lumbered with every possible product made as cheap as possible.

My ARB bar is made right here in Australia and I'm happy to spend my dollars in this country. Yeah, I know, the Prado is manufactured in Japan (thankfully) but Aus doesn't build anything suitable locally.

[ookami Member Find all posts View Profile Close ookami]

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

I think you'll find most arb bars come from Thailand nowdays. BTW i have seen some pretty bad fitting problems with the ARB bars too .....

[wengnuts Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wengnuts]

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

My local ARB dealer says the Ironman product is made in China? Like everything else in this world, they buy our wheat, gas and iron ore and in return we get lumbered with every possible product made as cheap as possible.

You shouldn't generalise, not all products made in china are inferior. Beside, you would want China to trade heavily with us for the items you described above else where are we going to earn enough to owned a Prado or your own home. All industries are intertwined in someway.

Btw, China is able to offer items at cheaper rate due to a cheaper work force. Most of their factory workers received less than $300 AUD per month. Now name me a fellow Australian willing to work for that amount (Full time)?

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

My issue isn't so much about buying Chinese - it's more about buying cheap junk.

My laptop computer cost me $4,500 3 years ago. It's assembled in Perth from Chinese components by Aussie computer geeks. It's an amazing machine and so far I only have had to fix the keyboard after it rattled loose halfway up to Cape York.

The wiring looms in most aussie built cars are made in China.

Most Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, JVC, etc TVs and stereos are made in China. There's nothing wrong if they are made to a standard.

Nobody wants to spend their hard earned on junk. I don't might spending good money on my cars. But I want the component to fit properly and to work properly and hopefully to last long enough to get some enjoyment out of it.

The Chinese buy my woodchips. Good on them. Keeps my share portfolio in the black.

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

Can you post pictures of where they foul? Maybe someone with an Ironman can look and make a call on what is wrong being either the manufacturing or the fitting.

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

We just got a brand new GX with Ironman Bar and Warn winch at work (govt). What a crap fitting job. The line - up with the front panels is woeful and there is a big hole underneath between the bar and the aircon cooler. Won't take too much to put a branch or a rock through that. And to add insult to their injuries they got a bog stock GX without the upgrade kit - no flares, no coloured bumpers, skinny 225 Grand Craps and no ABS. Cheap buggers, all to save a measly 3% to keep the premier happy.

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

Update on the ironman bullbar fitted to our work GX. Because they haven't aligned the bar with the bodywork properly the left side has been knocking against the underside of the leading edge of the forward wheel arch resulting in removal of paint from the fender. The bar is also rusting in numerous places and not just from stone chips.

Looks absolutely shite.

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

So just for all those prospective buyers out there, you're telling us you DO or you DON'T recommend Ironman bullbars Bushbasher?

It's a little unclear from your posts...

:mrgreen:

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

So just for all those prospective buyers out there, you're telling us you DO or you DON'T recommend Ironman bullbars Bushbasher?

It's a little unclear from your posts...

:mrgreen:

I'm saying you get what you pay for. I wouldn't buy one. The finish looks cheap, the welds haven't been smoothed, the paint is thin, there doesn't seem to be any rust resisant coating/primer under the paint,the fit is dubious and it doesn't offer any protection for your radiator/aircon condenser - there's a big hole underneath which you then have to fill with some steel plate or whatever.

The modified bars on our work cars appear to have a dip (downward bend) in the centre section of the main-bar in front of the grill. This is so the grill can open. The first ones that were fitted didn't allow the grill to open. Like I said earlier - typical government department looking to shed 3% off operating costs to keep the premier happy.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

I think you'll find most arb bars come from Thailand nowdays. BTW i have seen some pretty bad fitting problems with the ARB bars too .....

Nope bars are still made here. Roofracks etc are made at their Thailand plant.

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

Re: Iron Man bullbar problem

Bushbasher you are obviously unhappy with the narrow painted bar on your standard wagon (it isn't a GX unless it was really really old stock or second hand) but the fact remains that there are a few of us who are quite happy with the wider bar. Mine is the powder coated stainless. It is fine. No one else has mentioned the kink in the loop to clear the grille etc, mine certainly doesn't have this and the grille clears easily.

It comes down to what you want and what you like. I am more than happy to let people look over the ironman on my Prado if it will help them make a decision and it they (or you) have a problem with any gear then take it back. I would have been happy with an ARB bar but the difference in weight is equivalent to my AGM battery and in my opinion the extra weight is of no benefit given airbags, crumple zones etc. And don't forget there is a post here from people who have had rusty spots on their ARB bars, some fixed some not.

Get what you want or can afford and then apply your consumer rights if you are unhappy. Great that you posted your experience but it is up to each person to make up their own minds.