ARB rear w/ tire+fuel carrier

[SaMingTRD]

I did a search and couldn't find anyone with a ARB rear bumper on their 100. Is there a reason for this? If anyone who has one please post some photo's w/ pro's and con's of it. I'd appreciate it. Thanks'

-SaMingTRD

[Trunk Monkey]

There's pics of one in the 80 section, comparing the 80 and 100 ARB rear bumpers.

[SaMingTRD]

Found it, thanks for the heads up...it was in the last place I would look.

-SaMingTRD

[LandCruisers4Life]

They're outlandishly expensive? I can see maybe $1200 for a bumper WITH the swing outs on either side, but those are extra.

[Trunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by LandCruisers4Life

They're outlandishly expensive? I can see maybe $1200 for a bumper WITH the swing outs on either side, but those are extra.

Pricing is in line with the other bumpers available on the market. Depends on your need. The ARB bumper is really clean, has aux. lights, and well built. I wouldn't rock crawl with it, but for an expedition build it'd be a good option.

[LandCruisers4Life]

Actually, I was wrong, I just saw it for nearly $1400 without the can holder or tire carrier. It might be 'in line', but it's still too expensive. All the rear bumpers out there are too expensive. For a full on ARB rear bumper you're looking at basically 2 grand.

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by LandCruisers4Life

Actually, I was wrong, I just saw it for nearly $1400 without the can holder or tire carrier. It might be 'in line', but it's still too expensive. All the rear bumpers out there are too expensive. For a full on ARB rear bumper you're looking at basically 2 grand.

Around $2k is what all of the rear bumpers are running if you get all the goodies with them. There's a lot of steel and design costs in these things. That's really no worse than paying, hmm I dunno, $1800 for a roof rack! As your sig says, "Gotta pay to play".

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by SaMingTRD

I did a search and couldn't find anyone with a ARB rear bumper on their 100. Is there a reason for this? If anyone who has one please post some photo's w/ pro's and con's of it. I'd appreciate it. Thanks'

-SaMingTRD

There is a good thread on ARB rear bumpers from Fish2Live. Click Here

[sleeoffroad]

Originally Posted by LandCruisers4Life

Actually, I was wrong, I just saw it for nearly $1400 without the can holder or tire carrier. It might be 'in line', but it's still too expensive. All the rear bumpers out there are too expensive. For a full on ARB rear bumper you're looking at basically 2 grand.

I love these statements. Why is $2k expensive? What is your calculations based on? I have seen quite a few people have a go to put cheap armor products on the market, and most if not all have failed. Without knowing the economy behind this and what is involved to design, produce, warehouse, support and guarantee these products, just stating that $2k is expensive is just plain silly.


Most people that try to produce them cheap run on low to no overhead. Once the opertation needs to scale up to meet demand is when they run into problems. For example, our products liability and completed install insuranace policy runs $25k a year. That is more than $2k a month just for that aspect of insurance. Most shops do not even take this out. They ignore it and hope nothing happens. Me, I would want some coverage in case something goes wrong. That is a cost we have to protect both our customers and us.

When I started Slee Off-Road I had no idea how much space these things would consume to warehouse. We started in 2400 sq ft and now we are in 10k sq ft. More than 60% of that is warehousing. 10 100 Series rear bumpers take up a ton of space, now add 10 80's, some sliders, all the ARB bumpers for Toyotas etc etc.

I am not complaining since we chose a business model of trying to stock everything we sell if at all possible. However that doesn't happen for free.

So there is a reason why products cost what they do. There is also a reason why the companies that stay around (and I do hope we will for a long time) charge more. In reality I think prices are going to go up pretty soon. Steel is through the roof, fuel prices is not helping and in general cost of keeping the doors open just keep going up.

[ckkone]

Maybe this will help you out:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-c...ar-bumper.html

[Trunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by sleeoffroad

In reality I think prices are going to go up pretty soon.

Seems like ARB's had pretty regular price increases the past several years, around July.

[sleeoffroad]

Originally Posted by Trunk Monkey

Seems like ARB's had pretty regular price increases the past several years, around July.

For the past couple of years we had around a 4% increase from them twice a year. Sometimes it is on all the products, sometimes just on the one where a lot of steel is involved.

[e9999]

well, the US$ plummeting doesn't help either I'm sure.

I'll say on thing, though: $2K may certainly be justified in terms of cost to produce and sell a great bumper such as most of the aftermarket ones we are talking about here. But it's a chunk of change for most people, all the same.

In fact, been thinking that it starts to look a bit funny when you think about putting a $2K bumper on a $5K truck... Same with close to $1K sliders or $1K roof rack or whatever. Essentially you get much more of utility out of paying the first $5K for a truck than fine tuning with most of the costly aftermarket stuff. It would not be unreasonable to go the minimalist route: Buy a cheap $5K truck and use it as is even if it gets banged up in the process.

[jmarlo]

Here is another way to look at it. How much would it cost you to replace your tupperware OEM bumper (not just the cover, the whole thing). I bet its going to be close to $2k.

I think its a shame that these great trucks have such crappy OEM bumpers. I realize they are lightweight to save on fuel and production costs.

But I admit, I hit stuff, not purposefully, but it happens. With decent bumpers you just touch up the paint and you are on your way.

An example. Stupid me, I backed up into a car in a parking lot. I smooshed the heck out of her little car (and paid for that), but on my truck I just wiped off the paint from the other car and that was it. If I had the OEM bumper on, I would have had to pay to fix that too.

I personally think decent bumpers are the best investment you can make to your truck. They not only add protection, but hold their value if you go to resell. At least that has been my experience.

[sleeoffroad]

Originally Posted by e9999

well, the US$ plummeting doesn't help either I'm sure.

I'll say on thing, though: $2K may certainly be justified in terms of cost to produce and sell a great bumper such as most of the aftermarket ones we are talking about here. But it's a chunk of change for most people, all the same.

In fact, been thinking that it starts to look a bit funny when you think about putting a $2K bumper on a $5K truck... Same with close to $1K sliders or $1K roof rack or whatever. Essentially you get much more of utility out of paying the first $5K for a truck than fine tuning with most of the costly aftermarket stuff. It would not be unreasonable to go the minimalist route: Buy a cheap $5K truck and use it as is even if it gets banged up in the process.

It is true that the cost of the vehicle does determine how much the average person will spend on it. However I have not seen many $5k 100 series.

[fish2live]

SIMPLE answer is - DON'T do it!! Get a Slee and learn from my mistake..

http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-c...fit-newbs.html

OK, well it's not all THAT bad, but I'd still get a Slee rear

[Trunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by jmarlo

but hold their value if you go to resell

If you're selling within this group. To the lay person an ARB bumper is ugly and they've probably never heard of Slee.

[SaMingTRD]

It is a clean looking bumper and really "completes" the look if you have matching ARB front and side rails...

But does the left or right mounting of the tire effect the driving dynamics of the vehicle? You would think by now (unless I'm mistaken) someone would design a center wheel mount with duel fuel carriers on each side to even things out.

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by SaMingTRD

It is a clean looking bumper and really "completes" the look if you have matching ARB front and side rails...

But does the left or right mounting of the tire effect the driving dynamics of the vehicle? You would think by now (unless I'm mistaken) someone would design a center wheel mount with duel fuel carriers on each side to even things out.

You don't have enough width to center mount the tire and still mount cans on both sides. you'd end up covering up the tail lights. Take a look at pics of the Slee rear bumper. the tire is mounted in the center and then look at how much room you have before the tail lights come into play.

[ShottsUZJ100]

I like the lights inside the ARB. Overall it looks good to me.

Functionality-wise....it's LARGE...designed more for expo wheeling.

If you are running trails, i'ts TOO big IMO.

[e9999]

Originally Posted by sleeoffroad

It is true that the cost of the vehicle does determine how much the average person will spend on it. However I have not seen many $5k 100 series.

yup, another coupla years for the 100, but it's getting there fast....

I was talking in general, of course, for 60s and 80s etc where the hardware price is similar but the trucks are much cheaper... I know, I'm guilty of doing it too.... and enjoying it ....

[fish2live]

I agree that the lights are pretty cool looking - installing and wiring them is a BITCH AND A HALF though - but in the end it's prett cool looking.

BIG? no it's not Big - is's f'n ENORMOUS ;-) well, ok, it just a bit big and it sticks out and down pretty far. It'll be fine for my fishing expeditions and mellow off roading (not to mention I don't have much $ into the thing) - so I'm actually getting to be ok with it now that the memories of installing that MOFO are fading into the distance!!!

Did I say you should probably go with a Slee? Ya, thought so... ;-)

[LandCruisers4Life]

Originally Posted by Greg B

Around $2k is what all of the rear bumpers are running if you get all the goodies with them. There's a lot of steel and design costs in these things. That's really no worse than paying, hmm I dunno, $1800 for a roof rack! As your sig says, "Gotta pay to play".

I know, damn it !!

[LandCruisers4Life]

John I cannot see it any more low slung than a Slee rear bumper? Both are large and in charge.

I have vaselated between Slee, ARB, 4x4Labs etc...... in the end, I will probably just look at what I really want and put down the card......

[SaMingTRD]

Not if you mount the jerry cans perpendicular to the rear hatch (instead of parallel as you are suggesting). I believe All Pro designed one for the FJ, featured to be released at the bottom of their site- looks very trick.



-SaMingTRD

[spressomon]

I have discussed this with Christo...and I certainly don't have all the answers but my only nit with my Slee rear bumper has to do with the overhang. It seems the departure angle and overall overhang could be diminished a bit without compromising utility. The 4x4 Labs rear bumper appears to accomplish this....although I certainly like and appreciate the rear quarter panel protection and good looks of the Slee rear bumper as it relates to a hundy.

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by SaMingTRD

Not if you mount the jerry cans perpendicular to the rear hatch (instead of parallel as you are suggesting). I believe All Pro designed one for the FJ, fe