ARB Sahara bar without the hoop?

Exiled · 06-23-08, 09:59 AM

My original plan was to buy a TJM T3 bumper and then add custom bar work of my own design. Unfortunately, the T3 is now unobtanium everywhere in the US and there appears to be no visibility to new inventory for the next 4-6 months. I believe Christo’s upcoming bumper is also undergoing some design tweaks, and I’m looking for a short tem solution. That leaves me with ARB and its two options, the Sahara and the Combo. I like the combo’s more utilitarian look but want to try something a bit different. I like the base bumper of the Sahara but absolutely *hate* the look of the big chrome hoop. So my question is, is there a clean way to eliminate the hoop on the Sahara as it is on the TJM T3? If anyone has done this, do you have any details/pictures?

Thanks in advance, I have a refurbished winch and new lights ready to go.

fish2live · 06-23-08, 03:29 PM

Option 1 - paint or powder coat to match.
Not knowing which way I was going to end up (I don't like the chrome either) I got it powder coated along with the rest of the bumper and installed it. Now that it's not chrome it's starting to grow on me a bit, espcially now with the Hella Lights to fill in the hoop...
http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-c...lla-light.html
original post
http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-c...m12-000-a.html

Option 2a is to take the hoop off.
However, the rubber bumperettes (if you use them) will have the huge holes in the top (where the hoop went) and that would look like crap. There are 2 ways to solve this. Don't use the bumperettes - that will leave about 6 small holes open on each side and one on the top that are used to mount the bumperettes/hoop. If you are really committed to this approach have them all welded closed and ground down prior to painting/powder coating.

Option 2b - The other way is to get a rare set of bumperettes WITHOUT the large hole on top. I happen to have a pair only because I picked my Sahara up at ARB and was talking to them about not liking the chrome hoop. The warehouse guy said that in Saudi Arabia (or somwhere in the Middle East) the hoops are actually illegal. So, ARB has a bumperette with NO HOLES. He searched high and low in the warehouse (while I gawked at hundreds of bumpers and lockers!!) and found one pair and gave them to me. You might be able to call them and get some, not sure.

I personnaly think risking the no bumperette (welded holes) clean look might be damn nice... but if you ever wanted to go back you's need to drill the holes out... not too big a deal i guess.

I might try the no-hole bumperettes this fall...

whatever you do - POST PICS

Exiled · 06-23-08, 09:17 PM

Thanks! I might have to go with Option #2, Option #1 doesn't work for me, I don't care for the size/width of the hoop, chrome or not (although I think painted to match is a lot better). Since I'm going to do some custom bar work, welding up some holes probably won't be a big deal.