What's the point of the ARB bumper?

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Ducks

Ducks

Joined
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Where have you dented and scratch your ARB bumper and how?

Not trying to be derogatory. I can get an ARB bumper for cheap but I don't like how it looks. I'd rather have a stock looking bumper with a hitch to mount a removable winch. Anyways what is the practical use of the ARB bullbar? I don't want to pass up a great deal if it will be useful in the end. I don't frequently drive deer infested roads, so that isn't a consideration.

:beer: Chad
 
Practical use: front end protection. Doesn't matter what.....deer, trees, other vehicles. It's way stronger than the stocker. If you don't carry full coverage, I'd get it. It'll pay for itself if you ever hit anything. :cheers:
 
Like nearly all aftermarket stuff, "something to spend money on". Unless you need to knock a buck flat on his ass.
 
My ARB saved my Tacoma.

Last spring, at a light, I got hit from the rear and Pushed into a 03 Tundra. It smashed the crap out of th Tundra, and barely pushed in the ARB at all, and no damage to my truck's body whatsoever. It's like battle armour.:D
 
Nothing better than trying to get a hitch mount winch out of the rear of the truck and mounted up on a steep and slick hillside. They are extremely light and easy handle.:rolleyes: If you dont like the arb then there are a few other choices out there. If you dont wheel your truck but just use it as a mall cruiser then there is not a lot of uses to consider other than just front end protection. If you go off-road then the protection is invaluable. Better clearance, recovery points, light mounts, are a few things to consider.
 
Personal preference, but I love the way non stock bumpers look, plus you get the added protection
 
The keep stuff your vehicle impacts from taking out the radiator!!! (And good looks in my books). So far mine hasn't been put to use, but I did have another toyota buggy bounce off my stock bumper before I upgraded.
 
When I had my FZJ-80 we were headed to lunch one day and were in the far Rt lane doing about 35 on a 3 lane road, when the guy in a chevy 2wd mini truck, barely infront of me to my Lt desides he missed his turn and heads for a driveway on my lt. (swerving into my lane and hard on the brakes). I really had 0 time to hit the brakes..I HIT HIM HARD !!! almost square, pushing his entire rear end, tailgate and all, almost to the rear wheelwells.
Luckly, on his Lt was a Washington State Highway Patrol car, saw the whole thing. saying to the driver and I " usually if you are hit from behind its that guys fault.......but not with that stunt you just pulled".
The WHP guy looked at the PU truck then came over to me and said did you see the damage to your truck...pointing to scuffs and scratches and a slightly bent shackle tab to the bullbar (laughing under his breath) Then asked if everyone was ok with calling it a no fault bender. I shook my head and the PU driver was red faced and on the phone to a tow truck driver.
Got back in my rig and my wife pointed to the back seat......."she didn't even wake up" my daughter 1yr old had been sleeping in her rear facing car seat.....ZZZZZZing away
 
REKCUT said:
If you dont like the arb then there are a few other choices out there. If you dont wheel your truck but just use it as a mall cruiser then there is not a lot of uses to consider other than just front end protection. If you go off-road then the protection is invaluable. Better clearance, recovery points, light mounts, are a few things to consider.
Click to expand...

How is the protection better? Do you use the top part of the bar off-road? I can get clearance, recovery points, & light mounts off of a stock-shaped bumper. Not trying to insult anyone here, just spell out how it really is an advantage off-road. Like "I put a dent in the top of the bullbar when...." (Of course, given the amazing on-road stories I might go with it anyway.)
 
Last edited:
I would say the benefit of the upper portion of the bar is to protect the radiator, so after an impact the truck isn't crippled. If your truck makes contact above the bumper before at the bumper, you could be stranded.
Off road, this could result from sliding into another truck either lifter higher than yours, or with a rear mounted spare sitting higher than you stock bumper. Could also happen sliding downhill into a tree. Around here, sliding in icy conditions.
On road, hitting a deer or moose at speed.... Rear ended and driven into the vehicle in front of you, as others have shared stories of.
 
If the point isn't obvious, you probably won't need one. If the discussion was what's the point of an ARB vs a TJM or Slee or whatever, that would be different. As far as the receiver mounted winch, I've never known anyone to stick with one for very long. The design of them generally means too much reduction in approach angle to install it at the trail head and when you are headlight deep in a mudhole it's way too late. If you wanted to use one for self recovery in the event on a rollover (reasonable use of an electric winch) the friggin thing has probably already brained you on the way out of your rig and over the cliff.

I'd suggest doing one of the following...

1) Leave your Cruiser completely stock. They look good this way, perform well and keep their value. They can do some mild offroad and work really well in the snow.
2) Modify your Cruiser with the bolt ons that those on this forum have used to make their rigs more useful for the kind of use they give them. Accept that some of those mods will affect the looks, handling, fuel economy and resale value.
Disclaimer. I have never, in 25 Land Cruisers, owned one with and ARB bumper.
 
I have 2 ARB'd cruisers.

I liked the look and protection on a 60. So I installed one while rebuilding my 60. Well the time came my wife needed a new vehicle so we got her a Fj80. She insisted I get an ARB for her 80. There are tonnes of deer around here and icy roads. So really for her it was protection.

I carry a 1000 dollar deductible on her insurance, so in one accident it pays for itself. Since she has no want to offroad, she got the non winch model. Which actually was quite nice.

I've seen enough accident photos here on mud to be sold on them.

Infact my local Toyota dealer sells tonnes of them here too. I just saw an 08 Tundra go by with one on it the other day. Pretty friggin cool to see a dealer pimping them up before they are sold.
 
Ducks said:
How is the protection better? Do you use the top part of the bar off-road? I can get clearance, recovery points, & light mounts off of a stock-shaped bumper. Not trying to insult anyone here, just spell out how it really is an advantage off-road. Like "I put a dent in the top of the bullbar when...." (Of course, given the amazing on-road stories I might go with it anyway.)
Click to expand...

the purpose is for protection all around high and low AND to get you home. The arb bar is designed to take an impact be it another vehicle, roo, deer, etc and absorb some while still protecting enough of the fender or radiator or where ever is hit and get you home even if there is damage. The bends in the latest series of bars esp the newly designed 60/62 bar reflect this. Also arb bars are designed and mainly used in australia where there is more overland type of travel vs rock crawling. If it is not for you no big deal there are other bumpers out there that may suit your needs better. You can peruse this information and more at ARB's site http://arbusa.com/bull_bars_deluxe.php
 
I have a good tough steel aftermarket bumper made by Gary Coberly. It doesn't have the radiator and headlight protection. but I like the price and the looks of my bumper better, and it provides 99% of the protection you are ever going to need and has plenty of recovery points. I don't know why there aren't more bumpers available like it. Gary doesn't make them any more. And that is too bad.

click the link below to see my bumper.
 
as someone mentioned, if you have to ask, then you dont need it. i've used my hoops many times...rubbing up rooted banks...they've saved my headlights numerous times. the hoops are also great protection in a frontal impact...in OZ they're meant to throw whatever you hit up and over...protecting the front. it doesnt necessarily have to be a deer. also, it also protects the front end from crushing in case of a roll over...the cabin..well thats a different story.

also, with the hoops, you can tie into some fender armour to the sliders....or tie in some limb risers to your roof rack.

my personal favourite use of the hoops is to have something to pull myself up with when wrenching underneath...

front receivers are a great concept, but imo, i'd rather have one permanently mounted up front. the time you'll need it the most...murphy's law will ensure that the position of your truck will make trying to mount a front receiver winch very difficult
 
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