Slee VS ARB

[Harrold]

Slee front bumper or ARB deluxe bumper?
Does anyone know the weight of these two bumpers and if you had to choose which one LoOks nicer?

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/bumpers/front_bumpers_80series.htm

 

[jjhancock]

I personally like the slee bumper better... I also think it's probably lighter than the ARB deluxe, which may make a difference. Members have been in accidents and the ARB is said to have saved some folks lives IIRC. I think the slee bumper is probably not going to protect you to the degree that the ARB would in a high speed impact, but it probably weighs quite a bit less as well... It really all depends on what purpose the bumper is to serve.

I'd bet if you spent some time you could find out the exact specs of each. Not sure what kind of lift you have, but you may or may not weigh down your front springs by using the ARB if it really is as stout as it looks. My vote is for the slee

Let us know the true weight difference when you find the specs!

 

[OGBeno]

If you are going on looks, then you are asking the wrong questions IMHO.

-o-

 

[j_rawks]

my slee weighed in at about 90lbs as stated on the shipping manifest. not too sure how much the arb weighs in at.

if your worried about sag, get some coil spacers up front.

 

[corsair23]

Harrold,

Check out this thread from back in May...Same discussion with lots of opinions

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=158529

 

[reffug]

I own the ARB.

However the Slee wasn't available then or I think my truck might look different.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

I can tell you that the ARB isn't a good Rock Crawling bumper, mine is bent all to crap. I don't know about the Slee but would really like one to "Test".

 

[Cruiserhead05]

Two different bumper for two different purposes in my opinion.

If approach angle is a big concern, then go slee.
If your truck sees alot of time on paved roads and is more likely to come in contact with another vehicle or large animal, then i'd say ARB(I.E. more overall frontal protection)

 

[concretejungle]

I don't know about the Slee but would really like one to "Test".

hahaha, keep trying George. Maybe you'll get to be a sponsor vehicle soon enough. What's the saying....squeeky wheel get's the grease.

 

[cruiserdan]

The ARB is a "Roo broom". The Slee is cut for crawling clearance.

 

[Doc]

This same topic has been covered at least three times, I'm sure you'll find some good discussion via the search button.

That being said, I asked myself the same question and ended up with the slee bumper. If you check out Slee's site that is my truck in his detailed photos with all the ice on it.

Also, FWIW- I live in rural Iowa and am MUCH more likely to hit a deer than a lot of you 'city folk'. I ended up with the slee anyway. Why? Combination of factors, weight, recovery points, design, 'stoutness', all factored in on my decision.

Plus, working with slee is a dream. Example, I was debating if I wanted a BLACK front bumper, Slee told me a batch of bumpers was about to go to powder coat and he could get me literally any color I wanted. Try and get that service from ARB. I ended up with black to match my sliders and rear bumper anyway, but the idea of color matching my front bumper to the truck was really appealing for a time. I still think a white slee bumper would be the shizzle on a white truck with minimal armor.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The Slee bumper has much better recovery points.

The "short bus" bumper (for the retards lucky enough to have one) is especially good looking.

ARBs are pretty stout, but I've never hit a deer with either of mine, though I keep trying.

 

[Nay]

I don't know why people think that a bumper that won't hold up to slow speed rock crawling will be stronger in a high speed impact. The only argument you can make is that it will crumple better, and that may in fact be a safety factor.

Tube is your weight to strength ratio friend. You could even design a Roo Stinger to prevent those bouncy suckers from popping up over the hood when you hit them and coming through the windshield. That's what'll kill you

 

[cruiserdan]

You could even design a Roo Stinger to prevent those bouncy suckers from popping up over the BONNET when you hit them and coming through the windshield. That's what'll kill you

Spelling correction...............

 

[TiredIronGRB]

hahaha, keep trying George. Maybe you'll get to be a sponsor vehicle soon enough. What's the saying....squeeky wheel get's the grease.

They should have done it before it was in Crawl...oh well

 

[concretejungle]

i purchased my ARB from a mudder who used it for winching and hit a deer with it. You can see one of the bars is slightly bowed inward from the deer collision. That said, that is the deciding factor for me. There are a bunch of deer where i live and i would like to keep them out of my radiator.

 

[sleeoffroad]

I can tell you that the ARB isn't a good Rock Crawling bumper, mine is bent all to crap. I don't know about the Slee but would really like one to "Test".

If it wasn't for the fact that I did all the testing of that design on the ShortBus, I might have taken you up on that I think 3 years of hardcore beating on the truck was enough testing

 

[TiredIronGRB]

If it wasn't for the fact that I did all the testing of that design on the ShortBus, I might have taken you up on that I think 3 years of hardcore beating on the truck was enough testing

True, I guess you don't need the advertising either.

 

[WoodyFJ80]

I have an ARB. When I bought it from Kurt @ CruiserOutfitters, he told me the weight of it was around 150 lbs. That was the manifest quote for shipping. It is the delux ARB. He stated that the non-winch ARB was about 20 lbs. less.

 

[kwikrnu]

I like the look of the slee, but I bought my arb because:

1. I found it used and a lot cheaper than a new bumper shipped in.
2. It has bars which somewhat protect the lights and grill from damage on tree filled tight trails that you typically find here in Tennessee.