ARB Rear Bumper

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Nottajeep

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Anyone running the ARB rear bumper for the 80? IMHO this is the best looking rear for the LC. I have browsed previous threads, but not a lot of info. The price is :censor: high, but it looks to be a quality product.
arb rear.webp
 
They look good, I guess? Like most ARB bumpers they are :censor: huge, so if the plan includes wheeling, probably will be disappointed with the departure angle.
 
Good time to build your own and learn how to weld.Thats what Im planing to do. MIke
 
Arb rear bump

I have this bumper and I agree it is the best looking bumper out there (I think I have seen them all minus any custom fab). Really attention to detail when it comes to fit and finish with the lines of the truck.

I built my truck as as more of an expedition camping rig, not a real wheeler, so I did not care about that aspect, although I agree 100% if that is your goal, don't get this bumper, it hangs a long ways off the back of the truck.
 
I thought it was the ugliest bumper solution out there, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is a fact though that it is very heavy and decreases departure angle. Look back a few years (with a search) and there is a good discussion from an ARB rear bumper owner from aus, that gave a lukewarm recommendation.

EDIT: str8nm- no offense, just saw your post :o
 
Uber expensive, bad departure angle, good looking, ARB warranty, it's a mixed bag. Not for me.
 
I wish they had a centered spare tire.
 
I don't know if buying a bumper for looks is a wise thing, if you're going to wheel it - even occasionally. I bought my Kaymar about 7 years ago and can't remember if a rear ARB was even available then. For looks, I like the Kaymar better, but not sure if it's 'cause I got one. One thing's for sure, either of them are going to get the snot sc*r*a*ped off them off road. I know from experience and also from what others have said here on Mud, the Kaymar holds up well and does a good job of protecting the rig. Not sure who the winner would be in a butt draggin' contest between the 2, but I kinda wonder how good the ARB would look, all scratched up. :cheers:
 
I like my 4x4Lab rear bumpers. I have one on each of my 80's. Luke has been really good about making modifications. I have bike carriers and jerry can holders for each (not in place at the same time) plus a few other modifications. Both have the tires on the driver's side which was my preference. They are not cheap and require cutting.
 
I will say that I've wheeled with the ARB back bumper for about three years now, including x2 Cruise Moabs. Here's my input:

The good:
1. The looks. And I get compliments on it.
2. The massive step- makes goofing around with the roof rack easy.
3. Extremely difficult to 'break'. Massive armor. I have literally pogo-sticked my entire rig off the trailer hitch trying to get up a steep pitch in Moab without lockers... absolutely not damage at all.

The bad:
1. An amazing pain in the ass to install.
2. The installation instructions are a bit cryptic in spots.
3. You will definitely scrape on the Moab runs due to the departure angle... but it's a sound without any true consequences.

The ugly:
1. Getting laughed at by your buddies on Golden Spike as the departure angle and "scoop" under the bumper means your rig sometimes will literally dig a hot tub-sized hole in the sand if you are trying to get up a very steep ledge. There are pictures... unfortunately...

So, I like the looks, wish I hadn't sacrificed the departure angle as much as I seem to have, but I like the looks. Everything's a trade off, I guess...
 
Personally I think they are just too big. It's really like a back porch on the back of the truck. All that said, having seen them first hand I can attest to them being well made. Even if you're not taking it to Moab or rock-crawling it can become an anchor just getting to that favorite camping spot. Here's a couple photos of the ARB bumper on a 100 series from one of our trips a little while back. This road was all pretty mello, just a graded dirt road, but it had a few washouts from the rain. When we encountered this washout it was pretty sharp at the banks and pretty deep. So we did a fair amount of "roadbuilding" to ramp the banks.


Even with the road building the 100 got hung up on the bumper in the rear and both rear tires were hanging in the air.




ended up having to winch it out.


This is one scenario that doesn't mean the bumper is worthless. It's a nice, well made bumper, but just HUGE and the departure angle is a real concern. If the places you go don't require better departure angle, then it could be a good fit. But even in places where you think it will fit just fine, it just might not.
 
I have a friend with one on his 100 series. It's definitely a very clean and well engineered bumper, but it's massive. I have also seen one on an 80 series, and compared to the 100 series, I think the 80 series stuck out even further. I just remember seeing the 80 series bumper and being blown away with how big of a bumper it is. I really like Slee's, BIOR's, and CruisinOffroad's rear bumpers. I prefer the boxed look of the bumpers vs tubed and plated bumpers.
 
This is seriously the ugliest thing ARB has ever made.
 
I will say that I've wheeled with the ARB back bumper for about three years now, including x2 Cruise Moabs. Here's my input:

The good:
1. The looks. And I get compliments on it.
2. The massive step- makes goofing around with the roof rack easy.
3. Extremely difficult to 'break'. Massive armor. I have literally pogo-sticked my entire rig off the trailer hitch trying to get up a steep pitch in Moab without lockers... absolutely not damage at all.

The bad:
1. An amazing pain in the ass to install.
2. The installation instructions are a bit cryptic in spots.
3. You will definitely scrape on the Moab runs due to the departure angle... but it's a sound without any true consequences.

The ugly:
1. Getting laughed at by your buddies on Golden Spike as the departure angle and "scoop" under the bumper means your rig sometimes will literally dig a hot tub-sized hole in the sand if you are trying to get up a very steep ledge. There are pictures... unfortunately...

So, I like the looks, wish I hadn't sacrificed the departure angle as much as I seem to have, but I like the looks. Everything's a trade off, I guess...

Way to bump up an almost 4 year old thread....lol
 
Yeah I gotta agree with Jose. Its really painful to look at. I'm not totally thrilled with the departure angle of my IPOR but its still light years better than the ARB. I've seen plenty and I just can't force myself to appreciate their looks.
 
I'm a HUGE fan & saving my pennies for one.

It'll be a while!
 

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