100 Series Front Bumper

[Mark SR.]

I'm looking to replace a slightly damaged front bumper. I won't really mod the rig for a few more years but I'm looking ahead. I want a bumper that I can eventually put a winch on and that I won't need susp. mods now, but will have later. Any ideas? Thanks.
-Mark

 

[calamaridog]

Any bumper with the ability to mount a winch is going to be heavier than stock and would benifit from heavier torsion bars to manage the weight. The torsion bars are much cheaper than a new bumper.

TJM, ARB Sahara, and ARB Bullbars come to mind and are sold by Slee. Or you could have a custom bumper fabricated.

Just one opinion so maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[DMX84]

Mark, I have the ARB Sahara bar with the stock suspension. It sits a little low in the front, but IMO it can be driven like this for awhile, but would not recommend wheeling it like this. The front dives down sharply with the added weight. I don’t have a winch installed on mine. But I plan on one in the future.
Dean

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Mark, I have the ARB Sahara bar with the stock suspension. It sits a little low in the front, but IMO it can be driven like this for awhile, but would not recommend wheeling it like this. The front dives down sharply with the added weight. I don’t have a winch installed on mine. But I plan on one in the future.
Dean

Here's a couple of links for you to check out:

http://www.expeditionswest.com/vehicles/adventurepartners/john100.html

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/technical/lx470/tz_lx470_main.htm

http://www.arbusa.com/ Click: ARB Protection Equipment then Bull Bars

I installed my Sahara Bar and winch before I had my lift. I dropped about and inch up front and didn't like the ride so I was glad the lift was coming ASAP. If you want to wait for the lift (and I wouldn't because you wouldn't believe how NICE your truck will ride lifted) I'd install the bumper first without a winch because of weight. Though it will be a pain to install the winch later.

 

[macneill]

I like my TJM T-15 becaust it is aluminum. Some guys might frown upon it, but it's lighter. It did however require an additonal mounting plate for the winch.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I like my TJM T-15 becaust it is aluminum. Some guys might frown upon it, but it's lighter. It did however require an additonal mounting plate for the winch.

Nobody should frown at that MACNEIL. Heck, it weighs less and that sure helps. If you're gonna be realy careful when 4-wheeling then that's a great choice.

For me, I already really messed up the steel ARB and had to get it bent back out and touched up. It just depends on what you want. I'd like an even thicker steel front bumper though the suspension wouldn't support one if somebody made it.

I messed my ARB bumper up by going down this slickrock here in AZ. Check out this site and the Tacoma pic. I hit a hole in the bottom and a big rock flipped up and V-dented the bumper. I go down this thing very slowly NOW.
http://www.azod.com/off-highway/trip_reports/c-gap/index.htm
Ooo, that's a bad thread to post on the 100 forum. That's my 80 at the top.

 

[98LXand99LC]

I've got the TJM T3 Classique bar (pic in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=32771). It's not as heavy duty as the Sahara ARB Bar, but I didn't need that. It's also a lot lighter since it's not a winch bar. You can put a winch later with a winch bracket. After taking off the old bumper and impact bar, I bet the net weight difference is not more than 75 lbs. Best part, I got it from 4x4 connection for about $650 and you can reuse your foglights. If you go with the ARB I think you have to buy the lights seperate, prolly all told you'd be into the ARB for about $1200.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I've got the TJM T3 Classique bar (pic in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=32771). It's not as heavy duty as the Sahara ARB Bar, but I didn't need that. It's also a lot lighter since it's not a winch bar. You can put a winch later with a winch bracket. After taking off the old bumper and impact bar, I bet the net weight difference is not more than 75 lbs. Best part, I got it from 4x4 connection for about $650 and you can reuse your foglights. If you go with the ARB I think you have to buy the lights seperate, prolly all told you'd be into the ARB for about $1200.

75 pounds? I'M JEALOUS!

 

[98LXand99LC]

75 pounds? I'M JEALOUS!

Don't even go there John. I look at pictures of your rig and the trails you get to wheel almost daily lately!!!!!

 

[Greg B]

I've got the TJM T3 Classique bar (pic in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=32771). It's not as heavy duty as the Sahara ARB Bar, but I didn't need that.

Hey there,
Can you tell me what makes the ARB more heavy duty than the T3 Classique? I was comparing that bumper to the Saharra and was leaning more towards the TJM because it seems MORE heavy duty than the ARB. The reason I think this is because on the TJM, the winch mount is seperate and bolts directly to the frame. Isn't the ARB's winch mount in the bar itself and has the opportunity to move at the crushcans? Can anyone that has the Saharra confirm this?

Also, it is nice that it reuses the factory fog lights.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Don't even go there John. I look at pictures of your rig and the trails you get to wheel almost daily lately!!!!!

Hee Hee. Ya, it's wheeling season out here.

I sure do wish my setup only weighed 75 pounds. I can dream though.

 

[98LXand99LC]

Hey there,
Can you tell me what makes the ARB more heavy duty than the T3 Classique? I was comparing that bumper to the Saharra and was leaning more towards the TJM because it seems MORE heavy duty than the ARB. The reason I think this is because on the TJM, the winch mount is seperate and bolts directly to the frame. Isn't the ARB's winch mount in the bar itself and has the opportunity to move at the crushcans? Can anyone that has the Saharra confirm this?

Also, it is nice that it reuses the factory fog lights.

Shotz probably knows more about why the ARB is stronger. But to me, the fact that the ARB doesn't need additional hardware to use a winch and conversely that the TJM does tells me that it's stronger. Also it's (the ARB) much heavier.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Hey there,
Can you tell me what makes the ARB more heavy duty than the T3 Classique? I was comparing that bumper to the Saharra and was leaning more towards the TJM because it seems MORE heavy duty than the ARB. The reason I think this is because on the TJM, the winch mount is seperate and bolts directly to the frame. Isn't the ARB's winch mount in the bar itself and has the opportunity to move at the crushcans? Can anyone that has the Saharra confirm this?

Also, it is nice that it reuses the factory fog lights.

Sorry, I'm really dumb on this stuff. I do know I've winched myself once, a Tundra once, and an H2, once. The Sahara Bar is still rock solid.

The one time I did do damage to the lower side of the bar we did "warp" it just a tad when we bent it back in shape. If it had been an aluminum bumper I bet I'd a destroyed it. So that's a plus I suppose for the ARB?

Also check for airbag compatibility. The Sahara Bar is.

 

[98LXand99LC]

Also check for airbag compatibility. The Sahara Bar is.

The TJM is as well.

 

[Greg B]

The one time I did do damage to the lower side of the bar we did "warp" it just a tad when we bent it back in shape. If it had been an aluminum bumper I bet I'd a destroyed it. So that's a plus I suppose for the ARB?

Also check for airbag compatibility. The Sahara Bar is.

The TJM T3 Classique is steel too. They are both airbag compatible, but the difference is the crush cans that make it compatible also are what bend on ARB's. The reason is because the winch is bolted to the bar that is attached to the crushcans. On a TJM, the bar is attached to crushcans, but the winch is mounted to additional piece that bolts to the frame. Once you add this additional winch mount, the difference in weight is not nearly as much.

 

[macneill]

Nobody should frown at that MACNEIL. Heck, it weighs less and that sure helps. If you're gonna be realy careful when 4-wheeling then that's a great choice.

For me, I already really messed up the steel ARB and had to get it bent back out and touched up. It just depends on what you want. I'd like an even thicker steel front bumper though the suspension wouldn't support one if somebody made it.

I messed my ARB bumper up by going down this slickrock here in AZ. Check out this site and the Tacoma pic. I hit a hole in the bottom and a big rock flipped up and V-dented the bumper. I go down this thing very slowly NOW.
http://www.azod.com/off-highway/trip_reports/c-gap/index.htm
Ooo, that's a bad thread to post on the 100 forum. That's my 80 at the top.

Damn, that's a good hole. So far the aluminum has survived one taxi and one G35 with just scratches. Yeah, I try to be careful when wheeling. Wife doesn't want to trash the truck just yet.