Slee Short Bus Vs. Arb ?
- Thread starter GAS-A-LOT!
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I've got a shortbus on my rig:
http://www.brian894x4.com/images/BrianLCpicv1a.jpg
I'm using the light tabs to carry both off road lights and a hi-lift and it works great. One disadvantage of the Slee bumper is that you're limited in winch size to about 9500lbs, so I understand. Apparently the Warn 10-15K winches won't fit, although it seems I just saw one on here with one shoehorned in, so who knows.
I am a little worried about what will happen if I hit an animal, compared to the proven protection of the ARB, but one major reason I chose the Slee is that it's a lower profile bumper. In other words, it doesn't draw as much attention to the vehicle as an ARB does, while still providing an excellent winch platform, and very respectable armor for the area it does cover, if not the same as the ARB for that same area.
However, if i didn't care about looks or having a big gawdy front bumper (just kidding.) and I especially wanted better animal protection for the headlights and grill, I'd probably go with an ARB. If I did care about looks, and approach angle was more important, then the Slee is the better bumper, IMO.
http://www.brian894x4.com/images/BrianLCpicv1a.jpg
I'm using the light tabs to carry both off road lights and a hi-lift and it works great. One disadvantage of the Slee bumper is that you're limited in winch size to about 9500lbs, so I understand. Apparently the Warn 10-15K winches won't fit, although it seems I just saw one on here with one shoehorned in, so who knows.
I am a little worried about what will happen if I hit an animal, compared to the proven protection of the ARB, but one major reason I chose the Slee is that it's a lower profile bumper. In other words, it doesn't draw as much attention to the vehicle as an ARB does, while still providing an excellent winch platform, and very respectable armor for the area it does cover, if not the same as the ARB for that same area.
However, if i didn't care about looks or having a big gawdy front bumper (just kidding.) and I especially wanted better animal protection for the headlights and grill, I'd probably go with an ARB. If I did care about looks, and approach angle was more important, then the Slee is the better bumper, IMO.
I fit a 12.5K T-max winch in mine. It is not a tight fit at all. Now, the T-max winch is smaller than the Warn winches and I think that is mostly because of gearing, the T-max is geared really low. As a result it is also really slow.
- Thread starter
- #25
DOC...
Any drilling involved? with those 12 bolts>....?
Hey D'animal.... I'm not hating on any one... and I can see why you edited.
Chit chat?... well I can say (that at least for me) it is helpfull as well.
now.... Arb protection. SSB protection.
now... can someone here add ARB type bars to a Slee bumper?
Man! it's hard!
Last consideration.....
Got 2 kids.. And will begin to travel.....
does that help?
this is as hard as when I was in Highschool and I had to choose between 2 lovable attractive gal's.... I just couldn't choose both.
MM... nevermind I'm glad I did not choose both... Would be broke and miseralble if I did.
Any drilling involved? with those 12 bolts>....?
Hey D'animal.... I'm not hating on any one... and I can see why you edited.
Chit chat?... well I can say (that at least for me) it is helpfull as well.
now.... Arb protection. SSB protection.
now... can someone here add ARB type bars to a Slee bumper?
Man! it's hard!
Last consideration.....
Got 2 kids.. And will begin to travel.....
does that help?
this is as hard as when I was in Highschool and I had to choose between 2 lovable attractive gal's.... I just couldn't choose both.
MM... nevermind I'm glad I did not choose both... Would be broke and miseralble if I did.
aw come one... has no one hit a deer/ elk / yet on a yoda with a slee?
i took an elk out with my subaru and ouch..
just pinged a deer a few weeks back, i swerved hard to miss it but i think looking at the slee that the taller elk will bend and smak the hood/grill and the ARB will push the whole thing forward till you can munge over it...
so, while i agree, who wouldnt that the slee is nicer in looks and angles, the ARB is the protection.
for me in colorado... i need the kritter killer more
so for feedback, there you go, how often do you see taller rodents in front of you and or bang protection, the slee should give you find pro against autos and urban stuff... just the big animals fold and bang
the ARB is my next buy
maybe i should do the engine grill device so that when i maul a deer/elk i can grab the topline / tenderloin and flik on my cooker for the trip home?
i took an elk out with my subaru and ouch..
just pinged a deer a few weeks back, i swerved hard to miss it but i think looking at the slee that the taller elk will bend and smak the hood/grill and the ARB will push the whole thing forward till you can munge over it...
so, while i agree, who wouldnt that the slee is nicer in looks and angles, the ARB is the protection.
for me in colorado... i need the kritter killer more
so for feedback, there you go, how often do you see taller rodents in front of you and or bang protection, the slee should give you find pro against autos and urban stuff... just the big animals fold and bang
the ARB is my next buy
maybe i should do the engine grill device so that when i maul a deer/elk i can grab the topline / tenderloin and flik on my cooker for the trip home?
I'm with Gas. Who has pull with Christo and can talk him into doing a headlamp protected short bus. Just replace the two outer tubes with slightly 'taller' ones. Would that be the best of all worlds?
Out here in the northwest we develop every possible square inch of land we can and the critters have to go someplace...
Out here in the northwest we develop every possible square inch of land we can and the critters have to go someplace...
D'Animal:
Sorry for coming down on you, I've been frustrated lately by seeing more than a few posts deleted after their viewpoint was challenged. I like hearing both sides of a discussion. If you took the time to write it, and other people have responded to it, it's worth leaving in place, IMO. Sounds like your comments were on subject, and even if they didn't necessarily help the guy who posted the original question, they will still help the rest of the viewers with similar concerns. FWIW, I'm fairly sure you made the very same points I would have.
-Spike
Sorry for coming down on you, I've been frustrated lately by seeing more than a few posts deleted after their viewpoint was challenged. I like hearing both sides of a discussion. If you took the time to write it, and other people have responded to it, it's worth leaving in place, IMO. Sounds like your comments were on subject, and even if they didn't necessarily help the guy who posted the original question, they will still help the rest of the viewers with similar concerns. FWIW, I'm fairly sure you made the very same points I would have.
-Spike
No drilling involved. The shortbus bumper makes use of existing frame nuts.
Just give Christo a call and ask him what he thinks
Christo will give you the straight skinny on whether he thinks investing the time & $$ into the R&D to come up with an ARB style bumper to compete with ARB is in the works or feasible. I would guess the answer is no unless a fair number of folks start emailing/calling him and will commit to buy a bumper when it is ready, but who knows
For those that want the best of both worlds you can always buy a Slee and mod it or buy an ARB and hack it.
Pics in post #8 show the bumper without a winch...
sleeoffroad
Supporting Vendor
The problem is that the bumpers are made in batches. To pull one off the assembly line and modify it creates all kinds of issues. We have looked at selling it without the tubes and then people can do their own thing, but the problem is that the tubes is critical to design. So if we sell them without that and someone does something goofy, the next thing is that we read on the internet that the ShortBus bumpers fold in when you hit them. The only way we can ensure that the bumper works the way we wanted it to, is by doing it the way we designed it.
Plus, I am not sure higher tubes will work on it. If you look at ARB they get their strength and height from the vertical plates that the center and side tubes attach to. Our bumper is a different design. I did play with other tube layouts in the beginning, but it looked goofy. Maybe someone can prove me wrong. Buy one and cut it up
FWIW, we will have 2 of our old style bumpers soon that have no tube in bare metal. Maybe someone wants those and can add the tubing they want.
Plus, I am not sure higher tubes will work on it. If you look at ARB they get their strength and height from the vertical plates that the center and side tubes attach to. Our bumper is a different design. I did play with other tube layouts in the beginning, but it looked goofy. Maybe someone can prove me wrong. Buy one and cut it up
FWIW, we will have 2 of our old style bumpers soon that have no tube in bare metal. Maybe someone wants those and can add the tubing they want.
Christo, give me a bumper and I'll hoop it up and "test" it for a few years.
NorCalDoug
problems solved daily...
I think people take for granted the amount of design and testing that goes into a production product.
I like my ARB
- Thread starter
- #38
It looks like a shortbus for the wifes 80? and an arb for my 60? Desisions Desisions
I know Can we get a side by side of both the arb and short bus? Anyone got pics?
I know Can we get a side by side of both the arb and short bus? Anyone got pics?
I have the ARB non winch bar which is almost 4" shorter that the winch version. My approach angle has rarely been an issue with 315s and J springs. I initially wasn't thrilled with the heavy overbars because I prefer a cleaner look. After putting an 80 on its roof
, I am a big fan. The overbars kept the hood off the ground and saved the radiator and fan. I was able to drive the truck out. Without the ARB it would have been a 20 mile offroad extraction in a thunderstorm. The Slee bumper is nice looking but I still have the ARB and prefer the added protection.
, I am a big fan. The overbars kept the hood off the ground and saved the radiator and fan. I was able to drive the truck out. Without the ARB it would have been a 20 mile offroad extraction in a thunderstorm. The Slee bumper is nice looking but I still have the ARB and prefer the added protection.
It looks like a shortbus for the wifes 80? and an arb for my 60? Desisions Desisions
I know Can we get a side by side of both the arb and short bus? Anyone got pics?
Giving it a try...SSB bumper photo courtesy of Slee's site
.
Last edited:
