T bars: OME vs. Ironman vs. ???

[mechanixhorseman]

So I'm ready to lift my hundy and I was hoping to get the OME medium 2.5" kit, but apparently the OME T bars are out of stock all across the board (ARB, Slee, and every parts distributor in between), for some undetermined amount of time. I called ARB and they said it could be as long as 4 -6 months before they get them again.

Are the Iron Man torsion bars a worthy competitor for the OME's? The price is definitely competitive, but it makes me skeptical at exactly half of what the OME's generally cost. Are there any other t bars out there within the same price range of reputable quality?

I'd heard the Iron mans are a little bit stiffer. I plan on putting on an ARB bump and winch on around that same time frame, will that make a difference?

Lots of questions, but my searches of the forums thus far haven't returned enough info to make a confident decision upon.

 

[OregonLC]

With the stock bumper, you can achieve the lift with stock t-bars by re-indexing them. But there's a big difference in spring rate between OEM and OME. I wouldn't think the factory bars would handle ARB+winch. Don't have any idea of how the Ironman compares.

4-6 months!?! Dang, that's a long time.

 

[5Cruiser]

4-6 MONTHS!!! WHAT!!??

You must be wrong...this can't be...messes up my plans for sure...

 

[1loudLX]

Now taking bids on my OME Tbars.

 

[DallasCrzr]

Loud you still use your ahc right? Do you have a link to your build?

 

[wareagle]

I have Iron Man. They work fine. No issues with ride or front articulation. Splines were clean. They looked to be equivalent to OME, OEM or SAW.

 

[mechanixhorseman]

I have Iron Man. They work fine. No issues with ride or front articulation. Splines were clean. They looked to be equivalent to OME, OEM or SAW.

I saw your posts about them in another thread. Did they require any extra equipment, like support brackets or something? Any difference between the eBay liquidator guys' bars and iron mans sold for 240 from some where else other than price?

 

[Liam]

I have Ironman t-bars and i love them. I have BOR bumper with M12000 winch up front. When you get them you'll be very happy.

 

[1loudLX]

Loud you still use your ahc right? Do you have a link to your build?

No(well the '05 has it still), and nope no build thread. I should do one huh

 

[mechanixhorseman]

Any problems Using the iron man t bars with the rest of the ome kit?

 

[mechanixhorseman]

4-6 MONTHS!!! WHAT!!??

You must be wrong...this can't be...messes up my plans for sure...

That was their max estimation. Could be sooner.

 

[jgray]

I also have Ironman TBars but haven't installed them yet... I'm waiting on a front bumper/winch before I install stiffer bars up front... That said they are very well made high quality and I don't believe the +1mm difference in diameter will make that much of a difference. If anything they are stronger... There are so many other variables that affect ride quality...

I hadn't posted a review yet but I spent countless hours researching my lift, shocks, springs, etc... I finally ended up installing my lift minus the Ironman TBars about two weeks ago...

After researching lots of shock options on the board and making calls to a few Cruiser experts across the US I ended up purchasing Ironman shocks as well... I am currently running OME 865 springs in the rear with Ironman gas shocks and my front factory TBars adjusted to almost a level stance... I can't say enough good things about the ride quality of the 100 now... I would recommend the Ironman products to anyone - they have certainly exceeded my expectations.

I'm very happy with the way everything turned out... I didn't really want the "all OME" setup like almost everyone else has... I just wanted to chime in and give a positive plug for the Ironman stuff... I know some people have hated on it in the past but I don't believe those people have actually used or tested their products... I know the Ironman guys will be a Moab this year and would encourage people to give their stuff a look... Not sure if they will have a 100 out there or not... If you call Camel 4x4 and talk to Eli (owner) he will probably give you a "mud" discount on the bars... I was able to get free shipping when I purchased my shocks during their new years sale so I feel like I got a killer deal...

Good luck with your build... I will post another thread with my work and pictures soon... I'm not affiliated with Camel 4x4 but I'd give them

 

[Liam]

Any problems Using the iron man t bars with the rest of the ome kit?

no, i am doing it. I have OME springs, Bilstein shocks and IM t-bars.

one really has nothing to do with the other.

 

[mechanixhorseman]

Thanks for the input. Can score the tbars on eBay now for 120. But I'll give camel a call as well. I hope there is nothing wrong with the eBay ones though.

 

[hoser]

jgray, any chance you can measure your ebay Ironman T-bars with a micrometer? I'm just wondering if Ironman changed the spring rate on the new ones.

 

[jgray]

jgray, any chance you can measure your ebay Ironman T-bars with a micrometer? I'm just wondering if Ironman changed the spring rate on the new ones.

Hoser - I do not own a micrometer... I assume I can just use some calipers?

My notes had the following measurements for tbars:

OEM - 29mm
OME - 30.5mm
SAW - 31mm
Ironman - 32mm

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Hoser - I do not own a micrometer... I assume I can just use some calipers?

My notes had the following measurements for tbars:

OEM - 29mm
OME - 30.5mm
SAW - 31mm
Ironman - 32mm

SAW on mine. It was all that existed when I lifted mine in 2001. It is VERY difficult to completely stuff the front wheel. This is a disadvantage and another reason the L's help out so much on the rear end.

OME's work better no doubt if you have the same load...ARB and winch.

Ironman's go the WRONG way in my opinion. It's like a SAW on steroids due to that extra mm diameter. MAYBE MAYBE they will articulate as well IF IF you have all kinds of extra weight...LOADED roof rack, 4-passengers, drawers, etc. I still doubt it. Putting Ironman's on the front is like all of us running 864 rear springs without all the extra weight.

The delay is a long time. I would go with OME T-bars for certain. Best match. Next best is SAW. Ironman's will not work as well for trail duty. OK for on-road. OK for dirt road. Bad for articulation...ESPECIALLY if you lift your front from the factory static height.

 

[mechanixhorseman]

Doesn't t bar behavior have less to do with diameter and more to do with the way the steel was made?

 

[hoser]

Hoser - I do not own a micrometer... I assume I can just use some calipers?

My notes had the following measurements for tbars:

OEM - 29mm
OME - 30.5mm
SAW - 31mm
Ironman - 32mm

I see the current Ironman t-bars are listed at 32mm... just wondering if the eBay ones are as well. They probably are though, never mind. Thanks.

 

[2000UZJ]

Doesn't t bar behavior have less to do with diameter and more to do with the way the steel was made?

diameter dictates the stiffness. Larger mm diameter= more weight they can support.

There are downsides to a thicker torsion bar, thicker you go, the more weight you will need to have in order to compress them all the way. Some run high-speed washboard so a stiffer front end is nicer. Some do slow, off-camber trails which require full articulation. You can get full articulation from a thicker torsion bar, but it will be harder to accomplish this without a aftermarket bumper and winch. They do sag over time, so torsion bars are something you replace, mine are about due since I have re-indexed them 2 times and after 6 months I loose roughly 1/2".