Useless ARB bumper

[dusty88]

About 3 months ago I picked up a brand new arbor bumper for dirt cheap from a local shop here. They said it was installed on an Xj and taken off and replaced with something else the same day. I didn't have a front bumper on mine due to a stupid discission to use it as a recovery point and completely destroyed the stock bumper. So I got the ARB and loved it...at first. There are no recovery points on this thing! That and it mounts in the same 3 holes as the the stock bumper and that just doesn't seem very strong to me. So my question is does anyone have this bumper and has anyone done anything to beef this thing up like new mounting brackets and maybe daring mounts or anything.I need some kind of recovery points up front that aren't going to completely f@$k me:bang:

[4.3LXJ]

Cantab27 had one on his XJ. You can PM him for what he did

[Mudderoy]

Interesting especially for as much as they ask for those things.

[XJ Wheeler]

We have two in the family. One on a xj and one zj. The mounting bracket situation you mentioned is, to me, a big oversight on Arb's part, but there are ways to beef it up. Frame tie-in kits will bolt up to those three holes and other holes to spread the load. I personally would go with Jcr's kit as it also ties in the front crossmember. http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJUNF.html

Now, for the recovery points there should be two d-ring tabs on the bottom of the front bumper about below each center support bars. Sadly, again, not the strongest design so be careful on them, or you could beef them up some.

[cantab27]

yeah look good and airbag rated....holes on bottom are not good for recovery's.....when snatching with strop and shackle the power of snatch pulls up and bends mounts ......cause mine had insurance issues if I cut into it I lived with it and used winch for recovery's.....

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr52/cantab27/jeepin%20and%20bits/rebuild009.jpg (http://s469.photobucket.com/user/cantab27/media/jeepin%20and%20bits/rebuild009.jpg.html)

not the best pic but is bent on mount ...

they are a pita to do any work on winch as drop the whole bar to get to them ..

they do look Purdy but

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr52/cantab27/jeepin%20and%20bits/rebuild018.jpg (http://s469.photobucket.com/user/cantab27/media/jeepin%20and%20bits/rebuild018.jpg.html)

have seen with rated hooks on took of bar ..will see if I can find pic ....ray has his one set up different as .....he will pop in with pics at some stage

[dusty88]

At first I thought those two tab at the bottom where for d-rings so the first thing I did was go out and buy a couple but a about a month ago my alternator went out just a few blocks from my house and I got a tow back and it tweaked one off the tabs and shifted the whole bumper up about a 1/2"( I'll try and post a pic). That's when I decided the thing was a pos. I can't believe they want almost a grand for these things! I'll deffinatly check out the JCR mounts

[dusty88]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/15/7u9ada6u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/15/zy3yvaju.jpg

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[4.3LXJ]

I think you can fix that by loosening the bolts on each side and letting the weight of the bumper pull it down. This is disappointing I know. A good two point and winch bumper ties into the hole that is just almost behind your sway bar in the top pic.

[cantab27]

Shouldn't do that just towing ... How many bolts it come with .. Should be round 12 if I remember ...

[dusty88]

That's how most bumper brackets ive seen are mounted so I was kind of suprised that this one was so small. Yeah there was 6 bolts on each side but only 3 actually mount to each side of the unibody

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[4.3LXJ]

Something missing maybe?

[Carves]

You blokes need to understand ... that it is just a bumper .. ;);)

albeit a pretty ... and overpriced one.

If you want to get all serious about banging into stuff and doing winch comps ... then it needs some modding to change it from a bumper ... to a bar.

.... extend the mounts, tie it in to the frame better, etc.

As for recovery .... I dont think there is anything down here with rated "recovery" points ... just tow points.

Having rated, "recovery", points - presents liability issues for the manufacturer ... when some drongo does a bad recovery, rips the bar off the front ... and it smacks someone in the back of their head.


@ cantab ... I bet ARB dont even know that the XJs airbag control is in the centre console and is inertia ... not crumple rate, controlled.

@ Mudderoy ... Way expensive ... and even more so here in Australia.

@ dusty88 ... dont wanna be rude ... but Im suspecting that "towing technique" is probably the cause of the bumper tweaking.

[dusty88]

Very true about it just being a bumper but for the price of these I just expected a little more beef to it. Glad I didn't pay full price for it! I think I'm gonna pick up a set of those JCR tie in brackets and fab up some d-ring mounts on or beef up those tabs on the bottom like Xj wheeler mentioned.

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[cantab27]

Well said my Aussie cuz.....

[4.3LXJ]

You blokes need to understand ... that it is just a bumper .. ;);)

albeit a pretty ... and overpriced one.

If you want to get all serious about banging into stuff and doing winch comps ... then it needs some modding to change it from a bumper ... to a bar.


Uh, aren't these things advertised as a bull bar? :confused:

[cantab27]

Uh, aren't these things advertised as a bull bar? :confused:

bit like half these new jeeps being advertised as trail rated.....:rolleye0012:

[Carves]

Apologies to dusty88 for cluttering up his thread .. :o




Uh, aren't these things advertised as a bull bar? :confused:


Its all down to interpretation and the eye of the beholder I guess.


... or maybe coz I'm an old fart that ignores "advertising", but ......

BullBar ....

http://archives.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/12/13/lifetravel/f_18scott.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/carves-oz/RedToy01.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/carves-oz/Troopy01.jpg


And ... RooBar ... For bouncing skippys away from the radiator ... not pulling roadtrains out of bogholes .. ;);)

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/carves-oz/250411-5702.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n629/carves-oz/100_337101a_zps21c8f34a.jpg

http://www.rocky-road.com/media/xjflare1.jpg


IMHO the ARB is just a good RooBar .... and I would have one tomorrow ... If I could get one for the dollar value I think they worth.

... certainly better than the aluminium ones I use ... and choose to - for the weight savings.

The other thing to remember is that ... Down here, in recent years, all the bars have to be pedestrian friendly and not adversely affect vehicle body crumple rates/airbags operation ... which limits how big a bull - your bullbar can protect you from.

... some legislation is all a load of bull, I think .. ;);) .. :D

[dusty88]

No worries carves.

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[nickyg]

when some drongo does a bad recovery.

Hey Carves, Help us guys in the states out. What exactly is a drongo?

Never mind. I just Googled it and found this.

[cantab27]

lol..........

[Carves]

:smiley-laughing021:

[cantab27]

Just going that bit further in showing how hard to hook to arb bar in a puddle ... No no don't thank me tis what I do

[Carves]

Uh, aren't these things advertised as a bull bar? :confused:


another "bull bar" for you.

This one comes with a handy hook ... for grabbing wayward pedestrians and bicyclists ... to stop 'em going under the vehicle - when they blindly wander in front of you. ;);) .. :D


http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachments/toyota-land-cruiser/78629d1060502936-fj40-buffalo-catcher-buff2.jpg


.... amazing ... a person googles, Canberra, Museum, Bull Buggy ... and ends up on Pirate4x4 .. :rolleyes: .. :D:D