Thread: Defender Bullbars - Pros & Cons

Big vote from me for a bull bar - after a T-bone vs a new BMW on Tuesday (not my fault).

Managed to bend the left wing of the bar (ARB Bull bar) back onto the body, but my 130 was (essentially) still drive-able. "Essentially" as I wasn't carrying a spare, and the alloy rim got bent.

Everyone was OK, but the relative damage made me glad I had the bull bar - even if it wasn't the intended purpose.

Anything less, and "Spencer" would have been a mangle.

When I get home on the comp, I have more pics to add to this, but here is a pic of my TJM I've just fitted

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment...camera-043.jpg

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here..

Originally Posted by Sue

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here..

Hi Sue,

I used an old style ARB and had the bottom bars removed, just above the head light.



The issue is only that the driving lights are in line with the bottom bar work. With the new style the bull bar sits to far back and actually hits the head light surrounds.

If I had my time over I would use the TerraFirma winch/tube bar and have it modified by Mulgo to suit.

Originally Posted by Sue

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here..

Bars from the UK are easy,I have a winch bumper only,I have hit one roo in 20 years and I don't want the wieght up front,bumper with synthetic rope on the winch. Pat

Originally Posted by Sue

I like your Benz.. sadly for me neither the ARB or the TJM bars will fit my Defender.. I've been in to see them both and tried.. it's something to do with the lights being different (although to my girly mind I can't see how that is a problem).. I have to order mine from the UK or get a custom made one here..

Grover on here makes custom bullbars for less than ARB charge.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Grover on here makes custom bullbars for less than ARB charge.

Speaking of custom bars... does anyone know
1. How strong the Terrafirma bars are - I like them but am a little concerned how close to the body they sit, given how much the ARB one bent
2. Has anyone modified one to add loops to the top? - was it difficult?

T

The long story is that I use to work for a TJM store and sold heaps of ali bars, we also sold heaps to panel beaters as replacement afte animal stikes. I also sold heaps of steal bars to those that knew not to buy rubbish (could never work out why they bought tjm and not arb though??)

Steel bars are around 50kgs with out winch etc and probably will require a spring up grade as the front will drop a bit especially with a winch.

I had an ARB on the front of the 130 typical ARB style very practical and strong and well finished off, the bar must have been a late 90's model. When I bought the new Puma I ordered the ARB bar expecting the new shape and to my horrror got the old shape bar with extended brackets to make it clear the grill. Its a bit strange looking side on. The welding is poor and so is the powder coating- all in all though it is solid and does its job.

FYI most bars these days are made in Thailand with some comming out of China- or mine looks as though it was welded up in Burundi

thats my say
Cheers
Mal