ARB Deluxe bullbar fails again

I wonder why so far no mention of a way of considerably reducing the tendency of bars to twist back when impact occurs high up. ie Tubular stays from at least two thirds of the way up the side posts with the other ends connected to outriggers just in front of the doors on each side. These can continue back as part of side steps to spread rearward load from any impact on more outriggers from chassis. I presumed ARB has made some of them on other types of vehicles but so far probably have not made any of the ones seen on a Defender.


The weak point with this setup is something that should be relatively easy to fix after a very heavy impact and before it bends outriggers. ie The bend downwards after the stay has passed behind the wheel, where it should be above the guard cutout. Meanwhile it makes the bullbar far less likely to bend back from the chassis area when the top bar takes a strong hit from eg a cow or a big roo.

Agree in part.

A cow won't make a difference - your front end is gone!

If the bar had been fitted properly it wouldn't have moved. That's just a bad install..

Yep, that's the way I'm thinking, but not sure if I will use that location again as a brace, or plate that section and use a new hole. I've got no issues welding the chassis, as that top section is bloody thin, whereas the bottom section of chassis is double plated. In any case, I'm really leaning towards fitting up an old style commercial bar with some new bracing bolts, then bolted up fully to the TJM scrub bars that are already fitted..

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Originally Posted by mox

I wonder why so far no mention of a way of considerably reducing the tendency of bars to twist back when impact occurs high up. ie Tubular stays from at least two thirds of the way up the side posts with the other ends connected to outriggers just in front of the doors on each side. These can continue back as part of side steps to spread rearward load from any impact on more outriggers from chassis. I presumed ARB has made some of them on other types of vehicles but so far probably have not made any of the ones seen on a Defender.


The weak point with this setup is something that should be relatively easy to fix after a very heavy impact and before it bends outriggers. ie The bend downwards after the stay has passed behind the wheel, where it should be above the guard cutout. Meanwhile it makes the bullbar far less likely to bend back from the chassis area when the top bar takes a strong hit from eg a cow or a big roo.

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The impact on the last 2 occasions was down low, around the number plate height, so any rolling action of the bar simply shouldn't have happened. Bad install is the issue which possibly wouldn't have showed up in 90% of cases but given what I expect of this ute and its accessories as a work vehicle then it's pretty annoying..

Someone on this forum has made HD spacers to push the new model ARB bar forward - looked good...can't find the thread sorry.

Shocking how elongated those holes are! I wonder if anyone else has had that happen? Could it be your new chassis? ...interesting that you say your other two vehicles have had no troubles and many roo strikes...same ARB bar or older type?

I feel for you Summit, hope you get it sorted ok.

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

Someone on this forum has made HD spacers to push the new model ARB bar forward - looked good...can't find the thread sorry.

Shocking how elongated those holes are! I wonder if anyone else has had that happen? Could it be your new chassis? ...interesting that you say your other two vehicles have had no troubles and many roo strikes...same ARB bar or older type?

I feel for you Summit, hope you get it sorted ok.

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I'd be keen on these spacers too!

Just got the bar back on, after looking at my other/non puma Defenders, I decided to bolt the top horizontal bolt right thru the chassis with a 45mm crush tube that I machined up to be a snug fit on a 10mm bolt (8.8grade), then welded a 4mm plate on the outside of the chassis to take up the gap difference between the top of the chassis and the bottom. The bolt passes right through the chassis now instead of just one wall.
These deluxe bars are a really poor design in terms of fitment. They provide too much room for adjustments and not enough strength in the chassis adapters.
Anyway the next Animal strike is only a matter of time away so I will hold my breath that I've sorted things out