D2 Bar Choice

[Disco Muppet]

G'day All
Recently pick up an 01 discovery, stock standard
As i drive roughly 300 + highway kms each week, including at dusk, a good bar and lights are a high priority to defend against possible roos or the odd volvo driver!
I've been looking at the TJM type 15 steel bar, and the ARB D2 bar. Any thoughts on either one? I understand that the TJM bars have a habit of bending, whereas ARB bars can fend of roos with little damage. I'd be looking to fit it myself, to save $180 for fitting. TJM bars seem to come cheaper, however i figure its worth the extra $$$ for some piece of mind i won't have to replace it after a strike.
cheers
Disco Muppet

[John W]

I think you have made a good summary yourself. The ARB are a bit heavier and a little more robust. I seem to remember thinking that the TJM does not stick out quite as far in front as the ARB so would be a little better on approach. Either one though and you should get uprated springs to help the sag and improve approach angle.

[Disco Muppet]

Cheers john. any suggestions for the uprated suspension? would i need it just in the front or the rear as well?

[Franz]

G'day All
Recently pick up an 01 discovery, stock standard
As i drive roughly 300 + highway kms each week, including at dusk, a good bar and lights are a high priority to defend against possible roos or the odd volvo driver!
I've been looking at the TJM type 15 steel bar, and the ARB D2 bar. Any thoughts on either one? I understand that the TJM bars have a habit of bending, whereas ARB bars can fend of roos with little damage. I'd be looking to fit it myself, to save $180 for fitting. TJM bars seem to come cheaper, however i figure its worth the extra $$$ for some piece of mind i won't have to replace it after a strike.
cheers
Disco Muppet
My first D2 wore and ARB bar. It's very well made and very strong. What I didn't like was that it's deep (the round tubes are quite far from the body panels (if that makes sense) and it increases the overall length of the vehicle. Because the bar had an integrated winch mount it liked to rotate forwards on it's mounts and I was always adjusting it.

My current D2 has the T15 and I like the fact that the winch mount is separate from the bar and it's shallower than the ARB and reduces overall vehicle length. The downside of this is that the tubework sits closer to the panels and in the case of animal strike the chances of panel damage would be greater with the T15 (IMHO) It also rotates on its mounts and I have modified it by drilling out the mounting holes and using larger bolts.

Personally, I prefer the T15 but the ARB is probably stronger (and heavier).

Cheers,

Franz

[Gaudough]

I fitted an ARB winch bar to my D2a 6 mths ago. I fitted it myself and there are bolts that pin the brackets to the chassis and the bar to these brackets. If these pinning bolt holes are drilled as a neat fit there is no way the bar can rotate.

Regards. Gordo

Regards Gordo Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Disco Muppet]

Cheers guys! My only issue is i can only get a new ARB bar, and it will take a few months to come in, and be 1500. I can get a 2nd hand one, which seems fine, from Triumph Rover Spares down in SA for only $750...nice as it would be to wait and fork out the extra $ for the ARB bar, considering i need to spend around $2000 for new tires, transfer and rego, its becoming more appealing...Worth the wait and extra money do you think?

[Nicky]

Check to see if the second-hand ARB bar is bent!

[gusthedog]

Go second hand - recycling at work. If the powdercoating is in good nick just give it a polish and fit it up. If it needs repowdercoating, I believe the cost is reasonable. Then you'd have a virtually new bar with hardly any waiting! A new one probably wont look new for long anyways (unless you live in Toorak!):D

[Disco Muppet]

Sorry guys, i completely forgot to mention. It's a TJM bar for $750, and it looks fine, no bends, etc. They do get ARB bars in there, for around $1150 which is still pretty good.

[John W]

Cheers john. any suggestions for the uprated suspension? would i need it just in the front or the rear as well?

There are exhaustive threads on this topic but I went with king springs up front. It ended up with about 30mm lift with the bar. So far I have continued to use stock armstrong shocks up front they seem to cope with the extra 30mm quite OK. I continue to be quite happy with the front end.

I have the SLS up back. I added 30mm spaces from Tombie and in keeping with the front, used the 30mm sensor adjustors but could have used the 50mm ones for a total of 50mm lift up back but I am quite happy with the 30mm at this stage. My local (now insolvent) LR dealer recommended some monroe gas shocks but they seem to have clapped out quite quickly and I am still making my mind up between some terra firma extended ones and billies. I am really happy with this set up keeping in mind that I can push a button for an additional 40mm lift up back with the SLS.

As to comments about ARB bars rotating, I had my one put on at ARB Kilsyth within a couple of years of purchase and there is no movement at all even with the winch that I now have placed in it. I do agree as previously stated that ARB are worse for approach angle. My bar is thus over 10 yrs old now. I have had to grind out a little rust forming near the bumper pads but easy as to do that and then go over it with black paint.