Advice on Bull Bars for Defender 110 (MY12)

[Brad H]

Looking for some advice on type of BB to get. Do not need to have a winch as I do not want to put myself in that situation. I want to protect from roos etc. while outback and want to mount aerial and sand flags. Do not want to add uncessary weight.

What options have other considered? Do you really need one?

Thanks!

Brad :)

[Tombie]

The Roo protection bit means ARB or TJM style only ;)

[ezyrama]

Got the TJM as I found the ARB sat tooooooo close to the grille for my liking.
looks good and everything mounts well on it.

[MIDDO]

Agree with ezyrama, I have a TJM bar, looks the goods. I have the winch bar, although I have not mounted a winch and it still looks great. My large spotties and aerial fit well. I also got the scrub bars and side steps from TJM too. MIDDO

[ATH]

So you took my advice and came over from Exploroz to ask the question Brad.
You won't regret it as there's heaps of info and plenty of people who'll answer any query you may have concerning every Landy ever made!
AlanH.

[isuzurover]

Grover69 on here makes excellent custom bars:
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/grover1969/perentiebar8.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/03/412.jpg

[alittlebitconcerned]

The older ARB bar is great and sits out further than the newer vetsion. The newer version sits too close imho

[spudboy]

Go steel.

Seen a few Aluminium bars that argued with a roo and they never seem to give great protection.

[Summiitt]

Currently running three defender tray tops for work use, 2 have arb bars one has tjm, all my utes are doing forestry work and would hit 2-5 kangaroos a week, normally at speed ( 60+kmh) have never had an issue with either brands and personally after a mate hitting an emu last yr near yunta in his 3week old 200 series and it being towed back to Canberra with 18k worth of damage, will never go bush without one. The defenders will handle a bar and winch without any suspension upgrades no worrys...good peace of mind..

[NT5224]

Hi Brad

Going bush you'll need a tough steel bar to protect your investment.

Either ARB or TJM will do the job. But be warned -the current style bar ARB are fitting to Defenders is not the straight bar shown online or in their brochures, its an ugly bar with swept back sides that looks like the one they fit to Prados and SUVs. They fitted one to Hector and I hate the way it looks. Spoils the iconic looks of the Land Rover.

Check TJM first to see if they still do the straight bar to match the flat front of your Land Rover.

Cheers

Alan

[ProjectDirector]

Hi

New to this forum and now a new 110 is coming I thought it makes sense to join.
I have been driving hilux for years and always wanted a new defender, this year made the decision and ordered one from LR at Port Melbourne due in May. I have a couple of questions on ARB/TJM bullbar and aux tank/replacement tank which puzzle me now.
I looked at some photos on both and I want to find out from anyone that has these if the approach angle is reduced by the bar and also the ground clearance is reduced by the aux or replacement tank.

I dont want to be picky but the defender is well known for its great ground clearances and dont want to compromise.

Any advice will be appreciated.

.

[Jondavball]

I am going through the same process at the moment and was wondering what peoples thoughts on the Rovacraft Land Rover Defender Tubular Winch Bar were? I like the minimal look of it but not sure it would provide enough protection. Does anyone have one and are they happy with it?

[ProjectDirector]

I am going through the same process at the moment and was wondering what peoples thoughts on the Rovacraft Land Rover Defender Tubular Winch Bar were? I like the minimal look of it but not sure it would provide enough protection. Does anyone have one and are they happy with it?

I had my eyes on that rovacraft bar too, but it doesn't provide any protection to the wheel fenders and also I don't know if it is ADR approved for insurance reasons. I also looked at the XROX but didn't warm to the look.
I suppose the ARB bar can provide roo protection but the rovacraft will only provide protection in centre.
If I don't lose the approach angle on ARB I will go for it.

Cheers

[BlueWagon]

Hi Brad

Going bush you'll need a tough steel bar to protect your investment.

Either ARB or TJM will do the job. But be warned -the current style bar ARB are fitting to Defenders is not the straight bar shown online or in their brochures, its an ugly bar with swept back sides that looks like the one they fit to Prados and SUVs. They fitted one to Hector and I hate the way it looks. Spoils the iconic looks of the Land Rover.

Check TJM first to see if they still do the straight bar to match the flat front of your Land Rover.

Cheers

Alan

I have just had a new ARB bar fitted to a MY13 Defender and think it looks better than the previous model on the MY09 Defender. The new bar has larger diameter tubing, better approach angle, smoother finish and a flatter frontage. It looks more solid (if that's possible!) and appears to have better airflow to the radiator.

Cheers
Mark

[n plus one]

I am going through the same process at the moment and was wondering what peoples thoughts on the Rovacraft Land Rover Defender Tubular Winch Bar were? I like the minimal look of it but not sure it would provide enough protection. Does anyone have one and are they happy with it?

I'll let you know next w/e - just ditched the ARB bar for a Rovercraft tubular.

I went through a bit of dilemma over this decision - weight savings, approach angle (and maybe a little bit of vanity) won out.

Was looking at the new ARB bar (I had the old style one) TBH, while its a nice piece of gear, I'm not entirely convinced it offers much more protection than the tubular bar in the event of a substantial roo hit - both will protect the raditator extremely well and are likely to fold at the wings if you cop a big hit (as is the case with pretty much most bars).

IMO the old style ARB is probably the best mainstream option for roos - it has great clearance between the bar and the truck (at the expense of approach angle) which allows for significant distortion of the bar before it hits the body work. Having said that, the new style ARB is a much nicer (i.e. intergrated) product for sure.

Personally, if I was after a full protection bar now, I'd be inclined to consider one of the Grover bars.

[ProjectDirector]

I'll let you know next w/e - just ditched the ARB bar for a Rovercraft tubular.

I went through a bit of dilemma over this decision - weight savings, approach angle (and maybe a little bit of vanity) won out.

Was looking at the new ARB bar (I had the old style one) TBH, while its a nice piece of gear, I'm not entirely convinced it offers much more protection than the tubular bar in the event of a substantial roo hit - both will protect the raditator extremely well and are likely to fold at the wings if you cop a big hit (as is the case with pretty much most bars).

IMO the old style ARB is probably the best mainstream option for roos - it has great clearance between the bar and the truck (at the expense of approach angle) which allows for significant distortion of the bar before it hits the body work. Having said that, the new style ARB is a much nicer (i.e. intergrated) product for sure.

Personally, if I was after a full protection bar now, I'd be inclined to consider one of the Grover bars.

Do you know if the rovacraft is ADR approved?

[MuzzyDelta90]

Going through the same process myself as I want to get a bar on the front of my MY12 D90. Got quotes from both TJM and ARB and both are similar ie $1400 to $1500 installed. However, ARB did mention that their bar won't fit the Limited Edition models with the SVX grill. That's how close the bar is to the front! I much prefer the TJM I think, and will book my car in for the fitting in March some time.
cheers
Andrew

[ProjectDirector]

Going through the same process myself as I want to get a bar on the front of my MY12 D90. Got quotes from both TJM and ARB and both are similar ie $1400 to $1500 installed. However, ARB did mention that their bar won't fit the Limited Edition models with the SVX grill. That's how close the bar is to the front! I much prefer the TJM I think, and will book my car in for the fitting in March some time.
cheers
Andrew

Do you know how clearance you would lose with the TJM bar?

[MuzzyDelta90]

Do you know how clearance you would lose with the TJM bar?

Judging by the photos that the TJM people sent with the email, it doesn't look like you would lose very much, but then unless you attack the front of your vehicle with a tape measure you won't really know.

[ProjectDirector]

Do you know if the rovacraft is ADR approved?

Just confirmed with Rovacraft in Melbourne and this Tubular bar is NOT ADR approved.

[Lagerfan]

Judging by the photos that the TJM people sent with the email...

Are you able to share those photos here? I've not had much luck on the TJM website searching for their Defender bars and would like to see 'em.

[Jondavball]

Just confirmed with Rovacraft in Melbourne and this Tubular bar is NOT ADR approved.


Being very unwise in the way of insurance, what does it mean to me if I fitted the Rovacraft bar and it is not ADR approved? If I hit a roo for instance does it mean insurance won't pay, even if the damage a less than it would be if the bar wasn't fitted? Or will they just not replace the bar?

[ProjectDirector]

Being very unwise in the way of insurance, what does it mean to me if I fitted the Rovacraft bar and it is not ADR approved? If I hit a roo for instance does it mean insurance won't pay, even if the damage a less than it would be if the bar wasn't fitted? Or will they just not replace the bar?

I suppose is my lack of trust of the insurances.

[Brad H]

Hi Guys,

I have posted the photos supplied by TJM office on the web site. I am very happy with the bar fitted a few weeks ago. Has good clearance from the body and the view from the front is straight, keeping a line close to the OEM bar fitted. It has two winch locations/options. I have not seen the new ARB bar, but based on the photo posted the bar is very close to the headlight panels. The TJM bar only weighs 50kgs which is small weight addition for the protection offered.

Cheers Brad

[ProjectDirector]

I suppose is my lack of trust of the insurances.

I just called Vicroads today and they basically said according to their Standards Information Bulletin, that any bull bar that is not ADR approved installed on a vehicle is deemed unroadworthy.
I think this ADR standard is a lot crap, we are very risk averse here in Australia and over governed unlike other countries.

I will go with the LR A-Frame winch bar and warn winch combo, it will serve my needs well.

[KarlB]

Being very unwise in the way of insurance, what does it mean to me if I fitted the Rovacraft bar and it is not ADR approved? If I hit a roo for instance does it mean insurance won't pay, even if the damage a less than it would be if the bar wasn't fitted? Or will they just not replace the bar?

I am not an expert on insurance, but you will find that almost all motor vehicle insurance policies require you to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy condition. If you don't, you have broken the 'contract'. They would be entitled not to pay. Worse than hitting a roo is hitting an expensive BMW, Porsche, etc. If you kill or permanently disable a pedestrian you could be in be in even bigger strife. Remember, you would be knowingly driving an unroadworthy vehicle. The chance of being caught would go up with the seriousness of any 'accident'. All too big a risk for me!

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Jondavball]

Thanks all. I guess the Rovacraft is off the menu then, so I will now look at the TJM or ARB.

[Alra]

Hi all,

I'm getting the ARB winch bar fitted to my new 110 on the 9th of April. A Smittybuilt X20 winch with rope will accompany it. Will try and get some photos of it up as soon as it gets back from the shop.

Cheers,

Danial.

[78RRman]

I've been looking at the terrafirma tube bars and also I think the basic winch bumper looks the part on the front of the defender, I really don't want to hide the front, it's too pretty to cover in steel. It looks too Toyota. In saying that I don't have to worry about roos all the time just the odd occasion and if that day comes, that's what full comprehensive insurance is for.

[MuzzyDelta90]

Guys,

Had a TJM steel bullbar installed on my My2012 D90 yesterday and it's great! Looks good and everything seems in order. Will post some pictures once I work out how to get pictures up on the AULRO forum. My beastie is black as is the bull bar so it all sort of fits together well, appearance wise. One thing I have noticed, is the when I use the blinkers, the little trailer picture on the dash also flashes along with the blinker light, whereas previously it only used to flash once on the first blink. All the blinkers are working correctly, so I am guessing that with the wiring up of the additional blinker lights on the bullbar, the wiring system thinks there is a trailer connected. Has anyone else experienced this? But I am really happy, can't wait to test the bar out now, will have to go out and find some pedestrians or a Hyundai!
cheers
Andrew

[schuy1]

Guys,

Had a TJM steel bullbar installed on my My2012 D90 yesterday and it's great! Looks good and everything seems in order. Will post some pictures once I work out how to get pictures up on the AULRO forum. My beastie is black as is the bull bar so it all sort of fits together well, appearance wise. One thing I have noticed, is the when I use the blinkers, the little trailer picture on the dash also flashes along with the blinker light, whereas previously it only used to flash once on the first blink. All the blinkers are working correctly, so I am guessing that with the wiring up of the additional blinker lights on the bullbar, the wiring system thinks there is a trailer connected. Has anyone else experienced this? But I am really happy, can't wait to test the bar out now, will have to go out and find some pedestrians or a Hyundai!
cheers
Andrew


Yes the bullbar lights now make the system think it has a trailer! :) Change the bulbs or complete units in the bar to L.E.D and problem solved!.

Cheers Scott

[juddy]

I've been looking at the terrafirma tube bars and also I think the basic winch bumper looks the part on the front of the defender, I really don't want to hide the front, it's too pretty to cover in steel. It looks too Toyota. In saying that I don't have to worry about roos all the time just the odd occasion and if that day comes, that's what full comprehensive insurance is for.

We sell the terrafirma bars but be warned there not ADR approved.

We offer a ADR approved bar that's very much like the terrafirma winch bar.

[ProjectDirector]

We sell the terrafirma bars but be warned there not ADR approved.

We offer a ADR approved bar that's very much like the terrafirma winch bar.

Any chance we can see some photos? I am going to put the LR a-frame winch bar but i prefer to get ADR approved winch bar that doesn't cover the whole front

[Tombie]

Yes the bullbar lights now make the system think it has a trailer! :) Change the bulbs or complete units in the bar to L.E.D and problem solved!.

Cheers Scott

Or fit lower wattage bulbs in aux indicators

[schuy1]

I found with my 96 model the flasher unit is very sensitive to extra load. I could not get any incandesent low enough to stop it, but the leds did. I see also that there is an adjustable flasher unit available for rovers now

Cheers Scott

[78RRman]

We sell the terrafirma bars but be warned there not ADR approved.

We offer a ADR approved bar that's very much like the terrafirma winch bar.

Is that both the terrafirma tube bar and the one that looks like the original bumper with the spot for the winch that are not ADR approved

[c.h.i.e.f]

Grover69 on here makes excellent custom bars:
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/grover1969/perentiebar8.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/03/412.jpg

Hey Ben have you got anymore info or pics of these bars ? they look mint...

[Sue]

Hey Ben have you got anymore info or pics of these bars ? they look mint...

Try here... this is Grover's business.. :) http://outcastoffroad.com.au/wp/wordpress/

I only know because I was looking for a custom made bar a while ago and would have gotten one of these but my hubby came to the rescue and is making me one.. :)