new ARB bar. colour code or not? Now with other questions :)

[komaterpillar]

G'day everybody

So as the story goes, yesterday I was out havin a bit of fun in some washouts and bent the standard front bumper on the Defender. As seen here

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/422.jpg (http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/komaterpillar/media/IMAG0282_zps9367b420.jpg.html)

Now I've got permission from the wife to fit a front bar and I reckon i'm goin with an ARB job just for the wing/headlight protection even though in my opinion the various tube bars available have it all over the ARB bar in the looks and weight department, I think the ARB bar is the best out of a bad bunch when it comes to protection.

So my question is, on a Corris Grey vehicle should I go with the standard black that the ARB bars come in to break up the body colour a bit or get it colour coded to match/blend in on the car?
prices so far are $1320 for standard black supply only and $220 to colour code it.

what are everyone's thoughts?

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Corris grey is the new black, so leave the front bar black too :wasntme::angel::confused:

[laney]

ARB are a good bar I'd keep it black had the bar fitted to my disco2 from ARB in North Street they done a good job wish I got a winch bar now though.

[Russ]

Leave it black. The only colour coding needed is an even layer of dirt :D

[iClick]

I think the ARB bar is the best out of a bad bunch when it comes to protection.

If you end up going with the ARB, you might consider getting a spacer to position the bar a few mm out from the body. In my mind the bar is set way too close to the vehicle and if you have a collision that bends the bar at all, it will impact with the body.

I must admit that I miss the classic look of the Defenders front end when it's hidden behind all that metal :(

[newhue]

black, you don't drive a Jap show pony

[komaterpillar]

thanks for all the replies fullars

I'm just waiting on a few more quotes to come back(suprising how much price difference there is an the same product betweendifferent dealers) then I will probably be ordering a black one and save $200bucks on the colour coding


ARB are a good bar I'd keep it black had the bar fittedto my disco2 from ARB in North Street they done a good job wish I got a winchbar now though.

how'd ya go with ARB on north street? I've never dealt with them but I findgenerally with other businesses (including the purchase of thisdefender) its easier and cheaper to do the hour and a half drive to brissy.




I must admit that I miss the classic look of the Defenders front end whenit's hidden behind all that metal

Have to agree with you there.

But with cleaning up 1 decent roo potentially costing $950 in insuranceexcess I think the bar is going to be the cheaper option in the long run. I reckon it’s a case of picking the bestoption out of a bad situation.


black, you don't drive a Jap show pony

I reckon you hit the nail on the head there, that’s gold

[komaterpillar]

since i'm going with a winch bar but not a winch just yet. but will be going down that route some time soon. was thinking of eventually (about 6 months time) going with the 130 front springs standard 110 rear springs and 2 inch extended front and rear shocks (for flex) with spring relocation cones, do you reckon that will be adequate for the extra weight? or any other suggestions?

[n plus one]

Didn't vote as you don't have my option on there - I.e. get a tubular winch bar :p

But if you're set on an ARB, go black - it'll look better and be easier to sell when you come to your senses...

[komaterpillar]

Didn't vote as you don't have my option on there - I.e. get a tubular winch bar :p

But if you're set on an ARB, go black - it'll look better and be easier to sell when you come to your senses...

Haha mate as I said up the top, I'd love a tube bar, in my opinion they are the only style that suits the defender, but the first decent roo I hit and there'll be tears, and with a $950 insurance excess, I'm not keen on running the risk, I reckon the arb bar is the only other half decent looking option.
Function wins out over form in this case :(

And before anyone asks, in the Ute I had before the defender, I hit probably 15 decent roo's in the last 6 months 5 or 6 of wich would have ended in decent insurance claims if not for the front bar.

[iClick]

If you end up going with the ARB, you might consider getting a spacer to position the bar a few mm out from the body. In my mind the bar is set way too close to the vehicle and if you have a collision that bends the bar at all, it will impact with the body.


Here's some pics to illustrate how close the bar is mounted to the body on my truck. It's too close for my liking. ARB Bull Bar LR Defender (http://imgur.com/a/4kdxx)

[komaterpillar]

Here's some pics to illustrate how close the bar is mounted to the body on my truck. It's too close for my liking. ARB Bull Bar LR Defender (http://imgur.com/a/4kdxx)

Do you remember the ARB part number FOR that bar? I was talking to a bloke on the phone yesterday and he didn't sound to sure on wich bar was the correct one :eek:

[iClick]

Do you remember the ARB part number FOR that bar? I was talking to a bloke on the phone yesterday and he didn't sound to sure on wich bar was the correct one :eek:

For my 2011 defender 130 it was:
COMBAR DEFENDER 2009ON
3432300

[komaterpillar]

For my 2011 defender 130 it was:
COMBAR DEFENDER 2009ON
3432300

That's the go, that's what I got quoted for, cheers mate

[VladTepes]

The TJM bar sits further out.....

[GlennWA]

I have a colour coded ARB and I installed all 3 shims either side to get more room. I lile the colour coding to make it blend in, plus the better half didn't let me get black. Haven't got photos yet since installing it so must get on to it.

Install yourself and spend that money on colour coding. ;)

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app

[komaterpillar]

Install yourself and spend that money on colour coding. ;)


yeah no way i'm payin some random $150 bucks to slap a bullbar on :p

[komaterpillar]

**** me!!! Rang ARB yesterday to suss out bars, old mate on the phone says
"yeah mate 1 in stock in Brisbane, but we don't sell a lot so should be right"
just rang ARB to put a deposit on that bar and its gone!
Me, "No worries when are ya's makin some more?"
ARB, "yeah should be getting 5 more mid December just before chrissy"
Me, "yeah righto how about I get one of those?"
ARB, "nah mate Queensland's only getting 5 and we've got 11 people on the waiting list"
Me, ":censored::censored::censored: no worries mate thanks for your help"

So what do I do now? how staunch are the gaurds/front end of the defenders? reckon I can get away with just a tube winch bar and headlight gaurds?

[Leroy_Riding]

Haha mate as I said up the top, I'd love a tube bar, in my opinion they are the only style that suits the defender, but the first decent roo I hit and there'll be tears, and with a $950 insurance excess, I'm not keen on running the risk, I reckon the arb bar is the only other half decent looking option.
Function wins out over form in this case :(

And before anyone asks, in the Ute I had before the defender, I hit probably 15 decent roo's in the last 6 months 5 or 6 of wich would have ended in decent insurance claims if not for the front bar.

have you seen how close the ARB bar sits? you will be paying out $950 in excess all the same.

go get a TJM if you want the full bar.

my pick would be a tube bar and headlight guards.

Leroy

[komaterpillar]

Might just bite the bullet and go a tube bar.

[RVR110]

Might just bite the bullet and go a tube bar.I had a tubular winch bar but bitter experience proved that it didn't give me enough protection on the corners. I replaced it with an ARB bar which IMHO offers much better protection. I preferred the look of the tubular bar, but I've gotten used to the ARB bar and quite like the look of it now.

As Glenn mentioned, the ARB bars can be shimmed out. They come with shims but you can make up your own if you want and achieve your desired clearance. Side clearance can't be fixed by shims though.

[komaterpillar]

I'd have bought an ARB bar today, but they have no stock and the stock they have coming is already sold for atleast the next 5-6 months.

I gave Daniel at Expedition Centre a call this arvie, what a champion, I reckon he has nearly converted me to a rovacraft bar.

Also spoke to Opposite Lock Toowoomba about XROX bars. Dunno wether I like them or hate them, I think they look epic on the nissota's but just don't suit the defender :confused:

[n plus one]

I'd have bought an ARB bar today, but they have no stock and the stock they have coming is already sold for atleast the next 5-6 months.

I gave Daniel at Expedition Centre a call this arvie, what a champion, I reckon he has nearly converted me to a rovacraft bar.

Also spoke to Opposite Lock Toowoomba about XROX bars. Dunno wether I like them or hate them, I think they look epic on the nissota's but just don't suit the defender :confused:

I'm in the hate 'em club for the XROX - only for aesthetic reasons on a Defender though.

Rovacraft it is then eh? :D you can fit a dyneema-roped winch with the weight savings...

[Lagerfan]

Hey komaterpillar, you know LR are doing a bar of their own now in Aus, it's a bit pricey but give 'em a try if you want a full size bar. We ended up getting one as it is one of the only options for an LE, happy with it though it is a little old school.

There's a copy of the brochure and some discussion here: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/177180-new-bull-bar-lr.html

[komaterpillar]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/352.jpg (http://www.defender2.net/forum/report.php?p=284170)First up, thanks heaps to everyone in this thread for the discussion and advice received. its greatly appreciated.
Rang ARB head office today to find out the next production dates for there next runs on bars, the next 2 runs are already sold out https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/353.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/353.jpg So I got a quote from a freight company today to ship an ARB bar from Perth to the east coast - $1700 https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/354.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/354.jpg so that was the final straw for the ARB bar

Anyway so onwards we go and I have now ordered a Rovacraft bar from Daniel at Buy 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Accessories and Parts Online | Web Store | Expedition Centre Australia by Mulgo (http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au/) wich should be at my place next week some time. See how we go https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/355.jpg

thanks for all the input!