D3 Bull Bar

[rovers1952]

Just has an ARB Unit fitted ... professionally by a well known local outlet.
A few comments. It's a 5 to 6 hour job, not something DIY friendly.
If mounting aerials in the pre-drilled holes in wings of the main bar frame, make sure they are fitted before the bar is mounted. It is a nightmare accessing behind ther bar after installation because of accompanying bash plates and synthetic splash covers. Same obstacle if one needs to service the bar indicator lights.
These installers incorrectly wired the relay for the indicators:mad: and I waited for and hour and a half upon collection whilst they diagnosed and fixed their error!!!!!

[WhiteD3]

Pics?

How'd you go for recovery points?

[PCH]

Pics?

How'd you go for recovery points?

The BB doesn't have any as such. The factory recovery point is fully exposed once the BB is fitted.

BTW, dropping off the guards is not such a big deal if you have a socket and ratchet handy. I've had to do it quite afew times to fix blown parking light bulbs in the BB.

Chris

[Tote]

You'd reckon ARB would just fit LED indicators rather than a relay and normal ones wouldn't you.
Regards,
Tote

[WhiteD3]

The factory recovery point is fully exposed once the BB is fitted.

The consensus here is that the front recovery point is not a snatching point (although I've used it a couple of times), merely a tie down or winch point for a tilt tray recovery.

Hence my question re the BB having one.

[rovers1952]

thanks for the feed back.... I wouldn't want to use the factory tie down loop either and would happily take advice on where to locate a snatching point.
In my old D1, I drilled two holes through the chassis & bar and mounted a hook with high tensile bolts. Not so sure on the one cos I don't know the chassis strength there. Also, as a "show special" I got free colour matching.
So I now have a near new D3 bumper for sale.,...Zermatt Silver!!!!
...and yep...will put up pics soon...after UHF whip (6db gain) and phone broomstick mounted.

[CaverD3]

The one in the centre of front cross member is not tie down point it is a towing point.
However LR cover their butts:

From the maunual.
WARNINGS
The towing points at the front and rear
of the vehicle are designed for on-road
vehicle recovery purposes only and must not
be used to tow a trailer or caravan.
Use of the towing points for purposes
other than their designed intention
could result in damage or injury.
E80776

It is a lot more secure than the Pootrols rear recovery point and no one has had any issues snatching from it.

The rear one is covered by the same caveat anf it is a part of the cast section welded to the chassis.:o

[Bushwanderer]

Hi All,
I'm with CaverD3 in that I think that the front & rear recovery points are exactly that.

Re the rear recovery point, Mitchell Bros would seem to agree with me (as has their engineer) as their towbar hitch receiver is rated to 350kg download & 3500kg tow weight while using the factory rear recovery eye as a mounting point.

Best Wishes,

[Brick]

I have my D3 booked in for a new front ARB bar in a couple of weeks. When booking I enquired as to whether the bar included rated recovery points. Was advised they do not. The installer will have a look during installation as provide some feedback as to options. Used the front tie down point for a light tug last weekend on the WA AULRO trip, however looking for something a little stronger.

Also, FYI, the fog lights in the bar are ARB lights not the factory lights that are fitted to the standard bumper.

[CaverD3]

Not tie down point.
It is a towing eye according to the manual. LR just won't call it an off road recovery eye.

[PCH]

Also, FYI, the fog lights in the bar are ARB lights not the factory lights that are fitted to the standard bumper.

I think you will find that the fog lights are the factory lights. Well mine are.

Chris

[CaverD3]

That's interesting, I had assumed they were LR ones put back in. I got the orig bumper back, fog light cowlings but no lights.
My fogs are actually foggy, was going to claim from LR before warrany went but I bet ARB have only one years.:(

[Bushwanderer]

Hi CaverD3,
I suspect that you are right that the foglights fitted to the ARB BB are the LR lights. In my case, I didn't have LR foglights & when the ARB BB was fitted, I still have no foglights.

Best Wishes,

[bigmac]

They put the LR lights back in mine when the BB was fitted.
the only thing I don't like with the ARB BB on mine is the cable ties
holding the plastic under the guards

[rovers1952]

Hmmmm...I got a cable tie too...only on LHS. Suspect it is to prevent a self tapper puncturing the washer reservoir.

[Jamo]

I've used the front eye for both snatching and winching with no problem.

My fog lights are the LR ones.

[rovers1952]

...as requested. Won't stay this clean for long!!!!

[Bushwanderer]

Hi Rovers1952,
Is that an ARB Northside sticker on your bar? They fitted mine & w/o cable ties (although mine is a non-winch bar).

Best Wishes,

[rovers1952]

If that is Artarmon, then yes. But they used a cable tie where the washer reservoir is...and have apparently punctured it with a self tapper precisely where the cable tie hole is. Mine is not a winch bar either.

[Bushwanderer]

If that is Artarmon, then yes. But they used a cable tie where the washer reservoir is...and have apparently punctured it with a self tapper precisely where the cable tie hole is. Mine is not a winch bar either.

Hi rovers1952,
Yes, they are at Artarmon & it sounds like they have "stuffed up". If you don't receive satisfaction, advise this forum & I am confident that we will get it right.

Best of Luck,

[Bushwanderer]

I have my D3 booked in for a new front ARB bar in a couple of weeks. When booking I enquired as to whether the bar included rated recovery points. Was advised they do not. The installer will have a look during installation as provide some feedback as to options. Used the front tie down point for a light tug last weekend on the WA AULRO trip, however looking for something a little stronger.

Also, FYI, the fog lights in the bar are ARB lights not the factory lights that are fitted to the standard bumper.

Hi Brick,
Others may correct me, but I think that cars with SRS are unlikely to have tow points on the bull bars. The D3 his a front "tow point" (recovery hitch?). However, I am sure that the suppliers will find a chassis mount option in order to "take your money". :o

Best Wishes,

[rovers1952]

Thanks Bushwanderer. They repaired the washer reservoir with a rubber plug & silicone. But with that and other issues, I have a strong opinion/impression of this outfit, and probably inappropriate to vent here. Had the 24k service at Trivetts last Fri, (nearly $900 but included hire car and wheel align)and they found a BB parklight globe blown and replaced it at their labour rates!!! Bar was only fitted last Tues. Anyway the job is complete and I am not going to create any more grief now. Leaving for Kimberleys on Monday next week.

[PCH]

Thanks Bushwanderer. They repaired the washer reservoir with a rubber plug & silicone. But with that and other issues, I have a strong opinion/impression of this outfit, and probably inappropriate to vent here. Had the 24k service at Trivetts last Fri, (nearly $900 but included hire car and wheel align)and they found a BB parklight globe blown and replaced it at their labour rates!!! Bar was only fitted last Tues. Anyway the job is complete and I am not going to create any more grief now. Leaving for Kimberleys on Monday next week.

Two similarities I had after my ARB BB was fitted.

1. The washer bottle was butchered by the installers (they hacked the plastic mounting off because it didn't align with the metal braket ARB supply in the kit. The bottle was jammed in by the bracket :mad:. Eventually the BB wore a hole in the bottle at the lowest point and it leaked out all the water on my trip to the Flinders Ranges last year. I bought a new bottle frm LR for $110 and reftted it myself and all the parts aligned properly - no hacking required. Installer quality is pretty rough at the ARB store I went to.

2. I've blown the 5W parking light bulbs in the BB numerous times and I changed them to a better quaslity globe without much luck. I've tried different brands and using Hansa now and they haven't blown for a few months.

Chris

[CaverD3]

I noticed the washer bottle issue on mine befor it wore through. I putv some epoxy putty between the bar and the bottle.
Globes blown but haven't bothered replacing.

[Bushwanderer]

Hmmm,
Obviously "one more" thing for me to check.

Best Wishes,

[Desert Traveller]

The ARB franchises around the country don't offer a common level of workmanship. Need to shop around or let them known that you maybe looking at another expensive ARB product in the near future. They try harder then.