ARB bullbar on V8

[Garry]

Hi

Has anyone fitted a bullbar on the V8?

My car is at ARB now to get one fitted but they say it cant be done not without major modifications to various engine and air con components.

Im not happy had all the other pieces ordered too like the winch kaymar rear bar and long ranger tank.

I think I will still get the rear end done bot dont want it to look only half done if you know what I mean.

Is there any other options for the front end that any one knows of?

Your input would be greatly appreciated

G

[Bushwanderer]

Sorry Garry, I've not heard of this. The ARB bar fitted fine to the TDV6 (however the fitting charge was 2x that for most LRs).

[Neil P]

This guy has a V8 ARB

DISCO3.CO.UK - Viewing profile (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/member3095.html)

PM him

[Jamo]

Haven't seen a V8 but it doesn't sound right to me. The bar sits forward of all that stuff.

[rmp]

The D3 bar fitment requires relocation of some accessories such as the water washer bottle which was in the front guard. It is entirely possible these are different in the various engine models.

However, the ARB catalogue does not specify TDV6 only so that means it should fit other models too.

[Garry]

TJM do one that fits, type 15 so have ordered that one.

The things we have to do eh!

G

[Danny01]

Hi Garry

Had a ARB bar fitted to my V8 about 6 months ago at ARB in Welshpool, Perth. Had no such problems.

Danny

[Garry]

Seems your not the only one with concern over my local ARB's stores explanation

The plot thickens

RMP Do your stuff

G

[rmp]

Confirmed today with ARB HQ the ARB Discovery 3 bar is designed for, and will fit the TDV6, V8 and V6 D3s. Final and complete answer.

[Garry]

Well!

After our conversation Robert I phoned Andrew and my local "reginal store" both agreed that the bar would fit with no problems.

Somewhat baffled at my stores decision I drove up there for a face to face explanation.

Again he tried to describe to me the problems involved in the fitment and the moving of the air con pipework.

I think it was my disbelief and the untrusting look on my face that convinced him I was right for him to show me the problem, the black and white photograph of the diesel model just didnt cut it.

30 minutes later the shiny bit of my bumper was on the garage floor just leaving the steel bar and brackets, thats when he showed me the condenser, now yes it sits proud of the radiator but not much, the problem apparently lies where the bracket bolts on to the car, now im no expert but Im sure ARB would have used the same footprint for thiers? again no expert.

The worry is thet the bracket will rub the condenser just like my original landrover one is doing right now, well its only just marginal.

As the bumper was all but off the helpful mechanic said lets remove the landrover bracket and see if the ARB bracketfits, now why didnt I think of that. (_o_)

So tomorrow will tell, as might the email ARB is planning to send out to all thier stores not to sell these bars for V8's, I cause a stir again with another firm that we expect to know better.

I have a picture of said condenser on my phone but my bluetooth is not playing tonight.

I will keep you informed

G

[Garry]

Well it seems I stand erected

It doesnt fit!

They had the original bumper off and I personally held up the bracket to the bolt holes and it doesnt go. If the bracket was 6mm smaller it would have went on but it quite clearly hits the condenser.

Not sure if its the winch bar or non winch bar everyone else has been fitted with, ARB and myself both agreed not to alter the bracket as we both dont want the bracket to fail half way up the hill im winching myself up.

I appologised to the helpful ARB man and thanked him for his conviction and his ability to suffer idiots.

The TJM one is now ordered, different part number for the petrol and diesel, so im hopeful.

I did however get the kaymar rear bar and the long ranger fuel tank fitted, its looking good.

G

[Neil P]

This is quite a tale :o

Maybe worth posting on all the sites you're with Garry.

As you will be aware , nearly all US models are V8's and many
guys over there have ARB . I wonder what the go is there ?

What did that whole rear end set you back ...... three grand ?

[rmp]

Yes, an interesting tale. Given there are certainly V8 D3s with the ARB bar, then either these have been badly fitted, the bracket has been modified, or the D3 front end has changed since the bar was created, or there's a difference between winch and non-winch bars.

[Garry]

That might be the question!

How did ARB fit the Winch bar to any V8, If it’s the winch bar that was fitted to these V8's, we need clarification.

As a time served Instrument Mechanic I’m not unaccustomed to workshops and I know it would never have fitted without modification to the bracket or aircon system.

Any V8 owners out there with the winch bar please send in your story.

Like I said my hat comes off to the ARB man with the knowledge of this particular bar but Im disappointed that I can phone three other branches and they tell me otherwise, where does the problem lie?

I will of course send a letter to ARB about this particular man to thank him and his conviction; he did of course prove me wrong at ARBs expense.

I am however disappointed at the man who filled up my petrol tank with the 91 octane fuel when it quite clearly states premium only on the fuel filler lid, my disgust was noted by the salesman, again another apology.

So was I happy with the turn out?

I think so, when you meet someone who knows the product it makes all the difference, like he said these people are just sales men, just like the one who sold me the bar in the first place, why was this information not available to him? He worked in the same store, quite possibly shared a beer on the weekend. They sell products with the information in front of them, might not be his fault he couldn’t remember this one V8 two to three years ago that they couldn’t fit a bar to.

I know I forget stuff and am certainly not blemish free, we can only do what we can do.

Will I go back to this store?

Well I do need a dog guard for the new Freelander I bought my wife today when I popped in to get the $7.05 battery clamp for my second battery in the D3.

Well off to bed to get some rest, I’m serving beer all day tomorrow at the Queensland pipe band championships in Ipswich Qld, if anyone’s interested, mention this thread and I will buy you a beer, cant say fairer than that, I’m the one in the blue Kilt quite possibly telling everyone I love them (free beer to the barmen why else would i volunteer):wasntme:

ps The bar, tank, the wrong go-go juice and XDC9500 was 8k the TJM bar and fitment of the winch brings it to just over 10, just need the wheels now, but will be next week now

G

[Leo]

A strange issue - there are quite a few pics on US forums of V8 D3s that have ARB bars - winch and non-winch. :confused:

[daveyb]

Garry - this sounds VERY odd. No one in the States has this issue that I know of. Install was straightforward to my knowledge. Not one word was mentioned regarding the relocation of essential components. 06 V8 w/ winch -
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/1307.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/1308.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/06/1309.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/02/772.jpg

[Garry]

Cant be sure from the pic but they look like 18" tyres so not the V8

G

[Jamo]

18" will fit the D3 V8. It's 17" that won't.

[rmp]

Those look like 17s because they are oversize, I expect 32-33".

[daveyb]

18's. 285/65/18 Nitto Terra Grappler. The Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac's are making a BIG hit over here in the States. Goodyear Tires | SUV and Truck Tires | Wrangler DuraTrac (http://www.goodyeartires.com/goodyeartireselector/display_tire.jsp?prodline=Wrangler%20DuraTrac&mrktarea=Light%20Truck#technology)
The 275/65/18 looks amazing when installed. The website does not do this tire any justice as far as looks go. I can't wait to upgrade to this tire!

[Neil P]

:) Nice

[Leo]

Cant be sure from the pic but they look like 18" tyres so not the V8

G

18" is std on V8s in the US.

[Garry]

Well got the TJM bar and warn winch fitted yesterday and the car windows tinted today and is looking good :)

Will post some pics tomorrow

G

[Neil P]

Can the winch be removed for service without taking the
TJM bar off , or is it like the ARB design ?

[Garry]

Would you believe me if I told you I havent had time to look at it yet?

I have been in garages all week, if its not mine its for the wife.

I will have a good look this afternoon and take the pics

G

[AndrewM]

If the general opinion is that the ARB winch and non winch bars do fit the V8 unmodified, is there another explanation here?


Was there a manufacturing error on the bar itself?
How old is the vehicle and if not the original owner, has it been modified at the front in some way?
Has the vehicle ever had damage at the front that has been repaired?
Could an "extraction" at some time with a snatch strap or winch done some "realignment" that has affected the mountings?

Most of these are unlikely, but in the absence of an explanation are questions that should be asked.

[Garry]

Hi Andrew

Even before the tried fitting the bar they told me it would not fit.

Its a 2005 and no not the original owner, but the vehicle was stock standard when I bought it and to my knowledge never modified or been off road for that matter.

The fact that they knew it wouldnt fit rules out the damage or realigment question i think.

Anyway I now have the TJM bar fitted and I can see the bracket that was the problem on the ARB one and Its well clear of the condenser.

Heres a few pics of the work done.

G

[rmp]

Nice, good touring setup now, or on the way there. The TJM bar doesn't look too bad at all. I am told that with oversize tyres there are clearance problems at lock in access mode, seen someone take an angle grinder to his to modify it.

[Garry]

Can the winch be removed for service without taking the
TJM bar off , or is it like the ARB design ?

Neil

There is a fair amount of space there but I think the bar will have to come off

G

[Leo]

How are you finding the Pirelli ATRs?

[chuck]

Neil

What size & brand tyres are they?

Thanks

Chuck

[Garry]

255-55-19 Scorpion ATRs much cheaper than the road versions $430 each

and the 200ks ive done with them very good and quiet

G

[Dingmark Jim]

The ARB bullbar plot can only get thicker....
I am indeed the person who got an ARB winch bullbar on my V8 D3. The D3 was run into by a Hilux and his insurer got me a new radiator, bonnet, headlight (all in all about $13k for the parts:eek:). I asked, and was told that it would be about $50 cheaper to put on an ARB bullbar and a winch, than to install new LR original equipment. This was all signed off by ARB, my insurer, Landrover (imagine the time it took to get all them to agree on things). Mine is a Jan 05 build. The winscreen washer bottle had to be "adjusted" into place but then again everything was being rebuilt. I've had the bar nearly 2 years and absolutely no problem. This included a very heavy winch pull of a stuck Landcruiser + trailer. If anyone's more interested who is Perth based, I guess I can track down the name of the installer (someone separate to ARB since it was done in the smash repairers yard and it was a specialist he used).

[rmp]

Fact is there are hundreds of V8s with ARB bars. I don't know what went wrong with Garry's. The washer bottle relocation is standard to all models.

[Garry]

Have a look at the bracket on the drivers side, you should see the bracket and condenser (my problem). The water bottle was never even mentioned.

Is the condenser bigger on models with rear air? Im not sure, maybe someone out there can answer

G

[Dingmark Jim]

Since the V8 doesn't have the intercooler, I can't imagine how a bigger a/c condenser would be an issue....

[sniegy]

I agree with Robert (rmp), I really dont know why the bar did not fit. I too have seen many V8's fitted with a bullbar. Even a good friend of mine just recently fitted an ARB bar to his 05 V8 HSE. He has owned & serviced it with us since new when he purchased it. He waited till his warranty lapsed & then went full steam ahead on fitting as many accessories as he can, gone from a cruisy on road HSE...to a fully tricked off road beast.
Not bad for a 100k initial purchase....:eek:

Cheers

[Garry]

Hi Sniegy

Like I said in a previous post I held the bracket up and it was touching the condenser, ARB said I would have to modify the air con (not an option).

Maybe some pics of the ARB bull bar bracket might clear up this story.

The ARB bracket would hve rubbed up and down the entire length of the condenser. I have attached a pic of the TJM one for reference.

TJM have two fitment options, one for the V8 and one for the diesel, it appears they know there is a differance.

G

[puddlejumper]

Hi every one, new to your forum.
Garry, it looks like i will be going down the same road as you, (2005 D3 V8 HSE) bought last month. Went to the Penrith show today ready to buy ARB winch bar. ARB salesman said "all good" but when he looked in his price catalogue, the wording was "D3 diesel only". He and others looked genually surprised. He said he would ring head office monday and get back to me.
Also people, I am thinking of buying a tigerz11 12000lb winch with rope not cable for 799 delivered. I have not heard of any bad reports unless you have.
So it looks like TJM for me as well Garry. Are you happy with your bar? Will the 12000lb fit? Lastly, thank you all in advance

[puddlejumper]

Hi every one, new to your forum.
Garry, it looks like i will be going down the same road as you, (2005 D3 V8 HSE) bought last month. Went to the Penrith show today ready to buy ARB winch bar. ARB salesman said "all good" but when he looked in his price catalogue, the wording was "D3 diesel only". He and others looked genuinely surprised. He said he would ring head office monday and get back to me.
Also people, I am thinking of buying a tigerz11 12000lb winch with rope not cable for 799 delivered. I have not heard of any bad reports unless you have.
So it looks like TJM for me as well Garry. Are you happy with your bar? Will the 12000lb fit? Lastly, thank you all in advance

[rmp]

Have a read of this, by another Garry:

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - TJM bullbar (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic24781.html)

[puddlejumper]

thanks Robert. It's not all good news is it. Hopefully ARB have got their act together over the last few months. Wish me luck.

[djhampson]

I called ARB Coopers Plains for a quote today for a winch bar for the V6 SE and was told they don't do one anymore.

Gary from Westside 4x4 has installed the ARB bar on V6s before but he is contacting ARB R&D to find out what the issues are.

He said from memory that the AC condenser tight but not impossible.

Anyone else got a ARB bar on a v6?

[Remy]

Well it seems I stand erected

G

Isn't this taking "bar" talk a little far :o

[DiscoSaffa]

I called ARB Coopers Plains for a quote today for a winch bar for the V6 SE and was told they don't do one anymore.

Gary from Westside 4x4 has installed the ARB bar on V6s before but he is contacting ARB R&D to find out what the issues are.

He said from memory that the AC condenser tight but not impossible.

Anyone else got a ARB bar on a v6?

Sorry to revive an old thread but this is interesting...... Just had an ARB front bar fitted to my V6, nobody at ARB in Artarmon mentioned any issues...... the relocation of the washer bottle would explain why my "Washer Fluid Low" warning was on when I picked it up........

With respect to all the US V8's that have ARB, is it possible that the bar has been modified to suit the V8?

[Garry]

The foot print of the mounting bracket is physically to big to go on the existing Landrover support, I seen it with my own eyes.

If the bracket has been modified, does it impact on the safety rating?

Remember post some pics so we can see it

G

[Leo]

LR3 (Disco 3) V8 ARB front bar:

LAND ROVER PARTS - ARB WINCH BAR LR3 - SRS COMPATIBLE (http://www.roversnorth.com/store/p-7458-arb-winch-bar-lr3-srs-compatible.aspx)

Some photos of install: The Rovers North News Online (http://www.roversnorth.com/news/index.php/photo-gallery/album/72157618164323572/1st-descents-lrl-magazine-lr3-building-process.html)

[Garry]

Nice article

Cant see V8 mentioned but I have dropped them a line to see what they say

Again, I had ARB hold up the bracket on my V8 and it quite clearly didnt fit, I dont imagine mine is so different from all the rest, anyway Im happy with the TJM bar, I reckon it dents Toymotors and Pootrols just as good :wasntme:

G