Bullbar for TDV6

[mikeyboy]

Hi,

Just searching for some advice on bullbars for the disco. The LR bars look great, but ineffective for bush-bashing or kangaroos. In comparison, the ARB bars look like something out of Madmax, but effective. Any advice? Is it worth getting a winch installed at the same time?

Cheers,
Mike.

[RichardK]

I've used ARB winch bars for both my D3s, they are solid and not much more weight than the original front end assembly plus bits and pieces.

As for putting a winch in at the same time it really is a matter of affordability, if you want to do it and have the coin then it is easier to fit before putting the bar on, the instructions include winch fitting if required

I fitted my bar on last weekend together with the hydraulic winch

[amaruskanic]

Mike,
ARB make two kinds of bar - winch bar and none winch bar. If you decide you may want a winch in the future, just make sure you get the winch bar. Downside is you have holes in the bar until you add the winch.
Andrew

[Warrigal57]

Mike

I fitted a steel TJM bar 12 months ago in preparation for a Simpson trip. The bar looks good, fits well (mostly), the colour suits and the bar has done a good job in protecting the front end, but...

There were two issues:
1/ The bar is designed for a winch and as such had a large cavity where the winch would sit that exposed the intercooler and radiator. The size of the opening hadn't been evident from catalogue photos or the bars on display for other vehicles in the store.

I fitted a heavy plastic grill to the opening otherwise I could see a rock puncturing the radiator/intercooler on any sort of rocky road.

2/ The bar intruded excessively into the wheel wells and reduced clearance from the standard tyre to about 20mm.

A couple of days after buying the bar I fitted a second set of (larger 265/70) tyres and discovered that the tyres were now rubbing. I took the vehicle back to the TJM dealer but as the tyres were larger than standard he wasn't interested.

My view was/is that 20mm clearance off a standard tyre is not acceptable.

The dealer's response: "the R&D department will be interested!!!".

As I was leaving on the Simpson group trip in two days, and I wasn't going on the standard 'road' tyres, I ended up taking a grinder to the brand new bar. I cut 50- 60mm off the bar ends so that the bar ends matched the curve of the wheel arch. No problems since.

I was regretting the $1560 I paid for the bar until a recent Brisbane/Strezlecki track/Broken Hill trip when we unfortunately hit 2 two kangaroos at highway speed. The animals went under the vehicle and we suffered no damage other than a shattered driving light cover - so the bar paid for itself in avoiding damage and inconvenience.

I will be looking at an ARB bar for my next vehicle, dearer but I think better designed and you have the option of a bar with no winch cut-out.

In my opinion the TJM bar wasn't fit for purpose and shouldn't have been sold as is.

[djambalawa]

I've gone TJM for a few bars in the past because I thought they looked better - but was disappointed with various aspects of them... even the steel ones I had were a bit thin and weak... so I go ARB now too...

[gps-au]

I have always used ARB bars on my previous 4wd's. I am a bit hesitant this time though.

I always get the antenna tabs behind the top horizontal bar to mount some of my antennas. As these are behind the bar, its still legal. After examining a few mounted ARB bars, I have noted that if these tabs where fitted, the clearance to the bonnet/grill is virtually non existant, which makes me very hesitant about using ARB in this instance.

Unfortunately I haven't seen any other bars on a D3 yet, so maybe someone could post some pictures, particularly the area I'm interested in ?

[iannicki]

I hope to be picking up my new D3 S TDV6 next week, with an ECB alloy bar in black ripple finish. I'll post a picture.

[Graeme]

I'm wondering how long it will take ARB to modify the D3 bars to fit the D4.

[rob4play]

I went the ARB winch but without winch as unsure of carrying the extra weight full time versus times will use. Just had the number plate mounted over the hole where the winch would be. Very happy with the result.
Pic is at the top of Big Red a couple of weeks ago.

[amaruskanic]

I have noted that if these tabs where fitted, the clearance to the bonnet/grill is virtually non existant, which makes me very hesitant about using ARB in this instance.
?

The ARB bar fitted to my D3 does not have these tabs (D2 bar did). Aerial now mounts on the 'deck' of the bar to the outside of the headlight
http://www.conder-act.com/Images/IMG_0004.jpg

[TDV6]

My aerial is also on the lower main part of the ARB bar, not on a high mount tab.

Weight is about the same as what gets taken off and with the added bonus of a front protection plate underneath.

I got a winch bar so I could fit a winch later if I wanted and the hole has several layers of black plastic gutter guard ($2 from bunnings) to stop small birds and rocks but allow air flow which is important to me for towing the van.

Ryall

[Graeme]

I went the ARB winch but without winch as unsure of carrying the extra weight full time versus times will use.
Can the winch be fitted and removed without removing the bar?
I have a TJM bar on my D2 and made the winch removeable for the same reason.

[gps-au]

The ARB bar fitted to my D3 does not have these tabs (D2 bar did). Aerial now mounts on the 'deck' of the bar to the outside of the headlight

I know about the "deck" holes, and personally I don't like the idea. It forces a change of antenna type and radiation coverage. Also putting antennas on the "corners" can make them more susceptible to damage more often.

It appears that the antenna tabs are more option now, but is there enough room for them ?

[RichardK]

Can the winch be fitted and removed without removing the bar?
I have a TJM bar on my D2 and made the winch removeable for the same reason.

I removed mine from the ARB bar while it was on the old D3 a bit of a fiddle using blocks of wood to support the winch and ajacks with a length of timber to slide it on to but not hard. I fitted the winch to the bar before installing it on the new D3 though.

[Bushwanderer]

I have seen the TJM bar, and the antenna tabs are VERY close to the bonnet. It wouldn't take much of a knock (particularly as the TJM bars seem thinner/weaker (I'm happy to be corrected on this)) to suffer bonnet damage.

I have the ARB bar fitted to my D3 and I just changed the aerial (from the stubby S/S one on the D1 ARB bar) to a longer fibreglas one fitted to the ARB bar deck. Seems to work fine, but I've not made a direct comparison.

[Graeme]

I have seen the TJM bar, and the antenna tabs are VERY close to the bonnet.
Same with my D2 TJM. It will be ARB for the next Disco.

[Tote]

Mike,
ARB make two kinds of bar - winch bar and none winch bar. If you decide you may want a winch in the future, just make sure you get the winch bar. Downside is you have holes in the bar until you add the winch.
Andrew
When I had my bar fitted last year the non winch bar had been deleted.

Regards,
Tote

[amaruskanic]

When I had my bar fitted last year the non winch bar had been deleted.

Regards,
Tote

Interesting - ARB Canberra told me earlier this year (09) that I would have to wait 6 weeks for a non winch bar. Until the next production run.

[Tote]

Interesting - ARB Canberra told me earlier this year (09) that I would have to wait 6 weeks for a non winch bar. Until the next production run.

That's the same blokes that told me they were deleted last year;)

Regards,
Tote

[Bushwanderer]

Hi All,
It looks like the production runs for the D3 ARB bars are quite small. When I wanted a bar for my D3 (probably 18 months ago) I was told that only non-winch bars were available at that time. I took the non-winch one as I had no immediate plans for a winch and I had lots of trips planned over Christmas.

Today, I would like the option of fitting a winch. :(

Maybe it just means that you have to plan ahead to purchase the ARB bar.

For potential D4 owners, the advantage is that changes to the bar will not be massive and so should be available relatively quickly.

Best Wishes,
Peter

PS: I have heard of other people having problems with ACT ARB. Consider alternative ARB retailers.

[Graeme]

For potential D4 owners, the advantage is that changes to the bar will not be massive and so should be available relatively quickly.

Is ARB already planning for the D4 or because its basically a D3?

[rob4play]

Thought I would attach a couple of pics.
The aerial deck mmount is tucked behine the bar on either side (passenger or driver side) I would be worried about damaging the vehicle as well if I though the aerial was going to suffer damage where it is mounted.
Mine is driver side only due to where I mounted the actual unit - GME 1w/5w handheld with car kit inside the centre storage bin. Easy to unplug and take with you when leaving the vehicle etc. Obviously yo cannot switch cahnnels while driving but your passenger can.
I was told the stainless antenna would not survive the trip (Gold Coast Immaninka, Walkers Crossing, Birdsville etc so bought a 6db fibreglass one (you can basically tie in a knot), just in case but never needed it. The one fitted came with the option of more spread 6db or high gain (9db) tighter radiation/reception pattern
The other 2 TDV6s had bunper mounts as no bar and you cannot fit the bonnet mount style. They did seem to suffer a bit in convoy as had the complete vehicle masking the antenna to vehicles behind or same when in front receiving.
Either way very happy with the way mine has worked out.
Production runs - yep I was very lucky decided 2 weeks before the trip to go for one and had the same story have to wait for the next production run in August. Fortunately my local ARB Accessory store decided worth ringing through just in case somneone had cancelled. For whatever reason there was one available. It is the winch bar but covered the hole with the number plate. I asked the question about retro fitting winch and they reckone easier to take var off.
For the lights went for both as spreads rather than one pencil. I reckon the standard headlights have more than enough distance on high beam.
Cheers
Rob

[gps-au]

Thanks Rob,

Luv the white bar, I was thinking of black of my white tdv6, but might reconsider now.

I still wonder if anyone has top antenna tabs on their top horizontal bar and could show us a photo of the clearance ?

I am also consider NOT using a Warn winch which ARB like to flog, my experience with warn has been mixed, I had a high mount on my old troupie and had no end of problems with it, and the low mount on my old nissan was always over heating.

[RichardK]

Thanks Rob,

Luv the white bar, I was thinking of black of my white tdv6, but might reconsider now.

I still wonder if anyone has top antenna tabs on their top horizontal bar and could show us a photo of the clearance ?

I am also consider NOT using a Warn winch which ARB like to flog, my experience with warn has been mixed, I had a high mount on my old troupie and had no end of problems with it, and the low mount on my old nissan was always over heating.
Thats why I like the hydraulic winch, I can winch all day and not overheat and the current draw is around 2 amps:):)

[rovers1952]

Another Look

[rovers1952]

H'mmmm I'm having issues getting pics on here!

[gps-au]

Thats why I like the hydraulic winch

Luv the idea of using hydraulic, but hate the idea of having to mount pump on engine....

[RichardK]

Luv the idea of using hydraulic, but hate the idea of having to mount pump on engine....

Did that some two years ago, a world first I believe. See my gallery.

[stewmair]

Better radiation pattern mounted here. Isn't in the view, doesn't hit the w/screen with the bonnet up, can be sloped in when going through brush and fits into carparks with a ground plane independent UHF antenna. There are at least two makes around, Diamond and Benelec.
See next reply for pic.

[stewmair]

18115 success! Note outback setting.

[Hazeldean 1]

Hi our D3 is fitted with an ARB bar, After 6 roos and a wombat I cannot fault it ( the first roo strike pays for the bar after that your in front.)

Cheers.

[iannicki]

As promised, a picture of the ECB alloy bar.

[RichardK]

I think I prefer the ARB style myself

[Piddler]

I think it looks good
cheers

[Jamo]

I'm getting a new one in a few weeks. A skippy bent the top bar slightly on the passenger side last Sat night and pushed the bar slightly back at that point.

That's the third strike for this bar. (WA 'roos too! Not those mangy 7lb weaklings you get over east.;):p)

Very good insurance if you do a lot of kms or country work