Reply With Quote
I have to agree (reluctantly) that the ARB bar is stronger due to it's 5 piece construction. I had an ARB on my first D2 and the major dislike was that it sat too far forward for my liking and had a tendency to rotate (I could have fixed this with larger holes and bolts but did not). That being said the TJM, which I have on my D2a also rotates and I have fixed this with larger bolts and holes.Originally Posted by Tombie
Seen one (more actually) but yes the TJM units aren't as strong.
Think of it a bit like a fence pole sticking up out of the ground.
An upright, if you push it will bend back over.
Now take a triangulated fence post (leg coming out at an angle). The extra bracing makes the upper structure much stronger.
Add to that thicker, multi fold blades and internal bracing on the ARB and its structurally much stronger than its opposition.
Even the OL 'ARB Knock off' with its different quality steel (Chinese import) is more brittle and will suffer more.
Does that explain it?
And yes, a TJM on a Euro came off second best, damaging bar and vehicle.
The ARB on the D2 took a 180cm Red at 100km/h and the bar had a small depressed area near the winch mount, no deeper than 5-6mm and 100mm long.
As is often said "ARB is for real protection - TJM look pretty...."
What I do like about the TJM is that it does look nicer, sits closer to the vehicle thereby reducing overall vehicle length (good if you have a short garage) and the wiinch is mounted in a cradle on the chassis and not in the bar).
The steel is the same thickness as an ARB bar so equally as strong but the construction method differs and that's where it's weaker. It will probably take the majority of the animal strike and allow you to continue your journey and that's good enough for me. As Mike says, there probably will be some panel damage which is less likely with the ARB bar.
When all is said and done though, much depends on where the strike occurs on the bar and speed.
Having had both and being fortunate enough not to have suffered animal strike with both bars, I would still pick the TJM again (perhaps if I lived in the bush and had previously endured animal strike I might think differently).
Call me a pretty boy.
Cheers,
Franz
2004 D2a with mods
Bookmarks