Thread: Bull bar information

Hi All,

Thank you for the discussion. I have been researching about which bar to fit. It appears the OL is the most suitable for my needs as I have cameras and sensors on my new Disco 4.

How does the OL compare to the ARB when it comes to fitting a winch?

Both bars look fine on the vehicle when colour coded. I have only one choice now, is the OL the best looking and most durable bar?

Least but not least, has anyone fitted an ARB bar on this forum onto a vehicle with cameras and sensor's, the word on the street is, the sensors work OK and you do have to drill this may be a serious compliance issue?
Regards

Gerald

Originally Posted by VK3GJM

Hi All,

Thank you for the discussion. I have been researching about which bar to fit. It appears the OL is the most suitable for my needs as I have cameras and sensors on my new Disco 4.

How does the OL compare to the ARB when it comes to fitting a winch?

Both bars look fine on the vehicle when colour coded. I have only one choice now, is the OL the best looking and most durable bar?

Least but not least, has anyone fitted an ARB bar on this forum onto a vehicle with cameras and sensor's, the word on the street is, the sensors work OK and you do have to drill this may be a serious compliance issue?
Regards

Gerald

Hello Gerald

I answered a similar post in another thread...

Drilling for the cameras wont hurt.. And wont effect the bar in a way that insurance would mind.

The OL unit is a tinnier, brittle metal compared to the ARB unit.
In a hit, the metal is more prone to shear, tear and break.
Its also marginally thinner in places.

The LEDs in the OL bar make it slightly easier to wire but fail regularly requiring replacement of the light assembly (just replaced 4 on our Prados).

The OL bars seem to suffer harmonics more, moving around more than the ARB bars on some here on unsealed surfaces - the OL ones shake quite a lot.

The OL bar is an import knock-off (almost exact) of the ARB product which can be had (haggle) for the same price.
I wont personally sell out local jobs and manufacturing to buy an inferior clone.

I do want LED lights - Quality ones - in my ARB bar so have purchased a pair of ADR compliant units and having a laser cut mount made at the moment.

I got my ARB winch bar cheaper than OL quoted (Bar -supply only).

cheers
Mike

Hi Mike,

I am a bit shocked to read the OL product is an import. I am all for buying Australian and made by Australians.

You have introduced a curve ball, but thanks for that.

What do you mean by Laser mount cut, where. Can you share some photos, are the ARB LED strips inferior?

With 2 forward facing cameras, is the interface wiring long enough to position them in a slightly better spot?

Thank you for the response.

Regards

Gerald

VK3GJM

Gerald I am on a mine site at the moment.

Will get pics later when home.

Thanks. No hurry.

Regards

Gerald

Sorry to be downer but I had a bad time having my OL bar fitted. Maybe it was the branch I went to but it took them 3 maybe 4 goes to make it look crap. In the end I got my panel beater to refit it including buying and painting new flares as OL had cut the originals crooked. I then had Peninsula Rangie fit a winch to it and they said it wasn't easy. I'm reasonably happy now after spending an extra $600 to get it to look almost right.
Wish I'd bought an ARB!
Some other people have not had the experience I had...maybe I was just unlucky or too picky!

OK, thanks for the feedback.

Decided with Aussie, owned, built and supported, ARB bar it is. If it does not fit properly and lighting fails, ARB can be held accountable.

Regards

Gerald

VK3GJM

I had a 'East Coast Bullbars' Al bar fitted to the D4 with cameras as the bar is setup for the cameras. You can get the bar painted or polished, they also provide a blanking plate to cover the winch mounting hole. I had it supplied with 2 antenna mounts as it is easier to have them fitted first up. The front parking sensors work ok but you will still have false indications when they are wet. Think it is the water getting between the sensor and the bar.
Hope this info helps
Cheers
Des