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