Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 352
ARB Bull Bar
Has anyone fitted an ARB bull bar to a D3? I believe they are airbag compatible and look SO COOL
After driving a few Defenders with a Superwinch bull bar/winch combo for more than 10 years, I feel the Disco is a bit soft up front especially with the taxi drivers on the road.
22nd May 2008 6:43 pm
heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
IIRC Brucehun has one . Go have a look in his gallery . Also Joe somebody ?
22nd May 2008 7:21 pm
Doc
Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 352
Thanks Heine, I will check these out.
22nd May 2008 7:28 pm
Desert Traveller
Member Since: 06 Aug 2006
Location: The Gabba - QLD
Posts: 420
Many of us have them in Oz, mine is colour coded.
There are more photos in my gallery.06 TDV6 SE with many LR and after-market extras. Used only on weekends and trips out west.
Audi TT Roadster (Daily and around town drive)
VW Eos TDI For Sale
Previously 01 TD5 and 94 TDI
22nd May 2008 10:11 pm
Doc
Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 352
Thanks Desert Traveller, the colour-coded ARB looks good Some neat pics of the Simpson in your gallery.
23rd May 2008 5:59 am
Andrew van den Heever
Member Since: 09 Jun 2007
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 340
Does any body know how much the ARB bar actually weighs? Will it result in similar problems that others have with the rear wheel carrier, long range tanks etc, with a wallowy ride? Are the D3 shocks up to it, or are we all going to be handing R30k to the Greeks for Spiros' heavy duty dampers if we want to put on extra toys like the ARB bar?
23rd May 2008 7:22 am
Desert Traveller
Member Since: 06 Aug 2006
Location: The Gabba - QLD
Posts: 420
Andrew,
Don't have the weight of the ARB bar, but I do offer the following comments
I have done over 90k kms with the ARB bar and Warn 9000# on the front, a second battery fitted, a Kaymar on the rear (but no LR tank or spare wheel carrier) and I have not noticed any ride or handling problems (original shockies are still fitted). Do have ride problems when fully loaded on outback tracks, but that is a general D3 problem, the suspension is generally too soft. The weight of the 2 bars is not significant in the overall scheme of things, less than the weight of a larger passenger.
All steel bars weight about the same, alloy are a about 10kgs less BUT are useless in a wildlife strike.
Just my observations and opinions.06 TDV6 SE with many LR and after-market extras. Used only on weekends and trips out west.
Audi TT Roadster (Daily and around town drive)
VW Eos TDI For Sale
Previously 01 TD5 and 94 TDI
24th May 2008 12:57 am
heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
Deon
Spoke to Karl at BRS - he says around 85 kg
24th May 2008 6:12 am
Andrew van den Heever
Member Since: 09 Jun 2007
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 340
Sounds OK desert traveller
I really like the ARB bar, but have always worried about weight. Is the A-bar any good against a wildlife strike?? I know it is bolted into the chassis up front but it looks weaker than the ARB. Any body done a comparison?
Most of us will only be pushing over a few bushes, but It nice to know you are well protected, just in case.
26th May 2008 7:33 am
Discoeast
Member Since: 19 Feb 2008
Location: Boksburg
Posts: 800
ARB
Doc,
Fitted mine early on, see pic's in my gallery.D3 bullbar-spots-roof rack with spots-ladder-long range tank-swing out spare wheel carrier- upgraded tow bar-dash console-internal water tank-duel awnings-drawer system & T T.
Andrew, I had the A-Bar originally and don't believe it would have done anything to protect the car in an animal strike.
I hit a 4ft kangaroo dead centre on the ARB bar at 110km on the gravel. I know it was only a small one, but it simply tilted the bar back about 1cm at the top. No damage at all. Local ARB even realigned the bar free of charge.
The A-Bar would definitely help with stopping damages from bushes though.Have a nice day!
2010 Cayenne Diesel with PASM & Off Road Pkg
2005 HSE D3 (Sold)
26th May 2008 12:52 pm
Andrew van den Heever
Member Since: 09 Jun 2007
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 340
Thanks Jamo. Just as I thought.
26th May 2008 1:40 pm
heine
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Midrand
Posts: 4054
I know Anthony (Baben) sustained some fairly major damage when the LR driver tapped a car with his A Frame . I suspect a bull bar would have left little or no damage
26th May 2008 5:43 pm
Doc
Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 352
Thanks Discoeast - nice gallery
Doc
26th May 2008 7:50 pm
Baben
Member Since: 15 Feb 2006
Location: Kyalami
Posts: 2059
Heine, actually the A-bar absorbed quite a lot of the energy, but it also caused some of the damage - it was crushed flat at the point of impact, but it also connected with the bonnet during the event, causing the front upper aluminium "subframe" to crack, and the bonnet to buckle - these were the most expensive bits. I guess it saved the headlights, radiator, intercooler and meant that the vehicle was still driveable, but at the expense of the other pretty bits. A full bullbar would definitely have helped, and I often wish for one when the taxi's are behaving badly
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Some neat pics of the Simpson in your gallery.
I know it is bolted into the chassis up front but it looks weaker than the ARB. Any body done a comparison?
