ARB products TRUE OR FALSE

Submitted: Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 13:01
ThreadID: 56278 Views:13890 Replies:12 FollowUps:10
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Is this just rumour or true that ARB bullbars are made in Thailand ?? I always thought they were made in Queensland (head office). I purchased a bullbar off ebay this week and rang the actual manufacturer in WA. Known as a Sahara Bar same as ARB's bar identical winch compatible and air bag. I rang the company prior to bidding to see wether he did infact sell this bar and was his own product or was selling as an agent for ARB as the bars are identical even down to the same brand of lower fog and blinker lights.. Was infact his bar but imported from Thailand said about 3 blocks away from where ARB bars are made ??? His price new was $1100, ARB's $2100+ $400 for the lower lights. Bloke in WA reckons you are paying and extra $450 per letter $450 for the A ETC. Either way Im happy with the quality of the bar I purchased. BUT true or false in regards to ARB I have no idea. Maybe some one from ARB that gets on here can verify. Regards Steve M
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Reply By: tuck 01 - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 13:12

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 13:12
Steve
A couple of years ago I had a tour of the ARB factory at Kilsyth in Melbourne's east, and watched in fascination as the bullbars were being made from scratch. Lots of robotics involved.
However, I think I recall some talk at some time about them shifting to Asian manufacture.
In other words, I don't know.
Cheers
AnswerID: 296617

Reply By: Wizard1 - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 14:04

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 14:04
Firstly, do you really believe an employee of ARB would put thier neck out, get on this forum and confirm a claim that thier products are made in Thailand?

Why not ring ARB yourself and ask. I bet I know what the answer will be.

AnswerID: 296622

Follow Up By: Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 15:44

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 15:44
Hi Wizard, doesnt bother me either way. Not going to ring and waste their time. Was just courious thats all. As just about everything else these days are coming from over that way thought they might be doing the same thing. I am quit sure ARB would not be happy about him saying that about there products which as we all know are brilliant produts and a lot of time and effort go into the technology of them producing a item like bullbars etc. Makes me wonder the quality if as said above about the dakkar springs. Did have them fitted to old lux but didnt have any issues with them. Maybe a boiler maker would be able to tell the difference between quality of steels or some thing but I sure as s@it wouldnt know the diff. Regards Steve M
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Reply By:- Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 14:25

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 14:25
I was watching them make bars last year at the Head Office in Kilsyth, Melbourne. I do know that their Dakar springs are done in Thailand, hence the cheaper price.
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Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 14:40

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 14:40
False as said above the bars are made at Kilsyth in Victoria.

I would suggest he is just flogging his Thailand copies and rubbishing the ARB bar.
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Follow Up By: Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 15:47

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 15:47
Hi John, I would suggest your correct if you have been there and saw the fabrication procedures yourself. With everything else these days coming from there made me wonder how much truth was in it. Obviously none when it comes to the bullbars. Regards Steve M
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 16:07

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 16:07
Stephen I should add that it does not mean that they won't move more of their manufacturing OS in the future as sadly its getting harder to compete all the time in this country.
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Reply By: Member - Tom V (WA) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 17:03

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 17:03
Steve
ARB have just completed a 6500 sqm extension to their Thai factory in record time. so if they do not mfg the bars there now one would assume they will in future. would they reply if asked. ??
not sure. cheers Tom
AnswerID: 296648

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 17:15

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 17:15
Stephen,

I am sure that some of ARB bars are made OS.

I do know that some TJM bars are made in China. I have a bull bar box with this stamped on it.

Wayne
AnswerID: 296652

Reply By: Tony - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 17:52

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 17:52
Yes most of the Bars are now made in Thailand. The Thai 4WD market is as big as here, if not bigger.

This is from an ex co worker from ARB. I am the ex.
AnswerID: 296659

Reply By: Member - George (WA) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 19:59

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 19:59
Does it really matter where they are made. As long as the company writes the specification and quality they require. IBM gets all their PC's made in China but they write the spec and control the quality.
Just my oppinion
Cheers
AnswerID: 296680

Follow Up By: Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 20:30

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 20:30
Hi George, doesnt bother me was just wondering wether what I heard was true or not. Yes as long as they meet the required specs then ok. Is steel just steel ?? or is there different qualitys I wouldnt have a clue. I am no welder by any means but the welds look good to me ?? Its a 8 year old bar but looking at it isn't showing any signs of rust so hopefully thats a good thing. I only paid $480 for it off ebay and was 15mins from home. Just finished fitting it up, bit of adjustment here and there but all good. Just need to add some driving lights now left the IPF's on the lux. Regards Steve M
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Follow Up By: Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:22

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:22
I can get my mate to colour code it for me but it will end up scratched anyway so why bother
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Follow Up By: autosparky - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:45

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:45
from some one that fits these things for a living 1/2 a bar for twice the price
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Follow Up By: autosparky - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:46

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:46
from some one who fits these out day to day 1/2 the bar twice the price
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Reply By: autosparky - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 22:46

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 22:46
wot an ugly looking nudge bar
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Follow Up By: Stephen M (NSW) - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:10

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 23:10
Firstly dont give a sh@t wether you like it or not. Except for the top loop the rest is steel, winch and airbag compatible. NUDGE BAR !!!!! this is a nudge bar

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Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 22:56

Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 22:56
Did you know that Toyota bars are made in the same place, the only difference is that the ARB bars are 3mm and the Toyota bars are 2mm, not only that but the Toyota bars are 1/2 the price.

My source is a used car sales man that showed me the same B/bars one ARB and the other Toyota, he also showed me the cost comparison.

Cheer Steve.
AnswerID: 296727

Follow Up By: Leroy - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 09:20

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 09:20
ARB apparently make Nissan's bars also. Don't know about material thickness etc.

Leroy
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Reply By: Jasjul - Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:15

Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:15
Don't know about bullbars, but ARB roofracks are definitely made in Thailand. Just bought one for my 80 series and had to wait 2 weeks 'cause there were none in the country.
AnswerID: 296855

Reply By: gerrybhoy - Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 21:35

Sunday, Apr 06, 2008 at 21:35
G'day steve;
Any chance of a contact number for the company in WA that you got the bar from.just aquired a prado 120 and want to fit a roo bar. btw can't say the service at ARB WA HQ and northern suburbs is fantastic to say the least, failed to return my personal orders in the past for shocks and dual battery tray [2 wks ago].ended up going elsewhere.
AnswerID: 297055

Follow Up By: Stephen M (NSW) - Monday, Apr 07, 2008 at 15:34

Monday, Apr 07, 2008 at 15:34
Hi there gerrybhoy, details for contact are
North of the river
Head Office - Wangara
Unit 6/15 Prindiville Drive
Wangara WA
p 08 9409 1400
f 08 9409 1700
m 0404 680 409

I had never heard of them till enquiring about the bar I bought off ebay. As far as I can tell just by lookin at it the welds and things seem very neat and tidy. Hope they can help you out. Regards Steve M
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