Bull bar for a Prado 2008
Submitted: Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 17:24
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imjames
Hi there I cant decide between a toyota forged Alloy or ARB Delux Bull Bar and would be keen on anyones thoughts Experiences. We plan to do a 10 week trip with some dirt driving. From what I can gather is the following. Toyota supplied bar is lighter less strong but has been
well crash tested on actual vehicles to ensure it is airbag compatible. These bars wont rust, look great ( however over time the alloy looses its shine ). The ARB Bar is far stronger made from steel and UHF points are supplied. You do have to purchase some replacement fog lamps @ $190. They will fit the bar for $1760 and if you want colour coding thats an extra $220. So what Id be keen on is happy prado owners out there that have fitted both bars and what your thoughts advise would be. Thanks heaps James
Reply By: Kim and Damn Dog - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 17:46
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 17:46
Gidday James
I've had both, and would'nt look at an alloy bar again.
Regards
Kim
AnswerID:
325418
Follow Up By: imjames - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:11
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:11
thanks for that. Like the pic of the Prado. What unit is that on your roof. Do you carry your spare up there also? What tyres are you running
FollowupID:
592520
Follow Up By: Kim and Damn Dog - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:47
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:47
Gidday James
There's a lockable bolt welded to a plate on the roof rack to secure the second tyre.
The car you see on the Member listing has gone to God.
I'm in the process of taking a number of photographs that may help a few folks when setting up their car.
I run Cooper A/T's around town, but have a set of ST's in the garage which need to be replaced. Not sure what I'll get next time around.
Seems to me their all pretty much the same, unless you go to cross Plies
Regards
Kim
FollowupID:
592539
Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 17:52
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 17:52
Gday,
Ive currently got an Alloy bull bar but have always had steel until now. ( not a Prado though)
Im not going to get rid of the alloy one as it will do the job, but when I bend it it will get replaced by a steel one.
You have said you know the difference so it all depends what you want it for.
Mine is for bouncing roos so alloy isnt strong enough.
Cheers
AnswerID:
325420
Follow Up By: imjames - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:09
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:09
thanks guys,
well mine will be for roos and what ever else gets in the way, so looks like the ARB is the better of the 2
FollowupID:
592519
Reply By: GNK (NSW) - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:27
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:27
James,
I recently replaced my factory alloy bar with an ARB steel bar. There is nothing really wrong with the alloy bar but I now have much better clearance and therefore approach angle into steeper areas + the added strength of steel - not that I plan to test that part but you never know.
Just be aware of the additional weight on the front end. The steel option might also cost you some sort of
suspension upgrade.
Enjoy that trip.
GNK
AnswerID:
325426
Reply By: RobAck - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:31
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 18:31
One of the key issues is that a 120 Prado does not come with rated front recovery points so you need to consider fitting a set when adding a bull bar. Apart from that we consider the Toyota OE part does not improve the already compromised approach angle the vehicel has. So either a TJM or ARB bar, steel or alloy makes no difference unless you are doing a lot of night driving and planning on hitting something. If you consider that as a risk then the better option is a poly bar which will actuall come back to shape after an impact. But if you plan in fitting a winch the poly bar does not yet have a winch cradle. We use all three, steel, alloy and poly and in my view there is no great difference between any of them. Alloy does not need any maintaining at all in my book unless you want it to look like new and chrome. If the bottom line is cost then the poly bar will definately be the lowest cost and offers as much protection as a steel bar
Regards
RobA
AnswerID:
325429
Follow Up By: Geoff M (QLD) - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:01
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:01
"If the bottom line is cost then the poly bar will definitely be the lowest cost and offers as much protection as a steel bar" .....
Sorry RobAck, but I must disagree with you on this. Came upon a late model Patrol just the other side of
Eulo (western Qld) who had just collected a roo at around 80 kph with a Poly Bar. The bar had come back into shape just as the advertising said it would, but not before it had folded back into the grill and pushed the radiator into the fan.
I'm on my 5th roo with my ARB steel bar and the worst I've had is a broken spottie. Now I know one can argue that circumstances might be different (and they'd be right), but after this first hand experience I believe I'll be sticking with steel, thank you very much.
Cheers ..... Geoff
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: imjames - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 20:55
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 20:55
Thanks for the info guys. Geoff nice pic of the rig. Noted you dont have a snorkle. I dont really want one but the guys we are going away with for 10 weeks will have them so the pressure is on. Why dont you have a snorkle? I also like the look of that Rhino rack. Do you carry a spare rim and tyre in it? Does the rhino rack simply attach to a pare of Thule like bars? I have thule lockable bars that can carry surfboards/ windesurfers. Will the Rhino just attach to these? James
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Geoff M (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 08:16
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 08:16
Hi James ... the reason I don't have a
snorkel is because I've not gone anywhere yet where I felt I would be needing one. Had a Hilux before the Prado and had a
snorkel put on immediately after purchase and in 4 years never came close to needing/using it.
We plan our trips pretty carefully and would know if deep
water crossings are on the cards and usually travel solo so the dust factor is not an issue either. A trip to the Kimberly next year will see a
snorkel installed.
Regarding the roof rack ...
Carry crab pots and other assorted gear. I'm too bloody old to be dragging spare tyres from that height. The basket attaches to 3 Rhino bars, so I don't know if they would work with Thule. I would go to someone who sells both to find out for sure.
Hope you have a great trip.
Geoff
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Waza & Wend - Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:36
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 22:36
You will need a
snorkel in the
Kimberley's. The bull dusts is a killer. Having said that it is a fantastic area and
well worth a look.
FollowupID:
595711
Reply By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:26
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:26
Hi James
The only reason why I have the Toyota bar, is that I have been told there have been issues with inner guard cracking on very rough roads with the weight of steel bars. I do not know if this is try, but did not want to find out.
Cheers
Stephen
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 08:45
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 08:45
There definately were issues Stephen - as I was contacted for advice by some companies and inspected some cars.
I do not know the final resolution , but I would be specifically asking about this point from ARB if I was considering the steel bar
espically if harder
suspension was being considered.
FollowupID:
592594
Follow Up By: Alan H - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 11:40
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 11:40
Has anybody got any thoughts on the ECB Bars as sold by Opposite Lock?
I believe they're made of heavier tube alloy than the Toyota original so should withstand impacts better plus they're not so expensive.
Alan.
FollowupID:
592605
Follow Up By: Member - Howard P (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 12:49
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 12:49
Hi All,
I had an alloy ECB bar on my 97 Prado - much stronger and a lot more solid than the Toyota alloy bars. Hit an emu at 80k's an hour out in the middle of no where, spot light broke, grill and bonnet damage due to the fact that the emu pasted between the top bar and bumper section - but no radiator damage at all and the bar did not bend. Was happy with that considering where I was at the time.
Howard
FollowupID:
592608
Reply By: Member - mel D (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 11:47
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 at 11:47
We got a Toyo sovereign bar with our Prado. Reason was the stories of cracking with other bars. If this one causes cracks, its all under Toyota warranty.
AnswerID:
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