ARB front bumper

BDK · **Joined:** Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:45 am **Posts:** 31

I am upgrading my KJ with a better lift and ome heavyduty front springs. I have always wanted a bull bar and winch. Just wondering if it is worth the money and will it sag in the front? Any other options?

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

You are going to have to get some heavier springs for the ARB, I don' t really like it because of how far it sticks out. That has left me with two options, the TJM bumper that is coming out soon, a post on it is around, or build my own, which I just like better. The TJM bumper is slimmer, and (I assume) lighter than the ARB.

Stephen

OzLtd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:40 am

swyszomirski wrote:

The TJM bumper is slimmer, and (I assume) lighter than the ARB.
Stephen

It sure is and doesnt stick out as far.

Wasatch15 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:52 am **Posts:** 242

True, the ARB sticks out, but that has been a plus for me. Two accidents have happened to the front of my Liberty. The result has been bad for the other car, nothing but scratched paint for the ARB. You will need heavier springs.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:02 am

swyszomirski wrote:

You are going to have to get some heavier springs for the ARB, I don' t really like it because of how far it sticks out. That has left me with two options, the TJM bumper that is coming out soon, a post on it is around, or build my own, which I just like better. The TJM bumper is slimmer, and (I assume) lighter than the ARB.

Stephen

Don't forget about the RockLizard bumper and that Tube Bumper that is in the works.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:24 pm

I am using the OME Heavy Duty springs and with the ARB hanging on the front I have L.O>S.T. maybe about 1/8 to 1/4 inch is all after over 20,000 miles. The OME HDs are what is recommended for the ARB. I still like mine, (the ARB) yes its heavy but not any more so than the Kilby gas tank skid :lol:

unixxx · **Posted:** Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:16 pm

The ARB weighs less than 100# and the Libby has only sagged about a 1/4" in the front with its heavy duty OME springs. I might install an additional spacer in the front to regain some lift. While the ARB does stick out further, it also allows the permanent installation of a winch. I think the TJM might also allow the installation of a winch, although I'm not sure....

OzLtd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:48 am

unixxx wrote:

I think the TJM might also allow the installation of a winch, although I'm not sure....

It cirtainly DOES. Its a fully fleged WINCH BAR !!!

Hood297 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:51 am

Ive got a 3in. RC lift and i had to change out my stock struts and springs with some Stock CRD springs, and some Rancho RSX. It has given me, what i think a true 3in. of lift. Highway ride is much better and offroad is much better, no stuffing the front tires in the wheel well.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:07 am

I’ve got a couple of questions. I like the ARB, seems pretty legit and those that have the ARB seem to love it. I saw one post that says the ARB weighs no more than 100 lbs which surprised me. I figured it would be much heavier. Ok, question (1) How much more (approximately) does the ARB weigh over the factory bumper? (2) Is there any fender trimming or other modification on the 2005-2007 models? (3) Dose ARB paint them for you, or do you have to have them painted on your own?

Hood297 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:54 am

The stock bumper weighs hardly anything, someting like 15 lbs +/-. so id say the ARB weighs about 70- 80 lbs more, soyou will defiantely need new springs and struts to take the weight.

I dont know about on the 05-06, but on my 03 there is some flare trimming, and wheel well liner trimming, really easy to do with a paint pen to mark it and a hack saw, or sawzall, depending how exact and controlled you want to be.

ARB bumpers are steel shot blasted, hot phosphate washed then protected with a durable, chip resistant electrostatically applied and baked-on satin black powder coating- that is for the 05-06 (correct me if im wrong). and for 02-04 (like mine) ARB's they come with millennium grey powdercoating (matches the flares on SPORT models).

ARB does not custom paint them, to my knowledge. if they did you would have to special order and ship it from australia. I looked into painting mine to match and they guy i was going to get to paint it talked me out of it, mainly because to get the paint to adhere well he would have to remove the powder coating, even then it would scratch easily and most likely chip, and run my about 500 bucks, so i left the durable powdercoating, and it doesnt look too bad

Pics-http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=16140
Edit-fixed your link. -CaKJFreedom

KJ04 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:29 am

I repainted mine with Rustrolium midnight metalic from Wal-Mart's. Just light sand the gloss finish down some with 600 grit for the new paint to adhere to, clean and shoot with the shaker cans before you install it. Very easy to do and has held up well with no peeling or blistering for over 2 yrs. now.

unixxx · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:48 am

For the 2005-up, only the fronts of the wheel well liners need to be trimmed. On my Jeep, the bumper actually looks green-grey, which is why I haven't bothered repainting it yet.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:11 pm

Thanks guys for all the input

. Is the ARB install on the 05-07 fairly easy to do? Besides trimming of the wheel liner, I assume I would have to drill the mounting holes, right?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:56 pm

Not sure on the 05 and up but only 4 holes to drill on 04 and down. very easy to install, by myself from start to finish was about an hour or so, that includes stops for "drinks" :lol:

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:36 pm

Sounds good. Now I need to get rich and then talk my wife into making the “necessary” purchase. Once we move back to New Mexico and find ourselves in Elk country, then it will be much easier to convince her.

unixxx · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:04 pm

I believe the 05 requires four holes in the bumper and two in each wheel well liner. If you install a winch, you'll also need to drill the winch fairlead. It took me about a day to install the bumper, winch, and fog lamps and modify the flares for maximum tire clearance. Email ARB and ask for an install manual; everything's in there.

elephantrider · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:46 pm

instructions for installation are very good, with pics for most of the steps involved.
if you cut the front fender linings to match the highest archpoint in the fender well, that will make the most of the room under there.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:07 pm

If you have to cut the fenders just a word of caution, just as I was starting to cut the right side my wife walked out into the garage to see how I was doing, and to show me her new "top" well if you ever see the right side of mine, :oops:

you know what happened!

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:54 pm

Okay Tommudd,

Show you her new top?

Are you talking about a new chest, to put it mildly? An expensive new blouse/shirt that cost a ton of money? A new shirt/blouse that revealed too much?

Then again, maybe I don't want to know..... :lol:

ARB front bumper

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