ARB Bull Bar Re Design Input

W3CSX · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:17 pm

Get rid of that ugly over scaled hoop.

OzLtd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:26 pm

W3CSX wrote:

Get rid of that ugly over scaled hoop.

I totally second that - its too wide, too fat and looks terrible imo.

- The bar itself looks good from some angles, but crap from others.

- The indicators in the 05+ models look very cheap and toyish - not something i'd be comfortable paying for considering the price.

- AS above people have said, ARB should make a non winch 'rock bar' - not a complete redesign of the existing one, in fact keep it as cose as possible, but bring it back around 100mm closer to the front of the car and get rid of the winch section. ARB DID THIS FOR THE TJ, SO WHY CANT THEY DO IT FOR THE KJ'ers..........

- Also, they should try to engineer it a bit lighter in construction - we all know its a kick booty steel army tank design, but thats the last thing we need for the IFS ride height dropping KJ.

bavfc3364 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:46 pm

make the exact fj bumper but add another color then silver for the 05.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:15 pm

1. Lighter. Don't need the 'roo bar in the States. :roll:

2. Lighter. Without a winch mount. That shoudl also push the unit in a little more.
3. Better styling. Make it match the KJ's lines better.

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:28 pm

You guys asking for non-winch bars should note that ARB doesn't make bars for any vehicle that does not accomodate a winch, as far as I can see.

Seth may debunk that, but I believe it is right.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:29 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

You guys asking for non-winch bars should note that ARB doesn't make bars for any vehicle that does not accomodate a winch, as far as I can see.

Seth may debunk that, but I believe it is right.

Well, he asked for input, anyhow.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:59 pm

Personally, I like the present design of the '02-'04. I really prefer the winch being completely concealed within the bumper and I like the size and shape of the bull bar. Would it be nicer if it was a little closer to the grill? Yes, if it didn't change any of the other aspects of the bumper. I also noticed that there is a skid plate on the right side for the washer bottle but this isn't on the left side so it doesn't look symmetrical. Also, from what little I've seen, very few people use the tabs on the top of the bull bar and, IMO, it would give it a cleaner look without these tabs. Hi-Lift jacking points incorporated into the design instead of the bolt-on external jacking points. Keep in mind, I don't presently own one but I'm in the market for one so some of my observations are based on little actual up-close study of the product.

While on the topic, it might be nice if they considered developing a tire carrier/rear bumper to compliment the bull bar. (Sorry Marty :wink:

)

unixxx · **Posted:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:37 am

The 05-06 version does have High-Lift points incorporated into the design and a washer bottle/horn shield on each side. To prevent the bottom edge of the bull bar from bending, I'd add more vertical steel pieces like those that compose the High-Lift points. You can see the bottom is bent where the mud is removed in this picture:

While I haven't had any problems with my signal/park lights, they did seem a little cheap for the price of the bull bar. I also had to redo my wiring job when I realized that the park lights were white and not amber. Otherwise it's an awesome bullbar. The stock bumper is part of the unibody, so I don't want to know what the front of my KJ would look like in any sort of collision without the ARB.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:16 am

Unixxx, I also had the lower part of my ARB bend into my winch cable. My buddy straightened it out and welded a piece of 1/4" angle iron over that section. It hasn't bent yet!

I submited an E-Mail to ARB about 2 yrs. ago on this issue. Their reply was: we'll submit it to our engineers for consideration.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:09 am

Seth: I'll add that even though the bumper only weighs 85 pounds the winch will weigh that much as well.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:15 pm

Well I have a ARB and love it,don't mind that it sticks out because my winch is protected,love the over bar makes it look mean.The only thing that I would change is to move the shackle mounts to the front of the bumber instead of under it,otherwise I love my ARB.

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

Tucked in tighter to body, no winch mount but 2" receiver mount for possible shackle or receiver winch. Also a cutout in bumper to accomodate the 12vdc power receptacle for said winch. While you're at it, make a rear bumper so I'll have ARB front and back.

buballez · **Joined:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:15 am **Posts:** 14

how about some springs to handle the weight of the bumper and winch combo! sorry - i know this is off topic - but i'm a bit shocked to see ARB asking for feedback to change a product that already exists like their bumper - with the potential of changing it. i had a bull bar on order for my CRD and had to cancel it because no one at ARB at the time could confirm if the ARB/OME springs could handle the weight. i think the bumper is great the way it is - and am beyond bummed i cant purchase one for my rig because no one is making a full spring lift for the front of the CRD with a bull bar/winch combo. i've been off this site for a while - so if i've missed something - sorry.

OzLtd · **Posted:** Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:33 am

Wasatch15 wrote:

Tucked in tighter to body, no winch mount but 2" receiver mount for possible shackle or receiver winch. Also a cutout in bumper to accomodate the 12vdc power receptacle for said winch. While you're at it, make a rear bumper so I'll have ARB front and back.

I've noticed everyone keeps mentioning "Shackle Mounts on front of Bar instead of underneath" . I too agree with this, but i'm more than sure it doesnt comply with the Australian Design Rules or ADR for short. I know some of you may think "well what about the rest of the world blah blah blah?" but since the company and the bar are Australian, so are the rules under which it is designed by. That also goes for spotlight mounts i'm sure, I dont think they are allowed to protrude past a cirtain point.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:38 am

Okay, so if we remove the option of shackle tabs, we have:

A bumper that has:

1. a closer-in profile - doesn't stick out as much
2. non-internal winch capability - allowing for better approach angle
3. bull bar leaning forward, not back towards Jeep
4. a skid plate (perhaps an attachable plate) that runs to the engine skid
5. better lighting mounts?
6. better body conformity for the older model KJ's

Did I miss anything?

zeero · **Posted:** Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:15 pm

More curves?? no.....the squared away look is outstanding....I think a rendition of the FJ bumper as above ^ would be perfect.....and oh yeah.....definitely cheaper....$1000?? WAY TOO MUCH!!! WAY WAY WAY TOO MUCH. :wink:

My .02

riptricket · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:35 pm

since i have a renegade, i wish that i could use my fog lights (the bigger, renegade ones), instead of having to buy little ones to fit the hole son the arb. Also i love the design, just wish it were a couple hundred cheaper!

ARBSeth · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:10 pm

Wow...

OK, Can't move the shackle mounts. It's not safe. OZ guy hit it on the head... they'd act like can openers!

Non winch is doable, but how many of you would buy it? The bar sticks out as much as it does because we mount winches feet OUT as opposed to down. Makes for a stronger design. Don't know that we'd change that.. compromises in strength for form isn't something we do. Round = weak. The five fold design on our wings is crazy stong and I don't think that's going to get changed, either.

FYI... the KJ Bar won a design award from Daimler Chrylser.

FJ Light inserts would make it more expensive, not cheaper. And the lights that go in those holes... $285 Jobber. Not cheap at all!

We're aware of your concerns on the blinkers... but they work and they're affordable. We can make them brighter/better, but then you'd pay more for them. But we're working on that!

We don't do Aluminum. We CAN lose the Bar, but again, it's integral to the design and removing it weakens the product.

Thanks for all your input! I'll forward the link on to our design team and see what we can do.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:36 pm

ARBSeth wrote:

Wow...

FYI... the KJ Bar won a design award from Daimler Chrylser.

Thanks for all your input! I'll forward the link on to our design team and see what we can do.

Unfortunately, Daimler/Chrysler is not "Jeep" in the true sense so I take their award with a grain of salt. They are about looks and not function.

From what I see as having the bar lean forward and not back is:

1. It will push the branches downward and away from the windshield, hood, and roof instead of letting them fly up into your Jeep.

AND
2. It is farther away from the hood so if it gets pushed back by some unknown object, it won't hit the hood and cause more damage.

Also, If you had a lighter closer to the body bumper, I would've considered it against Rock Lizards design, but I have already committed to his bumper, so I would not buy it. If the RL wasn't available and ARB had a lighter and clsoer to the body bumper, then I would buy it. But...you don't so RL gets my business.

zeero · **Posted:** Mon Nov 13, 2006 4:03 pm

Ok then....keep it the way it is and lower the price

ARB Bull Bar Re Design Input

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