ARB Bullbar 2005+ Tacoma

[daverami]

I will be in the market for a new front bumper soon and have a question for all you folks that have had the ARB for a while now.

With new bumpers coming out, All Pro, Shrockworks, and custom stuff, are you all still pleased with your purchase?

I have heard nothing but good feedback on the ARB, but some complain of weight, approach angle, looks (I think they look good on our trucks). A lot is determined by what you are going to do, trail types, terrain, etc., but I'm just curious.

Thanks

[heeltoe989]

I still love mine and wouldn't trade it for any other bumper. The powder coating has lasted very well in Canadian winters with salt and gravel. When it wears out I will use Line-x next for a very tough finish.

[Jacket]

They all have their pros and cons, and no one bumper gives you everything. The ARB isn't the lightest heap of metal, and you won't get the best approach angles, but you will get quality construction, good price, and a proven design. I went with what I thought was the best choice at the time, and I haven't really looked back. I like the design and looks of the new Bentup bumper that I saw recently - of all the 05+ Tacoma bumpers out there this one looks the most tempting to me.

[ssmathis]

+1 to what's already been said. The only other bumper I was considering was the Shrockworks but the wait time was horrible. I have no complaints of my ARB either.

Scott

[cruiseroutfit]

The #1 selling point of an ARB when it comes to safety... AIRBAG APPROVED

I truly beleive this is going to become a growing issue in the future, to the point where many smaller manufactures will be edged out of the market unless they shell out the $$$ for testing. I've sold bumpers to insurance companies on quite a few occassions (ARB bar replacements and upgrades for wrecks), they used to just send a check assuming it was cheaper than the OE bumper and the customer requested it. The last one I did I had to send a letter certifying it was airbag approved.

I'm not sure which other bumpers have gone through the testing, some very well may have. If you know which ones have post away, I'd love to be able to pass it on to potential customers.

[daverami]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the information.

David

[flyingwil]

As Kurt stated, the Airbag approved is a huge selling point. I personally think that they stick out a bit too far.

Each bumper has it pro's and con's though. It is going to boil down to a few things that you will need to consider.

1.) Protection... Yeah this is why you are buying the bumper in the first place, you want to increase your chances of surviving off the highway. So with that said, you know with the ARB that you'll get a TESTED air bag compliant bumper.

The flip side is how much approach angle will the protection cost. Either way an after market bumper will most likely increase your approach angle. For me, the ARB stuck just a tad too far out for my liking.

2.) Recovery... I think that all bumpers coming out now have recovery points designed into them, some don't. The addition of a winch will be the key to selecting the bumper.

3.)Winch mount... this ties into above, but is easily overlooked. The way the winch mounts and "tugs" on the bumper should be considered. I chose the Shrockworks bumper because of how the winch is mounted. The winch mounts so that it spools in through the bottom of the winch so to speak, and no mounting plate is required. Some manufactures will have a mounting plate that could create a torsion issue when the winch is used, most are tried and true.

4.) Mounting points... Most bumpers will give you mounting points to add after market products such as lights and antennas., however some require additional modifications or products to add such items.

5.) Looks... Pick one you like the looks of. If your going to fork out close to a grand for a bumper you better like it. We see a lot of ARB bumper customers that are coming from a tube style bumper to the ARB just because they didn't like their first pick. So pick one you like, that protects the vehicle they way you need it to.

[TACODOC]

I bought the ARB for my '05 when they first came out and have been a happy camper ever since.

The approach angle has never been an issue for me.

High quality + peace of mind protection.

[heeltoe989]

I bought the ARB for my '05 when they first came out and have been a happy camper ever since.

The approach angle has never been an issue for me.

High quality + peace of mind protection.

x2....


The approach angle has never been an issue for me. Mines taken a few good knocks including a lady that back into it with a neon, I looked at her car and then flicked the paint off, that she left on my bumper. :) Its great with winching too. The only thing I have a beef about the bumper is that there are no recovery points made into the bumper. All though I cured this problem by mounting d-ring mounts with a large 1/4 backing plate and grade 10 bolts.

It would have been nice to have d-ring mounts in the bumper from ARB like the previous gen Tacoma bumper.

[maxama10]

Its my understanding that the lack of shackle/clevis mounts is that it is airbag complaint and so, if you were to really put strain on it, it would fold like an accordion.

I'm not certain about that however.

Also, the fact that it is airbag compliant makes me think of crush points.

Thats why you're stock bumper is so crappy, because it is designed to take the force and just crumple.

[flyingwil]

I bought the ARB for my '05 when they first came out and have been a happy camper ever since.

The approach angle has never been an issue for me.

High quality + peace of mind protection.

The ARB's do not stick out on the new Tacos as far some other other models...

Below is what I am talking about:
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/ExPo/Bumpers/ARBFJ.jpg

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/ExPo/Bumpers/ap_fj_front_bumper_painted.jpg

In fact, Dave's ARB has saved my Taco in Baja!
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g230/devildoc25/100_0650.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g147/mlachica/IMG_7123.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g147/mlachica/IMG_7126.jpg

[heeltoe989]

I found the new ARB for the new Tundra sticks out allot. it looks like it adds another 14 inches to the length of the truck.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/cruiserconnection_1987_1238056

[flyingwil]

Also, the fact that it is airbag compliant makes me think of crush points.

The ARB bumpers offer a modified "Crush" can as seen in red below: (sorry for the crappy pic...
http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/ExPo/Bumpers/Crush.bmp

I was originally going to put an ARB on my Taco... I love the looks of them, and the safety they offer is paramount.

I like the ARB's so much that we started stocking them and selling them.

[Overland Hadley]

Here are two questions.

It is my understanding that the second gen. air bags do not deploy from a crush sensor, but from a impact sensor (like a g-force sensor). Is this true? If it is, then why does the ARB bumper need to crush?

And if the ARB does crush, then would that not make it fold under a minimal impact. Kind of like, why put on a big bumper if it will crush easily. Although I suppose that it would fold easily only in one direction, that of a head on impact.

Any ideas on these thoughts?

[heeltoe989]

Here are two questions.

It is my understanding that the second gen. air bags do not deploy from a crush sensor, but from a impact sensor (like a g-force sensor). Is this true? If it is, then why does the ARB bumper need to crush?

And if the ARB does crush, then would that not make it fold under a minimal impact. Kind of like, why put on a big bumper if it will crush easily. Although I suppose that it would fold easily only in one direction, that of a head on impact.

Any ideas on these thoughts?

your right the new ones work off a G-force sensor cause my ARB doesn't have any crush zones. I've bump tree and rocks pretty hard and the bumper hasn't moved an inch.

[Overland Hadley]

your right the new ones work off a G-force sensor cause my ARB doesn't have any crush zones. I've bump tree and rocks pretty hard and the bumper hasn't moved an inch.


So then would the airbags work any better with an ARB than a Shrockworks?

[cruiseroutfit]

Here are two questions.

It is my understanding that the second gen. air bags do not deploy from a crush sensor, but from a impact sensor (like a g-force sensor). Is this true? If it is, then why does the ARB bumper need to crush?

And if the ARB does crush, then would that not make it fold under a minimal impact. Kind of like, why put on a big bumper if it will crush easily. Although I suppose that it would fold easily only in one direction, that of a head on impact.

Any ideas on these thoughts?

The bumper is designed to decelerate at a prescribed rate. If it decelerates too slow (ie crushes alot) it might not fire the airbags (or not soon enough). If it decelerates to fast (ie a very rigid bumper that doesn't crush), the airbags might prematurely fire. I would rather replace a bumper than a life. Beyond that, its the testing... I'm sure other bumpers might pass the testing, but until they shell out the $$$, you leave yourself open to the liability accordingly. In this litigous society we live in, its not a comprimise I'm willing to take. Would I sway other from buying a different bumper, absolutely not, there are some killer designs on the market, make it your choice for your reasons :D

The older Tacomas had the crush cans Wil posted a pic of... I've got some here that I'll grab some pics of to show the "neat" things about them :D

[HMR]

So then would the airbags work any better with an ARB than a Shrockworks?I've never understood this either. I thought the airbags were triggered by a little ball being displaced at a certain G-force level? :confused:

Does the ARB connect to the frame in a different spot than all the other bumpers?

[HMR]

The bumper is designed to decelerate at a prescribed rate. If it decelerates too slow (ie crushes alot) it might not fire the airbags (or not soon enough). If it decelerates to fast (ie a very rigid bumper that doesn't crush), the airbags might prematurely fire. I would rather replace a bumper than a life.Interesting. That means the cheap stock plastic is designed to decelerate at a prescribed rate?


I'm sure other bumpers might pass the testing, but until they shell out the $$$, you leave yourself open to the liability accordingly. In this litigous society we live in, its not a comprimise I'm willing to take.If true, I think the bigger liability rests with Shrockworks, Demello, Bent-up, etc. If someone was injured in an accident and could prove the bumper affected the airbag deployment that would probably be the end of aftermarket bumper manufacturing.

[cruiseroutfit]

Interesting. That means the cheap stock plastic is designed to decelerate at a prescribed rate?

Absolutely! Not a doubt in mind Toyota plans their stock bumpers to "crush" at a set specification, thus deploying the airbags at a certain point of impact. Changing anything with regards to the bumper will to some degree change this relationship, thus why testing a bumper design might not actually have any design changes on the bumper, rather just guarantee it allows the airbags to deploy as designed.

[heeltoe989]

I've never understood this either. I thought the airbags were triggered by a little ball being displaced at a certain G-force level? :confused:

Does the ARB connect to the frame in a different spot than all the other bumpers?

No it connects at the same point as the stock bumper, but also uses allot of other frame mounting points that the new Tacoma already has. I'm sure a shrockworks and ARB would act very similar in a heavy impact.

I always think of it as, if the airbag is going off my bumper is my least concern.

[Overland Hadley]

The bumper is designed to decelerate at a prescribed rate. If it decelerates too slow (ie crushes alot) it might not fire the airbags (or not soon enough). If it decelerates to fast (ie a very rigid bumper that doesn't crush), the airbags might prematurely fire.



Now I understand it!

Thanks for explaining it cruiseroutfit, the way you described it makes sense to me.

I learn something new every day on the ExPo.

[Overland Hadley]

The older Tacomas had the crush cans Wil posted a pic of... I've got some here that I'll grab some pics of to show the "neat" things about them :D



That would be great!

[Lost Canadian]

A few things worth mentioning. The new Tacoma's front frame section is dimpled and is designed to crush in a stong impact. If you crawl under the front of the truck and check the front frame rails you'll see what I'm talking about. If you hit something hard enough it wont matter how beefy the front bumper is, the designed weak point will still be the front frame rails.

Also, with the ARB bumpers it's more then meeting airbag standards. The Aussies, build these bumpers to meet certain industry design regs., namely regulation ADR 69/00. Here's (http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/lic_CI-112B.pdf) a PDF overview.

[heeltoe989]

A few things worth mentioning. The new Tacoma's front frame section is dimpled and is designed to crush in a stong impact. If you crawl under the front of the truck and check the front frame rails you'll see what I'm talking about.

Also, with the ARB bumpers it's more then meeting airbag standards. The Aussies, build these bumper to meet certain industry design regs., namely regulation ADR 69/00. Here's (http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/lic_CI-112B.pdf) a PDF overview.


Very cool information.

[cruiseroutfit]

That would be great!

Here you go:

You can see by the construction how they have a "crush section", the neat thing isn't as much the design, but the fact that all 3 sides are manufactured out of one peice. As an engineer I am constantly amazed my neat manufacturing practices, this one surely includes that.

[cruiseroutfit]

How does it deal with winch loads, afterall these bumpers need to handle winching too, right?

Well, they use two of these straps per side, as you can see they are designed to buckle when compressed (front end collision), yet withstand the load of a winchpull, its easy enough to calculate the amount of force they can take under tension, thus not stretching the "crush" elements. Neato :cool: I keep a couple of them around to use as visual aides, and we have used them at ARB tech seminars in the past too, very useful tool to "show" instead of "tell" :D

[daverami]

How does it deal with winch loads, afterall these bumpers need to handle winching too, right?

Well, they use two of these straps per side, as you can see they are designed to buckle when compressed (front end collision), yet withstand the load of a winchpull, its easy enough to calculate the amount of force they can take under tension, thus not stretching the "crush" elements. Neato :cool: I keep a couple of them around to use as visual aides, and we have used them at ARB tech seminars in the past too, very useful tool to "show" instead of "tell" :D

A lot of engineering in this product. Very informative. A lot different than getting some plate steel and welding it up!

[TACODOC]

A lot of engineering in this product. Very informative. A lot different than getting some plate steel and welding it up!

Thats exactly why I bought an ARB instead of something custom ;)