Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Recently we picked up an 04 GU III that has the useless stock plastic bar. We will be doing a lot of highway driving (off to Darwin in June for example) and want something that will survive a brush with the wildlife.

We are not looking at serious off-roading so winches are not needed. I was reading in another thread that the new ARB bars are thought to be not as strong as they used to be due to airbag compliance, can anybody back this up? Are alloy bars really too weak to do the job? because I like the idea of keeping the weight down.


MY last MQ had an old ARB bar that stood up to everthing, it would be nice to find something similar so feel free to express your views.

WYKKED wrote:I was reading in another thread that the new ARB bars are thought to be not as strong

it was a silly thought....

on GU's i have had


TJM T15 steel winchbar- shite weak pos
Factory Nissan winchbar (made by ARB) good but limited winch fitment
ARB Deluxe Winchbar - best of the 3 by a long way


i'm sure i've typed the same recently, search before asking

I did read your post in which you said..

TJM T15 steel winchbar- shite weak pos
Factory Nissan winchbar (made by ARB) good but limited winch fitment
ARB Deluxe Winchbar - best of the 3 by a long way


i'm sure i've typed the same recently, search before asking

So you are right, you have typed it recently, but since I am not interested in fitting a winch, just a bar for frontal protection, I was after a wider range of answers and opinions.

WYKKED wrote:But since I am not interested in fitting a winch, just a bar for frontal protection I was after a wider range of answers.

The winch bar will be the strongest for the application you require. its one of the strongest all round.

You can get the ARB/ETC non steel winch bar which will also do the job, but for the best lookin and one of the strongest, go with the ARB winch bar, which gives you the option in a few years if you decide your sick of being stuck off road. The TJM one looks average to me.

Thanks for that. Looks like my best (cheapest) option will be trying to find a secondhand factory bar that has been removed by someone wanting to fit a bigger winch.

I agree on the look of the TJM bars, I wasn't that impressed with their styling.

I had alook at the Factory bar when buying and I wasnt real impressed with the brackets and reinforcing etc. The ARB winch bar has a fair amount of reinforcing inside it, I'm not sure about their standard bar, One thing is though ,Like Bogged ,I would go the winch bar cos even if you dont fit a winch later it'll be heaps easier to sell. (???). I've hit a couple of things with my bar and no damage 'cept scratches. Do not buy aluminium - weak as.

I like the look of the ARB bar but if you're looking for strength you only have one option and that is Boomer Bullbars based in Toowoomba Qld. Go for a 4 or 5 or even 6 post alloy bar and you won't have any problems. A mate hit a horse with his at 80 km/h and all it did was tilt the bar slightly forward due to the oversize bolt holes in the mounting brackets. Cost is about $1000.

If you want peace of mind do yourself a favour and have one fitted on your way to Darwin.

I would just go the nissan Factory bar which is made by ARB, do you really need one of thoughs big ugly 4-5 post alloy bar.

You can pick up the nissan factory bar generally in a new condition for under $500.

Or find yourself an ARB deluxe bar but if you want to keep the cost down and need stregth factory nissan bar would be ideal.

Factory / ARB bars are OK but for god sake don't hit anything as they are pretty weak.

patrolmad wrote: Boomer Bullbars based in Toowoomba Qld. Go for a 4 or 5 or even 6 post alloy bar and .

look like a total hillbilly,
does it come with 2000 Bundy stickers?

patrolmad wrote:Factory / ARB bars are OK but for god sake don't hit anything as they are pretty weak.

I doubt it very much ARB bars are extremely strong and they go to great lengths of engineering and testing far more than the other mob who are creating the big bulky alloy bar.

And most competitors are now running modified ARB for comp trucks as they are good base to modify to fit larger winches as they are far stronger then any tube bar and they have more protection.

With the ARB winch bars, are these all airbag compatible?

If my thinking is right (and it may well not be) anything that is airbag compatible will not be as strong because the mounts all have to have crumple zones in them. For standard use and winching this is not an issue but I believe in a collision ie. hitting a large animal on the highway at 110kph the bar and your car will almost certainly be a write off.

thwack wrote:With the ARB winch bars, are these all airbag compatible?

If my thinking is right (and it may well not be) anything that is airbag compatible will not be as strong because the mounts all have to have crumple zones in them. For standard use and winching this is not an issue but I believe in a collision ie. hitting a large animal on the highway at 110kph the bar and your car will almost certainly be a write off.

Not all ARB winch bars are air bag so you can pick them up quite cheap as the non-air bag bars are the cheapest.

If you hit a roo or anything the bar isnt desiged to complete crumple its on the crumple section that mounts onto the chassis rail that crumples and then activates the airbag so the entire contruction of the bar is the same. (so i have been told).

Anyway best of luck of what you choose.

morkz wrote:

patrolmad wrote:Factory / ARB bars are OK but for god sake don't hit anything as they are pretty weak.

I doubt it very much ARB bars are extremely strong and they go to great lengths of engineering and testing far more than the other mob who are creating the big bulky alloy bar.

And most competitors are now running modified ARB for comp trucks as they are good base to modify to fit larger winches as they are far stronger then any tube bar and they have more protection.

I hope he was talkin of the Nissan shiney Ti Chrome bars that layback about 1inch from the bonnet.

bogged wrote:

morkz wrote:

patrolmad wrote:Factory / ARB bars are OK but for god sake don't hit anything as they are pretty weak.

I doubt it very much ARB bars are extremely strong and they go to great lengths of engineering and testing far more than the other mob who are creating the big bulky alloy bar.

And most competitors are now running modified ARB for comp trucks as they are good base to modify to fit larger winches as they are far stronger then any tube bar and they have more protection.

I hope he was talkin of the Nissan shiney Ti Chrome bars that layback about 1inch from the bonnet.

No I wasn't talking about the Ti Bar. The factory steel bar is very weak. I hit a wallaby with it one once at low speed and it boomeranged it. I'd hate to think what a big red would do???

If your on the H'Way travelling at 120km/phr your best bet is don't hit anything. The winch bar's seem to be very solid in the guts, when I worked out west in the drought (1992 one that is) we had winch bars which held out O.K. as long as you had the presence of mind and driver skill/discipline to realise when you couldn't avoid/stop in time. When you couldn't stop you would line the soon to be deceased animal to dead middle and the most you'd loose would be a spottie. Tried this with a factory alloy bar a few months ago and cost $4k damage. I now have a ARB winch bar after a fair bit of reasearch. My 2 bobs worth anyway.

have u seen TJM's new bar, not there old T15, its strong as, had a look at the 4x4 show

WYKKED wrote:Thanks for that. Looks like my best (cheapest) option will be trying to find a secondhand factory bar that has been removed by someone wanting to fit a bigger winch.

I agree on the look of the TJM bars, I wasn't that impressed with their styling.

just did the above on new work bus and new light forces are a good thing to

Hottie posted in forsale section

ITEM:
Nissan Patrol GU (Y61) Steel Winch Bar

CONDITION:
Used but in excellent condition

REASON FOR SELLING:
Dont have a GU and is a mates

PRICE AND PRICE CONDITIONS:
$600 ono.

EXTRA INFO:
call my mates mobile 0437107621, its his.

LOCATION:
Melbourne, Beaconsfield

PICTURES:
Picture would be inserted.

The TJM winch bars are solid as they come. They have a new out back which is made of 4mm and is designed very well making the winch plates 6mm one piece and so on. They look awsome. Nissan OE for the new pathfinder and navara have been recalled because there mounting plates have been cracking.

LudaCris