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Tezza222z · 27-01-2011, 02:37 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

It's interesting to note the negative comments on the Smartbar. It would seem to me that they have done a reasonable job of the impossible (trying to make a good looking bar for the 150). Every bar that I have seen so far is ugly and that is the fault of the up swept headlights on the Prado. In my opinion the Smart bar is no worse looking that any of the others but it would seem to offer a few practical advantages over them.
The big question is "has anybody bought one yet?".
I had a TJM bar on my Landrover and that was one seriously strong bar.
I do not know which bar to buy for my 150. Maybe I should have bought a 120!!!! :roll:
Cheers
Tezza

masso · 27-01-2011, 04:07 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Thought it might have been a typo..... SMARTBAR......instead of .......... SPORTSBRA....!

bevwone · 27-01-2011, 04:18 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Off topic but I do like the way the rackmaster/cheetah roof rack connects to the existing roof racks.

And I wouldn't mind seeing the picture with the white smart bar from the front.

Bev

Dakkas · 27-01-2011, 07:31 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Originally posted by Strider

Although I agree that is not a good looking bar, I must say having had a Smartbar on my Disco for 6 years they are a far superior bar to the steel or alloy bars. Hit a large roo once and it did absolutely no damage. They work like a snatch strap in reverse absorbing the impact and then bouncing back. Any small deformities in shape after a mild to medium impact disappear after an hour in hot sunlight.
Luckily I didn't experience a heavy impact so cant say how they handle one but I would be confident they would handle it better than steel or alloy. Just my opinion.

Alan.

Totally agree, smartbars are a great bit of gear. If you look through the previous bullbar discussions you'll see where I said the local police where I used to live hit a roo at 150kph while responding to a serious car crash - they hit it in a Pajero with a smart bar.

All they sustained was a busted light and a few minor things such as plastic panels that needed to be clicked together and the black wheel guards coming out. See that happen with a steel bar and the chassis would be twisted and the car disabled due to the bar rolling back onto the bonnet and piercing the radiator - I've done that in my old work car with an ARB steel bar.

strombleki · 28-01-2011, 11:01 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Hmmm..
Thats got Me thinking now..
Would love to be able to get pics of this bar painted in silver pearl fitted to a Silver pearl Prado !!
Any way this could possibly be done Photoshop maybe.. :idea: :idea: :?: :?:

davtan · 29-01-2011, 01:28 AM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Don't take delivery on our new prado for another week or two yet, but after having a smartbar on my current vehicle for the last 5 years and hitting 7 roos in that time, once hitting two roos at the sametime. The only damage incurred was one busted spot light, I would be happy to put a smartbar on any vehicle i was buying. I live in Broome and do a lot of trips on and off road including the Gibb about 2x year. I have never seen a smartbar fail yet

Schniff · 29-01-2011, 12:17 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

These will probably be the only bars we will be able to fit if these new Euro design regulations are put in place.

rob31.00 · 31-01-2011, 12:51 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

I had a smart bar on my 90 series prado and thought it was great, now that I have upgraded to the 150 I too am on the prowl for a bullbar.

I had hoped to get a smartbar fitted however after looking at the photos I am a bit hesitant, the bits that wrap up and around the headlights make the bar look a bit ugly...
So the bar gets a cross :cry: for looks.

I emailed smart bar and they tell me the bar is AS 4876.1-2002. After perusing the standard, I see now why the "wrap up and around" bit has been done to meet the standard and minimise the risk to pedestrians.
So the bar gets a tick

for compliance.

I read the 4WD Action magazine, bullbar comparison, and the smart bar performed really well, I think better then the rest. The only damage after the impact test was a bent bracket, the bar returned back to it's normal shape, whereas most of the others had bent side bars that crumpled the gaurds as well as fouled the wheels/tyres.
So the bar gets a tick

for survivability.

The bar only takes up to a 9000lbs winch, which is a pity, as 12000 lbs winches are becoming more main stream...
As this can be overcome with pulleys etc. I'll leave it as a sore point :roll: and not award a cross or tick...

So I too am in a quandry, do I go for the ARB Sahara ($2531 fitted and colour coded) which looks good and hopefully stops the roos or $2300 (fitted) for the Smart Bar...

William · 31-01-2011, 06:20 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Originally posted by rob31.00

I had a smart bar on my 90 series prado and thought it was great, now that I have upgraded to the 150 I too am on the prowl for a bullbar.

I had hoped to get a smartbar fitted however after looking at the photos I am a bit hesitant, the bits that wrap up and around the headlights make the bar look a bit ugly...
So the bar gets a cross :cry: for looks.

I emailed smart bar and they tell me the bar is AS 4876.1-2002. After perusing the standard, I see now why the "wrap up and around" bit has been done to meet the standard and minimise the risk to pedestrians.
So the bar gets a tick

for compliance.

I read the 4WD Action magazine, bullbar comparison, and the smart bar performed really well, I think better then the rest. The only damage after the impact test was a bent bracket, the bar returned back to it's normal shape, whereas most of the others had bent side bars that crumpled the gaurds as well as fouled the wheels/tyres.
So the bar gets a tick

for survivability.

The bar only takes up to a 9000lbs winch, which is a pity, as 12000 lbs winches are becoming more main stream...
As this can be overcome with pulleys etc. I'll leave it as a sore point :roll: and not award a cross or tick...

So I too am in a quandry, do I go for the ARB Sahara ($2531 fitted and colour coded) which looks good and hopefully stops the roos or $2300 (fitted) for the Smart Bar...

Did they mention anything about the approach angle?

rob31.00 · 01-02-2011, 09:57 AM

Re: smartbar bullbar

Hi William,
Emailed Smartbar and they've just come back with...
"Prado approach angle of standard Prado with no SmartBar fitted 32 degrees. Approach angle with SmartBar fitted 33 degrees. Approach angle is improved by 1 degree following fitment of SmartBar"

Regards
Robin

DAM0 · 10-02-2011, 03:58 PM

Re: smartbar bullbar