Toyota Sovereign Bull Bar

[DarkHorse Member Find all posts View Profile Close DarkHorse]

G'Day crew. As some of you would know my 07 D4D Prado is a couple of months old. Car is leased through SMB. At the time I could not afford the extra cost of having the soveriegn bar fitted. In fact I only wanted a decent "nudge bar" so that I could fit some nice IPF or equivelant HID spotties to it.

I have looked around at various manufacturers and TJM/ARB etc, but dont really like the look of their bars.

I have decided to go the Toyota bar, and have it fitted at the 10,000k service. Was quoted $1495 fitted by my local dealer.

Can't wait, car just looks to plain without it and the standard headlights suck goats balls.

Only 5000k's to go............................

Rob

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Darkhorse,

I've got a Sovereign bar and if I had to do it again would get an ARB.
While I think the Toyota bar is the best looking on the market, the ARB gives a much better approach angle. In fact if you were in Perth I'd offer you a deal on mine.

Leachy

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

I agree with Leachy.

I went from a Toyota overbumper bar to the ARB. Best money I have spent on the car.

I do love the look of the Sovereign - but I bought the bar for frontal protection (roo strikes etc) - steel was the only way to go for me.

Besides, polisihing alloy bars is not my ideal pass-time.

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

I tend to agree, ARB is what I would prefer if I had the chance again. The Toyota bar looks good, but the ARB bar colour coded is the better buy.
cheers
Les

[Brissy4me Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brissy4me]

Take a look at the Ironman bars as well, they also have nice lines and are a much cheaper option than the ARB/TJM ones.

[DarkHorse Member Find all posts View Profile Close DarkHorse]

Maybe time to look at bit further, you guys are good at talking me into things.....

The colour coding idea sounds great. It is not the actual bar i dont like it is where it "joins" under the grille and headlight. Looks as though the Prado has been chop shopped hard to describe.

Whereas with the soverign becuase it has the wrap around "black bumper" moulded into it, seems to me to fit better???

Will see if i can get some pictures to show you what I mean.

Regards,


Rob

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

you guys are good at talking me into things.....

Happens to us all - best to sit back and allow yourself to be talked into lots of interesting new ideas

[Gordo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gordo]

Sovereign Bullbar - Is it winch compatible

Hi guys, I'm just about to order my new D4D Auto GXL with option 2. One question I have asked the dealers is - Is the Sovereign Bullbar Winch Compatible? - They are not sure, hense, neither am I.

You guys know what your talking about so I figure you could offer some valuable advice in this department. I was thinking of aftermarket, possibly ARB with a 12000lb winch???

Any advice will be welcome.

Thanks guys

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

The Sovereign bar is winch compatible - but you need to also buy the winch cradle (which sits between the bar and the chassis) and I know your dealer would recommend the Toyota winch.

A couple of the lads have fitted other winches and have had to make some minor mods to get them to fit.

Cheers
Chippy

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

This is true.

For me though, the ARB bar is the way to go.
Steel for those pesky marsupials that want to jump into oncoming traffic.
Winch mount is integral to the bar and mounts.
Improved approach angle. ++++++

If i was to buy the sovereign bar i would say to do a lift if possible as well as the Approach angle is no where near as good as the ARB bar, especially with the standard suspension.

Alloy means the bar will most probably come off second hand in a car to roo incident, plus keeping up the alloy polish to it would send me batty.

Its a great looking bar though which i was all set to buy until i saw the ARB offering.

Also what do toyota charge for one of these things when you buy them at purchase??

The ARB bar colour coded should come in at around $1500 approx.

Hell if i had my time over i would have gotten all the bit put onto the car at purchase.

[Gordo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gordo]

Thanks guys

Thanks for the input. On your advice, I am going with ARB colour-coded bullbar. This is similar in price to Sovereign bull-bar, so would rather go with a solid bar that i can winch with to my hearts content.

I should be putting my order in for a Toyota Prado within the next few weeks. Can't wait. :lol:

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Just make sure to budget for upgraded suspension as well
You'll need it after fitting ARB bar...

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Hi Gordo,
Do you need a winch that big??

[DarkHorse Member Find all posts View Profile Close DarkHorse]

Not so great news, finally came to booking in my prado for it's 10,000k service.

Organised to have the bullbar fitted, the original figure I was quoted in writing
back in May was $1425 which included fitting.

The "new" price as of today is $2060! I asked how Toyota could justify such a price increase in such as small amount of time, all I got was "i dunno"

The price of the ARB bars has increased as well :evil: price quoted for the sahara colour coded and fog lights was $2518!

Not happy Jan.

Rob

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Geebus, i just got my bar for $1526 supplied. Deluxe winch bar.
I would have thought that the sahara bar would be a bit cheaper as there is not as much steel in them...

Are you in Sydney yet???
Give ARB Newcastle a call and see what they can do for you.

Even if it cost you a $150 to get it shipped to you and then get them to fit it, it would be worth it if you saved a few hundred.