Second hand stuff - need opinions, ideas, thoughts

[Ansible Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ansible]

Hi everyone,

I've been thinking about buying various extras for my 120 series, but every time I walk into ARB I just end up walking back out again.
I know there are alternatives that are much much cheaper, and I got to wondering whether or not second hand stuff was worth a consideration.

Specifically what I'm looking to buy short term are roof racks (preferably caged), a bullbar and snorkel.

First and foremost, I need to know if there any any good reasons NOT to buy second hand stuff. A friend of mine once cautioned me against it, saying there's no good reason why people sell eg. bullbars... and by extension, that any second hand bullbar I might find is likely defective or a piece of cr*p in the first place.

If ultimately, there's nothing wrong with hand-me-downs, can anyone suggest where I might go to fnid some good quality second hand items? again, specifically referring to roof racks and bullbars. I think it would be a good idea to avoid wreckers, for obvious reasons. And besides eBay and Gumtree I can't think of any good sites or places to look.

Thanks in advance guys.
A

[Guest Close Guest]

I got my bullbar off a Pradopoint member who wanted to upgrade to an ARB bullbar. There was nothing wrong with it apart from looking used.

I have also heard stories (first hand) of people buying bullbars off strangers but something is bent once fitted although it looked alright off the car.

I don't think anyone would be selling a 2nd hand snorkel, though.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Just do your research. There are genuine sellers out there. If anything looks suss just walk away.

Roof cages should be fine. I sold one recently because it was just too small to hold my solar panel. Since replaced with a slightly larger one.

You will find decent second hand bullbars from people who are selling theirs after an upgrade. Its all about history. For instance I have the factory bulbar on my 120. I'd like an ARB one, but just can't justify it at the moment, and there's no pressing need. If I ever did swap, I'd try selling my factory bulbar to try and make some money back on it. There's nothing wrong with it, but its not shiny and new.

Wreckers might be ok. If a car has been rear ended wouldn't, it shouldn't the snorkel much for instance. Try these guys:
http://www.southside4x4wreckers.com.au/

[D4Dforme Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dforme]

Nothing wrong with secondhand if you do your homework and thoroughly check out the item..........

I know what your saying about ARB but they do have good gear but they know how to charge for it.

Have you looked at Opposite Lock?.........I have found them to be better on pricing and to be honest I like their gear more than others.....everything I have checked out/bought from them has been very good quality and if I was to do a ground up build I would make them my first port of call.

Maybe there is a local 4x4 club near you that you could contact/join.....lots of people like to do upgrades and sell off their old accessories.

Dan

Dan

[Ansible Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ansible]

Thanks heaps for the suggestions guys.
I'll keep an eye out for some clubs near me, and for any stuff I see floating around.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

No reason not to buy second-hand, you just need to be a bit more careful checking to make sure everything is OK.

If you don't need a winch bar then its quite likely you would find people upgrading from a non winch to a winch bar.

Try putting up a wanted thread here on the forum, you never know who might be thinking of selling something.

Cheers Andrew

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I have a second hand passenger seat warmer if your interested. It is fully optioned so it also:
1. will keep you awake on long trips because it never shuts up,
2. can also be utilised to replace a scanguage. I.e. it tells you you are travelling too fast, or too radical, to watch out for the (insert rabbit, tree, pram, etc), and
3. replaces a full set of encyclopedia Britanica and Google because it knows everything.

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

I have a second hand passenger seat warmer if your interested. It is fully optioned so it also:
1. will keep you awake on long trips because it never shuts up,
2. can also be utilised to replace a scanguage. I.e. it tells you you are travelling too fast, or too radical, to watch out for the (insert rabbit, tree, pram, etc), and
3. replaces a full set of encyclopedia Britanica and Google because it knows everything.

I guess you are definitely staying in the doghouse a bit longer now.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

The dog has ducted A/C!

Re second hand if you can eyeball it or have it looked over by someone you trust I don't see any issues.

[draino Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close draino]

Why avoid auto wreckers?

A 2 year old $65,000 vehicle, wriiten off after a rear end collision, probably has a perfectly servicable front bar or snorkel or radiator or front suspension or throttle position sensor or altenator or whatever.

From personal experience, a decent yard is going to charge about half retail for a part in "as new" condition, and between a quarter and a third for everything else worth buying.

Particularly good ones will give you a 10% to 15% discount if you bring your own tools and remove whatever bit you need yourself, with the added advantage that you are going to know precisely how to refit it to your vehicle, and you can shove a few spare fuses or brake caliper bolts in your pocket and nobody gives a toss.

Just be careful and know what problems to look out for, or take a friend who does and learn.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

There have been a few Prado's and quite a few other vehicles written off by drowning in Nolans Brook and I am sure other places, a bullbar off a wreck like that would still be fine.

Cheers Andrew

[draino Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close draino]

..

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

So you've seen the Youtube of the brand new (at the time) 2012 GLX drowned at Nolan's because the owner took a bad line and didn't have the guts to redline his way out of trouble?

Didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I watched it.

Yes I have seen it, he is a member here on the forum. Your assessment of what went wrong is a little harsh, have you ever driven through Nolans Brook?

Cheers Andrew

[draino Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close draino]

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[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

4 and half foot deep water crossing No Snorkel I am just sitting here shaking my head dumfounded at those comments.

Anyway, if you drive as you suggest through Nolans you will end up drowned as well, the last thing you want to do is floor it.

Cheers Andrew