Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

[Paluka126 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Paluka126]

Hi Guys,

Let the "hand brake" drive the Prado, and she ran it up the back of a Suzuki Swift! The Sovereign bullbar really made a mess of the Swift, but protected the other half nicely. The insurance comapny is paying for the repairs. Question - what's the better bullbar for the D4D, the Toyota Sovereign bullars (which gets dull and discolored) or the new ARB Deluxe bull bar. I've heard that the cost is almost the same, so the insurance company is happy either way. Any suggestions? I have IPF 900 lights and a UHF aerial fitted to the bar.[attachment=0:4s9t9yef]moto_0036.jpg[/attachment:4s9t9yef]

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

what's the better bullbar for the D4D

Neither is better.. they both have their Pro's and Con's... it's the one that suits your requirements/needs that is best for you.

Try searching... this has been discussed a hundred times before...


Mick

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

well my sov bar is sitting in the shed now and is replaced by deluxe arb winch bar...

they are stronger and the colour coded make them a lot less hassel to keep clean..

joey

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

What Joey said, i would replace mine with an ARB in a heart beat, sovereign is a B@$Tard to polish!!!

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

True, the sovereign takes a bit of effort to keep polished. But once you get them polished up, say 1/2 an hour a month is all you need to keep a decent shine on them. A shined up Sovereign looks downright wicked in my opinion. Alloy though, wont take as much of a hit as steel bars. Once hit too, the strength in them is basically gone. You can bend them back but a lot of the protective strength is gone. Steel takes a right beating and then comes back for more.

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

if the 'hand brake' it going to be let loose in the prado again.. get the steel one... don't colour code it, easier to touch up plain black

seriously, how hard did she hit... My Mrs would like a Swift but I'm not keen as there's no crumple zone between the rear passengers and a rear-ender (like most little cars)

Nige.

[metro09 Member Find all posts View Profile Close metro09]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Any pics to show how the sovereign ended up?

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Any pics to show how the sovereign ended up?

i was thinking that, would be interested to see how the front of the prado looked after that hit! it looks like she hit it dead on centre! Very symmetrical damage.

[05oiler Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 05oiler]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

I had a Sovereign Bar on my previous 2005 Prado and I now have an ARB Deluxe Winch Bar on my 2008. The Sovereign bar is easier to clean because it is more aerodynamic (rounded with less sharp edges). I didn't bother polishing it, I just scrubbed it with a nylon brush and CT-18 Truckwash. This kept a good shine without the extra effort of polishing it. The ARB bar has better clearance, has the protective skirts, recovery points and looks really great. The standard colour is dark grey not black and suits my Charcoal GXL very well. I posted some photos on the "Suspension Measurements 2" thread. The ARB bar is only a little bit heavier than the Sovereign bar. Steel vs Alloy and still a similar weight, the Sovereign bar has a whole range of steel bracing behind it. I just set the adjusting collar to ring three on my Bilstein shocks and it rides perfectly. I probably should have done this with the first car. I was quoted $2000 fitted for a new Sovereign bar and $1995 fitted for my ARB bar. I now have what I want.

Regards

Garry

[Paluka126 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Paluka126]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Thanks Guys for your responses. Am now getting the ARB Deluxe bar put on the car tomorrow. The ARB bar is cheaper than the Sovereign in any case, even though the foggies come separately. Had to wait two weeks to have the bar made up by ARB Melbourne. Damage to my car in the accident was minimal, with the Sovereign bar just splaying back onto the front bonnet. There was no scratches or dents to any of my paintwork, The bulbs were broken on my IPFs though. Will post a pics when it is finnished tomorrow.

Rog.

[Paluka126 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Paluka126]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Guys,

Attached are some pics of the new ARB Deluxe winch bar. Very happy with it. You can certainly feel the added weight of the steel bar as opposed to the alloy one!

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Can see that next weekends project will be to clean up and spray a little matt black on to the original toyota bash plate!

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Is the gap between the chassis and bar in the last photo normal?

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

Is the gap between the chassis and bar in the last photo normal?

needs a lick of black paint in there

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

Re: Bull Bar for D4D Prado GXL

[quote="05oiler"]I just set the adjusting collar to ring three on my Bilstein shocks and it rides perfectly.

Hi Garry,

Having just fitted a Deluxe bar, spot lights and a second battery to my car I would like to raise my Bilteins to the second ring. Could you tell me how this is done and whether the strut has to be removed from the car? Also is this a better solution than going for heavier springs?

Thanks

Neil