Smartbar fitted

[usefulpup Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close usefulpup]

Hi ,
We had a black Smartbar fitted to our graphite GXL this week. Used for 90% family taxi 10% fun. Big trip this June July up through the centre then Gibb River to Broome and over to Darwin.
$1900 fitted.
Here are some pictures.

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

Hi Usefulpup
Not to many fans of the Smartbar on the forum, from other threads posted.
However I think your combination looks pretty (Smart).
Its a shame they didn't develop one for the 120 series.
Keep the build up pics coming.
Cheers Troy

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

Great to see you took the plunge and dared to post it on pradopoint.

I think I'll leave my opinion to myself on this one ....

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

I'm with William on this one, but remember that you don't have to please anybody else it's your money & your Prado.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

I like the way it blends with the front guards. Well done!
How much did it weigh?

[Stephen77 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stephen77]

I think that it actually looks pretty good!

[wifecallsmegrumpy Member Find all posts View Profile Close wifecallsmegrumpy]

I reckon it looks pretty good. Nice one!

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

Please forgive my ignorance but, do these smart bars have provision for radio aerials, spotlights and a winch?

Cheers
Rev

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

Rev, thet are winch compatible and if you look closely at the pictures then there appears to be two wholes above the licence plate area in front of the radiator waiting for spotties to be fitted. Can't comment on an aerial mounting postion but my preference for those is on the roof anyway as you reduce the sheilding effect that is created by having the aerial in front of the vehicle.

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

To get the info from the horses mouth then read below but the answer to all your questions is yes. The limiting factor if you read the specs is it will only support a winch to 9000lbs. Im' looking at a winch for my 120 and would look at 9500lbs partially because I go with friends and there are two 100 series but also to give extra pulling strength:
http://www.smart-bar.com.au/en-AU/Products/Toyota



Toyota Prado 150

• 08/09 +
• Suits 3 Door VX & ZR, 5 door GX, GXL, VX & Kakadu
• Winch Bar Available
• Air bag Compatible
• Textured finish

Download Specification (638.222 KB)

[Giles Member Find all posts View Profile Close Giles]

Great to see you took the plunge and dared to post it on pradopoint.

I think I'll leave my opinion to myself on this one ....

Haha! Hey the main thing is that your happy with the end product,i'd rather a smart bar than an alloy bar any day!

Actualy the black is well and truly the best option on the smartbar,neat and tidy!

And by the way loving the front yard!

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

I think your smart bar looks good. It seems to fit better than the ARB or TJM bars. I have recently taken delivery of a new Prado as well. I have not made up my mind on which way to go with a bull bar yet. There seems to be a few knockers of the smart bar but reading some of the other threads the ARB and TJM are not without problems ether.

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

I think it looks good and will sevre your purposes also. Would be interesting to see how much it vibrates compared to the steel bars.

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

Hi
Keen to see if there was any vibration noted, particularly if driving lights vibrating. Any feedback from Smartbar drivers would be very welcome.

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

There is vibration with any bullbar on a Prado. Don't think my Smartbar vibrates any more than the ARB bar on my 120, however I don't have driving lights. I think there are other posts on here about lights vibrating on Smartbars. I did have driving lights on my 120 however they vibrated too.
BTW there are two models of Smartbar, one without a winch cradle and one with a cradle. The cradle adds about 10kg however the bar still weighs around half the weight of a steel bar. There are also some posts on here about Smartbars not coping very well with hitting large roos, however I am hoping never to test that. If getting a Smartbar just make sure that the mounting bolts are done up properly. Mine weren't and the bar tried to fall off in the Bungles.
Cheers.....wayne