Quality of "other" bullbars

[DEK44 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DEK44]

I've had a search on here and I'm trying to find out your opinions of the quality of bullbars from other manufacturers such as Ironman and Dobinsons etc.

Arb seems so over priced (but no doubt they have the best looking bar on the market imo), so I am just trying to see if anyone has put the cheaper priced stuff on their 150's

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

I've fitted a few ironman bullbar to various vehicles, they all look fine at time of fitment. After a bit over 5 years of shear neglect one I fitted to a 150 is starting to show its age with fade and chalky powder coat. In saying that the ARB bar fitted to my work ute about 4 years ago looks a lot worse.

[Mus Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mus]

Hey mate, i fitted a "Rockarmour" bullbar a little while back and have never regreted my decision. They look great and are definitely manufactured to a high standard. Multiple aerial and light mounts, winch craddle and thick tubing. Great welds. It also came with splash/bash guards to protect the winch etc. From memory they are very reasonably priced.

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

To be pefectly honest mate, majority of the bars out there are just as good quality as ARB. You truly are paying for a name.

I can't think of any bullbar that is not Australian made and had Australian quality inspections done on them. They're not mass produced items rolling out of an overseas factory. If they were... you'd pay similar money for them but would see plenty of poor reviews on construction. Price would be similar due to shipping costs. They're a big item with a lot of weight.

[DEK44 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DEK44]

Yeah fair enough lads.
Next question is, do you go alloy or steel? I want it for protection. It I'm. It in the bush all that often. So fuel economy is a big deal to me.

Probably alloy hey?

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

I have put my a alloy Toyota on my 2013 Kakadu the other week.
First alloy bar bought for more than 20 years since last alloy bar.
Had one TJM on a Triton and rattled on idle.
Other than one from WA the rest have been ARB.
Bought a alloy this time for weight on front.
Worst mistake, should have got a ARB.
Slight disagreement with a trailer tyre, pushed outside edge of bar into plastic bumper, buckled centre section = new bar and bumper.
If it had been a ARB bar, I think all it would of needed was a cut and polish.
Just no strength in outer curve of Toyota alloy bar. Bar has black rubber mark on alloy

[jaco150 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jaco150]

Hey DEK44 - I started to kit my 150 out a month after I got it and went crazy mad deciding on the bar work - best, better, quality, affordable (throw some more words in)
Ironman is not bad in my opinion, especially considering the price, at the Sydney Outdoor Expo I had a look at some of the bars from all the "Big Guns" - Ironman, TJM, ARB.

TJM and ARB are very very close in my opinion on build quality and overall engineering - Ironman did not impress me that much, but still not bad for the price. ARB and TJM price is not a big difference though.

Big thing would be - warranty and support should you not be happy after a few months (paintwork, etc)
- and ensure you fit that recovery points at the same time.

What really irritated me about ARB was their attitude toward me when I mentioned to them "for the $$ I am paying I would expect a bar that is shaped to work with the new 2014 FaceLift" - their response to me was "we still are a better bar than the competition"

I went with TJM bar - and very impressed with the look.

[jaco150 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jaco150]

On the Alloy - everybody (ARB, TJM, IronMan - and some others) advised me not to put an alloy on - unless you do city travel and school runs.
There is a reason why you are putting on the bar work - roo protection and to handle a couple of tough approach angles (and realise to late its a bit too much) and small shrubs walking onto your path...
Alloy bar will very quickly show the "bush work" - once again, opinions - very sure many are happy with the alloy bars they have fitted - but comes at a $price$ and not the strength.

[AndrewR Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AndrewR]

I had an Opposite lock bullbat fitted to my new GXL in December, IMO it is the best looking bar on the market

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Have the opposite lock too. Looks awesome. Good kit.

[Andyfive Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andyfive]

I have a TJM on a 150 because it looked the best. I wish i bought a ARB.

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

I have a TJM on a 150 because it looked the best. I wish i bought a ARB.

Why?

[Rob53 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rob53]

I had an Opposite lock bullbat fitted to my new GXL in December, IMO it is the best looking bar on the market

+1

[jaco150 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jaco150]

I have a TJM on a 150 because it looked the best. I wish i bought a ARB.

It does look better than the ARB (with face-lift model)

Why?

Would also like to know the answer?

[DEK44 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close DEK44]

Cheers fellas.

I think I'm going with a steel bar after all that and possibly got an ARB bar coming for a great price.