ARB BAR vs TJM BAR

[Richo]

I ended up ordering the TJM bar today after ARB told me that there were 431 unfulfilled order for bars waiting in the system and they had no idea when they'd be able to supply. TJM bar will be in and colour coded in 1-2 weeks.
Also the winch controller is mounted in the winch inside the bar so doesn't get in the way of the radar cruise. I will have to work out where to move the front camera to though.
Anyone with design skills should design a retro fit for the camera and sell the kit to ARB and TJM.
431 bars for ARB were Kakadu bars only with the sensors so every one of these would need the camera moved.

[gt3racer]

When I ordered a bar about three year ago whilt they didn't say the colour would not match they did warn that there may be a subtle difference. It turned out fine and i could see no difference. I think however "OzzyG's" uggestioni an excellent one and the way I would go if I had thought of it....

[ozzygs]

Hi All,

I have a pearl white 2009 Kakadu, looking in to getting the colour coded deluxe ARB bar, however when i went to the local ARB store, i wont mention which one i was told that ARB do not garuntee that the colour code will match the existing paint. So i am stuck as to do i get the pearl white colour coded and hope it matches or get plain white and hope it looks okay against the pearl??

Does anyone have a pearl prado with either a pearl arb bar or a white bar fitted and what are your opinions?

Cheers!

Hi,

I have a Pearl Kakadu with the pearl ARB Shara Bar. I think the main issue is that the bars are powder coated black first them painted over the top.
I would suggest paying for an extra coat of paint on your bar. My bars colour is good but it has a shadow of black in the colour.
I am still very happy with it and at the end of the day it is a 4wd work horse for me.
Picture attached
http://htmon.smugmug.com/Cars/Prado/...P1030722-M.jpg

Hope this helps.

[Tjgeling]

Hi All,

I have a pearl white 2009 Kakadu, looking in to getting the colour coded deluxe ARB bar, however when i went to the local ARB store, i wont mention which one i was told that ARB do not garuntee that the colour code will match the existing paint. So i am stuck as to do i get the pearl white colour coded and hope it matches or get plain white and hope it looks okay against the pearl??

Does anyone have a pearl prado with either a pearl arb bar or a white bar fitted and what are your opinions?

Cheers!

[Bulldog67]

Well said gt3racer, I went with the ARB Delux Winch Bar option also. I dealt with ARB St Peters and they gave me a similar feeling. I spent a while speaking with John C in store prior the Rosehill Show. I spoke with him again at the show and got better deal, very genuine gentlemen.

[Nath]

Bit the bullet and decided to get the TJM T13 bar from Maroochydore for $2270 (colour coded and installed). I rung around everywhere in SE QLD and everyone was around the same price.

I personally will not be offended if anyone got a cheaper price; I just hope that other PPers can make benefit from knowing what the market price is.

[Chivers580]

4. Pricing, I'm really happy with the price I got. I know that if I put it up, I'll get 50 people telling me how i got ripped off etc and how their brothers mate nows a guy who is married to a girl who's screwing a bloke who could have saved me another 100 bucks, so I wont post it for all to see but will tell any one who is serious by PM. Suffice it to say that I negotiated a price based on what is beng offered at the camping show, and having saved enough off retail, decided to also order a snorkel and lights.


Classic, love ya work

[gt3racer]

For any one still interested in this thread I ordered the first few bits for my build today which included a Steel bullbar and I went for the ...ARB Delux colour coded winch compatible bar. My reasoning,
1. Go with what you know, I have had one before fitted by ARB Southside and there were no issues.
2. I like the look, to my taste the TJM bar is just a bit to curvy (Dame Edna raised eyebrow over the guards I know its peronal taste, but to be honest, I think The ARB is a great looking bar.
3. Customer service, The ARB guy was happy to chat and awnser all my questions, had one fitted to a demo vehicle to show me and generally knew his product. By comparison,The TJM guy couldnt show me an example (even for another vehicle, all he could offer was a picture on the internet), and couldn't really awnser my questions. Eg, he wasn't sure if the bar had provision for my parking sensors. I guess I just didn't get the vibe that these guys were in love with their product.
4. Pricing, I'm really happy with the price I got. I know that if I put it up, I'll get 50 people telling me how i got ripped off etc and how their brothers mate nows a guy who is married to a girl who's screwing a bloke who could have saved me another 100 bucks, so I wont post it for all to see but will tell any one who is serious by PM. Suffice it to say that I negotiated a price based on what is beng offered at the camping show, and having saved enough off retail, decided to also order a snorkel and lights.
5.Finally, and I know its not important to many, but it is to me, The ARB bar is manufactured in Australia. I'm all for helping keep Assies employed. The TJM guy said that they make the first hundred or so in autralia and than move the manufacture to Asia. Again, aussie made where possible issomething thats important to me.
Hope this has helped any one trying to decide between the two... any questions, happy to awnser.

[pussbus]

Hey Tim that definetly doesn't look right. Hopefully they will come good and replace the infil panels for free.

[tim_k]

The original bumper was bent by a roo and got binned. The TJM rep I spoke to at head office thought the fit looked ok on the photos. Obviously I disagreed. He told me to refer my complaint to the manager of the store where I got it fitted.

Update: Manager has ordered new inserts that I'll leave unpainted. He has been pretty understanding so far about my issues with the product

[downunder]

I am in this same Issue which way to go,
Arb, tjm but my front bumper is not properly matching the front guards so I am thinking the TJM May be the better solution but concerned with the quality and fit of the inserts.

Sent from my HTC Ruby using Tapatalk 2

[Richoson]

Tim

Very average job, also you might want to quiz the TJM rep about the paint on the inserts as I have seen many that the paint blisters and falls off, I agree with Hutch go for the originla bumper cut.

Richo.

[tim_k]

Thanks Hutch and Rogerthatv2. I'll follow this up today.

[Rogerthatv2]

Hi all. Just got a TJM T13 for my ZR and, to be honest I'm very unhappy with the fit. The shape of the inserts doesn't appear to line up with the lines on the fender. The photos I've seen in this thread and others appears to show a much better fit than what I have. Please check out the photos at the following link and give me your opinion as to whether they are normal, warped or installed incorrectly.

http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...TJM%20Inserts/

I spoke with a rep at TJM today but haven't heard back from them as yet

Tim they have been painted and baked in an oven and that has caused them to warp, TJM provide very strict instructions to their dealers about how to paint them but still some paint shops know best... I would not be happy with that at all and would be asking for another set to be painted (as per the instructions) and fitted at no charge. The ones you have on you Prado now are buggered.

[JoshF]

I have my TJM bar colour coded to my vehicle (second hand bar that was bright white versus my darker colour), Autobahn will mix a small pot of touch up paint for not many dollars if you are worried about stone chips etc.