smartbar bullbar

[fattyboombatty]

Digging up an old thread. Came across the smart bar to day and I like the idea of it for my needs. Not much of an offroader - want to invest in some bumper protection as well as being able to deal with a wildlife strike during the few times a year we go camping

Managed to get one quote for $2700. The ARB price list for March 2017 states $2332 installed for the non-winch model. Does the price get ignored or are people trying higher quotes just to see if they can hook one in?

[cbm8880]

Has anyone had one of these fitted recently? What did it cost you?

[AK7]

After doing much research and deliberation into available bullbars and nudgebars and what suits my purposes most, I'm leaning towards the SmartBar. However, I'd really like to see up close how the spotlights mount to the bar and how they can be secured (from theft). As I understand, it's a customised steel bar that bolts onto the Smartbar. Is it fixed into threaded inserts moulded into the SmartBar, or are there nuts underneath that can be replaced for security nuts?

Could I trouble someone to take a close-up pic of the spotlight mount please?

[ko7624]

Hi Ken,

can you tell me how you mounted 4x spotties on the bar? i would love some pencil beams on mine. Also +1 for a white bar. I think they look good on the white car.

thanks

Lee

Lee,

I just got a length of aluminium angle iron(around 40 x 25 x 3mm) from bunnings and bolted that onto the existing mounts using the two spot light holes that are already there. This effectively made a longer version of the existing mount which you can then drill 4 new holes in and mount your extra spotties. For what its worth Ive got 2x Lightforce 170s focussed into pencils beams and 2x ebay LED lights(12 SMD LEDs) which work great as spread/flood beams.

Cheers,

Ken

[Vk3zgw]

Smart Bar with HF antenna.

Well finally I've done the HF install. First using the FAMPARC Multi band I had lousy readings on the analyser. Resonant points and impedance at the band points all over the place.

I then fitted some 1" wide tinned braid cable from the mobile one base fixing bolt through the grille to the nearest body structure. I scrapped off the paint back to metal and fitted a 3/16" bolt (sorry, imperial aircraft hardware as I have heaps of it.) I covered the bare metal and washers used with conducting carbon grease to protect the metal from rusting. Then I ran another run of the braid from this point back to the cranking battery earth terminal.

Now the antenna hit the marks according to the analyser. Correct R and J values fall on or close to the band taps on the whip. It is possible to run without an ATU. I will add more braid to the bonnet hinges to further enhance the grounding.

End result, you can get a good HF result with a SB with a bit of extra effort.

Geoff

[leethal1]

Another +1 for the white on white Smart Bar.

I fitted mine with winch, 4x spotties and put DRL LEDs in the outer vents and am quite impressed with the look.


As for scratches and paint match queries posted previously: I find that since the smart bar is a matt textured finish it doesn't need to be an exact colour match. I find it hard to see any colour difference especially in the sunlight. I have a glacier white not pearl 150 with the white bar.

As for repairs, the Smart Bar Sydney dealer advised me to use armour-all or similar as a dirt repellent. Bugs can be removed with gumption cleanser if car wash doesn't work and the bugs have been 'baked' on. Finally, scratch repairs can be done by using a heat gun and then pressing a medium grained sandpaper onto it to match the textured finish.

The only negative I have found is that the pencil beam spotties can 'vibrate' a bit to much when compared to any metal bar as the plastic bar is soaking up the vibrations of the road. Its not massive but is noticeable when comparing spotties with an ally or steel bar that generally don't vibrate at all.

Cheers,

Ken

Hi Ken,

can you tell me how you mounted 4x spotties on the bar? i would love some pencil beams on mine. Also +1 for a white bar. I think they look good on the white car.

thanks

Lee

[ko7624]

Another +1 for the white on white Smart Bar.

I fitted mine with winch, 4x spotties and put DRL LEDs in the outer vents and am quite impressed with the look.


As for scratches and paint match queries posted previously: I find that since the smart bar is a matt textured finish it doesn't need to be an exact colour match. I find it hard to see any colour difference especially in the sunlight. I have a glacier white not pearl 150 with the white bar.

As for repairs, the Smart Bar Sydney dealer advised me to use armour-all or similar as a dirt repellent. Bugs can be removed with gumption cleanser if car wash doesn't work and the bugs have been 'baked' on. Finally, scratch repairs can be done by using a heat gun and then pressing a medium grained sandpaper onto it to match the textured finish.

The only negative I have found is that the pencil beam spotties can 'vibrate' a bit to much when compared to any metal bar as the plastic bar is soaking up the vibrations of the road. Its not massive but is noticeable when comparing spotties with an ally or steel bar that generally don't vibrate at all.

Cheers,

Ken

[NatSX]

just another pic....

[Beach]

I wish they made these for the 120.

[Vk3zgw]

Sorry, been a bit slack in posting the pics of my new SB.


http://s10.postimg.org/3wgf1b2y1/IMG_1399.jpg

http://s21.postimg.org/kq92p0vhz/IMG_1400.jpg

http://s23.postimg.org/60l2goft7/IMG_1401.jpg

http://s23.postimg.org/w56z3jjt7/IMG_1441.jpg

I like it, and so does the wife so that's important. As has been said, not a complete colour match to the white but close enough for me.

However, disappointed that I asked and paid for 2 antenna mounts and got one. Came with only the one available on the LHS. Contacted SB via their web site, NO REPLY. Its a bit of an issue for me as I need the spacing between antennas. Looks like I could fit rivnuts to the pads on the RHS and that's what I asked SB, but....still waiting!

[harro]

Thanks Nat. Just the information I was looking for. Harro

[NatSX]

I have white on white..... not a perfect match but looks good to me. have done a reasonable amount of scrubby track work and no issues with scratches so far.

Nat.

[Wannabe]

I have white on white and the matching looks good to me. Did big trip last year - Adelaide - Mt Dare - Alice - Gary Junction Road - Ruddall River - Pilbara - Ningaloo - Mt Augustus. A couple of stone chips, once the top few mm are worn away you get a very kind of colour, but this seems to blend in. BTW I reckon the smartbar is the best looking bar.

[ggrog]

Also tks hulbyw and Trevc and harro for the summation. This is good info particularly about the mounting. Being conservative, I might stick to the black. Greg

[harro]

Choices

Thanks Trevc and hulbyw for your helpful comments. I am finding it a difficult choice. Seems that there are four considerations with choosing a smart bar. First is general appearance which is a personal choice. Second is if you hit an animal will the vehicle be driveable and from the evidence it appears the smart bar provides similar levels of protection to an equivalent steel bar and any serious impact will result in an insurance claim in any case. Third is if approach angle is compromised compared to an ARB or TJM bar. Lastly how the appearance of the bar is affected by scrub bashing. It is these last two factors where it is hard to get reliable information from actual owners of the smart bar. I have a few weeks before the new vehicle is delivered so will keep working on it. Harro