ARB Bull bar. (Not Sahara) Anyone ?

Do you have to remove any parts that would have to be welded back on if you return to stock ?

Does it need that plastic trim piece around the top edge that the Sahara needs.

Thanks

David

 

You have to remember that there are 2 ARB bars that fit the 4Runner, The Tacoma bar, which IMO is sort of narrow for the limited flares, and the Prado bar.

I have the Prado bar. I had to cut the ends of the frame off for it to work. Some would also say that the plastic pieces are necessary. I personally do not have them and I am happy.

 

ive also got the prado bar (72" wide to accomodate limited/sport flares. it also has a blank W for a warn controller box). i think only on the big bumper 99+ you had to cut frame ends off. by the looks of your sig, looks like youve also got a 98. no mods needed (well with the exception of having to drill a 1/2" hole in the frame). i think with the taco bar (68" wide, leaves your flares uncovered by half inch) , you might have to reinforce the frame ends if you plan on winching. search the ARB mount mod. i think watrd has a writeup on it. it can all go back to stock with no problems.

i thought i would have needed the plastic trim pieces as well, but i didnt. there should be enough play so that you can get the whole thing lined up before torquing it down. i did mine by myself with the help of a hi-lift & hyd jack w/ 2X4's. watch out for the front LTD flares, they may pop out if youre pushing down on the front end (causing the rear wings up) too hard.

 

Thanks all.

I am still going back and forth btw :

TJM T-17

TJM T-17 plus Sonoran steel hoops

TJM T-15

ARB Prado Bull bar.

The only thing ruled out is the ARB Sahara unless I get a smoking deal !

David

 

I have the Prado bar. I removed the plastic bumperettes off the front because they were cheap and they sucked. Install was easy - did it by myself in a couple of hours. Most of that time was cutting/grinding off the front frame horn flanges.

If you ever consider getting a body lift, one thing to keep in mind for the ARB bar is that I have the brackets for the bar that have been adjusted for a 1" body lift (Steve at Sonoran Steel did it for me). I am not using them now, so they are packed and ready in case anyone wants to buy them.

 

i wish they stil made the t-13. thats my favorite bar.

 

Oh, my Prado bar fits fine without customizing the brackets with a 1" BL.

 

I also have the Prado bar and I cut the frame ends and had some endcaps welding to the frame ends with 2 more mounting points per framerail welded in. The bar is pretty strong, although I did manage to bend mine a couple of weeks ago at Tellico-I have looked at it really close yet but it did move enough on the passenger side to contact the fender near the headlight and dent the fender. I may have just bent the bolts on the bumper that hold it to the frame mounts though. I thought about letting Steve redo my frame mounts for my 1" bodylift, but now I think I'm going to stick with what I have b/c obviously it doesn't need to be closer to the body.

 

Uht oh, does anyone have the part number for the taco bull bar and the prado bull bar? I hope I got the correct one from 4wheelparts...

 

It's 911.

 

The one I ordered is part number ARB3423020.

 

Last time I checked, Steve didn't make the hoops any more for the 17.

 

So the cutting of the front frame is still required?

 

it's not really the frame, is just the flanges on the front, in my opinion they serve no real purpose. all you have to do is grind them flush with the frame and you're good to go, i know i won't be missing them

 

If I could afford it I would look at one of these.
Shrock Works

 

installed a taco bar on my brother's 97 this weekend, and gonna do mine this weekend.

you will need to either cut then ends off the frame rail, if you do this, the ends would have to be rewelded on in order to mount the OE bumper shocks. Not that the bumper wouldnt mount, just that it wouldnt be as solid as intended from factory.

the other option to my mind, if you are concerned about returning to stock is to simply cut the sections of the end cap that protrude. this would weaken the end cap, but still leave the one nut in place if you wanted to moung the bumper shocks(or whatever they are called).

other than that, there was no other modification. My brother and I knocked the end caps off, bolted on the new bumper shocks, tossed the bumper on lined her up, wired the turn signals, and done.