central4wd just increased their pricing for the arb tacoma bullbar to 729 from 698, shipped. anyone know another for a cheaper price? im putting it on my 98 4runner sr5...

 

These guys are a bit cheaper
http://www.samsoffroad.com/samsoffro...BumperList.htm

 

If you plan on winching with that bumper I'd suggest the Rob Frame Rail Mod... done to my 4runner...

Some pics are here...

http://4roc.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5

Even if your framerails were not open like mine... the stock mounts at the end of your frame are so weak when doing winching, it can actually pull from your frame...

Rob had pics of this happening, but I can't find them...

 

Linky no workie.

G

 

These guys have good prices as well. http://www.rocky-road.com/index2.html

G

 

Also check www.4x4connection.com they have pretty good deals and they sell both ARB and TJM Bull Bars. I am not sure if they price match but $698 and $729 seem like a good deal on one especially with free shipping.
If you have a storage locker like ie: U-haul or Storage Space Lock that qualify's as a commerical shipping address 4x4connection will ship it for $75 to a commercial address. I got my TJM T-17 from them for $452.10 to my storage locker.

Also you might try www.desertrat.com they sell bull bars as well.

 

EBAY has good prices and includes shipping!!

 

This is what typically happens if you winch on the stock end caps. Most of the winching load is put on the end of the frame, not the bolts that go through the side and Toyota never planned on that

 

And the remedy is???

 

Remedy is... see Link I posted...

Here it is again...
Pics.. are kinda in reverse order... =)

http://4roc.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5

 

Dohhh!!
Sorry, I missed the earlier link, though I did see something like this posted here a while back...

 

anyone got pics for install on a 98?

 

Is this a problem with 4Runners only or Tacoma's also?

 

Both.. *If* you have an endcap, they are factory and weak thin metal.

 

When I mounted mine it came with blocks that bolted on the end of the frame & when I put the bumper brackets on the 2 bolts that held the tow hook on one side & the tow loop on the other were used adding strength to the brackets.The way my brackets look it would be hard do that kind of damage when winching.There are 3 bolts holding it to each frame rail & 1 long one going through from top to bottm on each side.One thing I didn't really care for was the crumple zone on the brackets.Seems if I put the front of the truck against a tree to winch a heavy load it would push the bumper in.

 

Yep, that is exactly how mine worked. In fact, I was the tester for ARB on the Tacoma version of that mounting system. We tried a couple and they settled on that one.

However, the end cap problem still remains. When you winch hard, massive amounts of force can be placed on those horizontal bolts that go through the ARB blocks and into the end of the frame. That causes the end cap to distort as in the pictures.

I have seen the same thing on several rigs now, fixed it on a few

Keep an eye on it.

 

Thanks Rob, I don't do a whole lot of winching but I will keep an eye on it just in case.Thanks for the great info!

 

No problem. If you start to sense play in to bumper or see it, that is a likely culprit. If you have an ocassion to have the bumper off for some reason, that is a good time to inspect those endcaps and see if they show signs of strain. I have yet to see one fail completely, but if it did, I suspect it would sheer the vertical bolts off in quick order, then make a mess of your front end as the bumper pulled out and around, then sheered on the other side. Mine was the worst we have seen yet, but every one with a winch and ARB we have taken apart has shown signs of impending failure.

 

I should also add that when that endcap starts to distort, you will see deformation of the vertical bolt holes as the bolts move around. Look for that as well since you don't have to completely remove the bumper to see it. The holes become egg shaped as the horizontal bolts loosen and allow the bumper to move forward and back.

 

BTW, the original write up of this mod is at;

http://www.wattora.com/mods/endcap/