I drive a 1992 toyota pickup and I am looking to buy an ARB bull bar. I've found one for sale locally, but it seems that the last owner modified it to fit an s10 (It was on a 4runner previously) according to him the only modification that he made was cutting off the lower brackets that attach to the frame down by the skid plate. How important are these lower brackets? Can I still mount it and just sacrifice some of the structural integrity, or will it be wobbly and loose if it's just mounted using the upper bolts (the ones behind the bumper itself).

Here are some links to pictures:
http://images.craigslist.org/5G25F25...45577b169e.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/5G75W35...221cd813e1.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/5L45N95...00e67f170e.jpg

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

Those brackets are important. But i dont think they would be hard to make and reweld back on. You could probably make them stronger also. Looks like that bumper could use a little TLC i would straighten everything, sand down and repaint.

 

So no hitting deer without the lower brackets? lol Can the bumper be mounted without the brackets? Do you know how many bolts there are up top (other than the ones on the brackets that aren't there)?

It definitely needs some attention, the seller actually still has the brackets. So I'll probably buy it and pay a shop to weld them back in place (I don't weld myself). If i do that it should all bolt up correct?

Other than that, I was thinking of sanding straightening and painting, and maybe applying a coat of roll-on bed liner. I've seen it done with these bumpers and it looks pretty badass. Plus I could rub up against stuff without scraping paint.

Thanks for the reply!

 

There are 12 bolts that hold the bumper on originally. The parts that are cut off of the one pictured extend under the frame 8"s or so.

You would still have 10 bolts holding that bumper on which would stand up to a deer pretty good.

 

working in a collision shop, we call bumpers like that "money makers" becasue when you hit a deer with them they cause HUGE amounts of damage. Your better off without one if your worried about hitting deer. Only with the heavist, best built, aftermarket bumpers will your truck stand a chance. And they arn't made for small truck.