I'm considering getting a Manik Grille guard for the '94. Does anyone have any experience with them(good or bad)?
Thanks

 

Hey, i have a go rhino, but i am curious about the manik as well. They seem to have better supports. If anyone has one on a 3rd gen, let me know. I do like the go rhino one though, it just sways too much.

 

Had one on my 96. Turned into a pretzel going 5mph hitting a pickup. Popped my lights out, bent the hell out of my bumper, and cracked my grill. Biggest waste of money unless you get it solely for looks...

Go ARB!

 

What's ARB?

 

http://www.arb.com.au/

 

I bought a Manik because I thought it looked nice and it was powder coated. Less than a year after I installed it, I started getting bubbles in a couple places--underneath the powder coating. I sent Manik a few e-mails about it and never heard anything back from them. I have since replaced it and my front bumper with a TJM bull bar (similar to ARB).

I will never purchase another product made by Manik.

 

ARB equals beefaroni.

These are a steel plate bumper made for taking impacts when off road, and on road.
They attach to the frame as seen here in some close-up pics of mine.

http://www.pnw4runners.net/runs/91402/241024.jpg

Hit something with this and it won't get damamged so easily as that is their primary function.

Many places to get one.
Central 4WD

4x4 Connection dot com

Also check with Xtreme Off-Road Mike on the forum here.

He carries TJM I know for sure, and those look a lot like the ARB's also.

 

Thanks everyone. That's exactly the information I'm looking for. Did you have to do anything to your front suspension with the added weight of the bar and accesories? i.e. winch.

 

If you just put the bumber on, the only thing you may have to do is crank the torsion bars a bit. if you're planning on getting a winch, you should probably upgrade your torsion bars with Sway-A-Way torsion bars. I think they cost me about $50 or $55 a piece. There are a couple great articles on adjusting the torsion bars and replacing them (see below). If you decided to replace them and have any questions, let me know--I've done them and although it's not too difficult, it can be a bit challenging.

Adjusting Torsion Bars

Replacing Torsion Bars

Matt

 

I have heard WAAG brush guards are very good quality if you don't go the ARB route. I have the Genuine Steel guards and they are not as form-fitting as the others. My taillight guards had tiny holes in them and filled up with water and started to rust in just a few months. The only good thing about them is they have a LIFETIME warranty. I went to replace them and the design had changed to where the mounting bracket is made of a flimsy piece of metal that allows the guards to bend with the slightest pressure on them :mad: I got my old ones back, sanded them, drilled drain holes in them, and painted them and now they are back on rock-solid. The front guard so far is holding up ok but the paint has faded a bit. There is really no way to find out if water has gotten in so I'm just waiting to see if the tell-tale signs of rust show up. Got 'em both at 4WheelParts for $399 installed.

 

Well, i guess i will say something about the Rhino that i have. It is a good brush guard that fits the car very well. It did hold up in a very small collision. I only have one complaint about it and that is the auxilary brakets that keep it from swaying side to side. They expect you to drill holes in the front of your bumper and put these 90 degree brackets on there. Im sure they would work great, but im not very thrilled about the idea of drilling into the front of my bumber...too permanent. So until i come up with a better idea(which im working on right now) i will just have to deal with it swaying back and fourth and shaking my car a bit.

 

I have a Manik minus the stabilizer brackets, for the same reason David didn't mount any. Don't want to drill holes in the bumper. Luckily for me, the sway in really at a minumim, except maybe when going over bumps.

David, I'd be REAL interested in what you come up with as a substitute for those aux. brackets!

 

Are the stabalizer brackets that came with yours curved and go under the bumper?

 

David,

I'll e-mail you the install instructions, that way you can get the best idea of what they look like.

 

i think the ARB and TJM?? are good bumpers but nobody seels good stuff (that i have seen) for older toyotas 1979-1983.

does anybody know of a company that makes those types of bumpers for that body style????????

i have a 1980 toyota 4x4 pickup, wouldnt trade it for the world,
unbreabable, so far at least.....and not from lack of trying

last time i had it out i got 5 feet of air consecutively 5 to6 time when i got crossed up on some horrible wup-de-dos....

the only thing that broke was the 2 side bellhousing to engine bolts (still had the top 2)

everytime i pushed the clutch the engine and trans just separated, no clutch

long drive home to the cabin with no clutch, really sucked

everyone couldnt believe i didnt crack, tear, bend, destroy the frame

good times

 

jjdeneen,

I don't think either ARB or TJM makes bumbers for Toyotas earlier than 1984. If you wanted that type of look, you might have to get a custom one made. One place that does pretty good work is badland bumpers

Good luck!

Matt

 

Thanks Matt, I was going to mention Jeff's place, then I saw your post

JJ, I have a ton of pics here that I took at Badland Bumpers.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/badland_bumpers/

Top quality work, and the bumper in the October folder you see on his wife's 4 door Taco should fit your year also.

All his stuff is custom made.