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Brad
| | Posted on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 10:19 pm: | 
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I have the opportunity to buy a new ARB winch bumper (no winch,yet) for my D2 at a nice discount. Does anyone have good or bad opinions on this unit? Is it a difficult installation? |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 10:23 pm: |
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Installation is easy. Bumper is good quality and workmanship. But the design isn't the best. I have one that I purchased before anyone else had them other than $G. What I don't like about it is the winch mount is much too low and it often gets burried in mud. The bumper isn't great for approach angle eaither. The Crush cans are nice for your airbag but really limit the integrity of the bumper itself. You can weld a plate on the crush cans and this will keep your bumper from shifting under heavy load. If I was going to do it again I would look for something from RoverTym or see if Rockware is making a bumper for the D2 yet. But the ARB is hard to beat for workmanship. |
Paul D. Morgan (V22guy)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 07:39 am: |
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Brad,
If I were to do it all over again, I would say no to the ARB. Up at Killington I felt like I had a snow plow on the front of my pig. A couple stream crossings required a step down and up and I just moved dirt and rocks out of the way for others. Plus the bottom end where you would install a winch is very weak.
Snow plow or road grader, I wouldn't buy again.
Paul
2 cents |
Dave
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 07:51 am: |
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If your getting it deeply discounted, I would modify it to suit your needs. You can reposition the winch tray as well as shore up the mounting sleeves.
It's a good bumper, but was built for different terrain than most find in NA. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 09:24 am: |
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I agree with Dave and Paul. The bumper definately has it's uses and purposes, but for the terain we tend to encounter in the US, I would say it doesn't really meet the bill.
If you simply want to drive accross the desert, or wastelands, or outback, and have some protection against stray animals, it's probably okay.
The crush can (air bag) design sucks, the front end sticks out way to far, the winch is too low, the marker lights SUCK ASS in a BIG WAY, you are limited to what winches fit, etc, etc, etc.
Most of us buy them for the same reason. There isn't and haven't been any real comparible products in the price range for the D2. Now, for the D1 guys that have them, you don't have an excuse  .
I bought mine because at the time, it was cheaper than getting the stock front end fixed after playing chicken with some plowed snow. In hind site, it would have been better to chop my stock bumper and put the money towards another (read: severly more expensive) D2 alternative.
My opinion for what it's worth.
My ARB will not be a permanent fixture on my truck. I will eventually either have it chopped into a functional improvement, or replaced with something later. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 09:32 am: |
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PS - ALL OF YOU ROVER MANUFACTURERS TAKE NOTE THAT THERE IS A HUGE AND GROWING MARKET FOR A BETTER D2 BUMPER IN THE ARB PRICING BALL PARK.
Hint, Hint, Hint.
And Matt, I know, you already lowered your prices and you aren't making any money at Trek, but come on man you still almost twice what people can get the ARB for.
And Greg Davis, get rid of the wife and kids and get the bumper shop opened back up. Kidding............... no wait.............. hmmmmmmmmm such a delima.
Okay, now that I stirred the pot on this issue I'll go play with my short rack. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 09:42 am: |
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Oh wait, I almost forgot someone:
TJM - Better crush can design, although still not great, winch is very low, looks okay but brush bars look like and afterthought, bumper sticks out too far. Oh, and what did you say.......... I'm sorry.......... did you say you want me to pay extra for a winch mounting tray?
Safari Gard - Dude, what the fuck are you guys smoking. Are you serious? You want $1,980 for your front bumper and I can't get the skid plate later? Everyone says your service sucks. There are no front bumpers in stock according to your website. Let's see, hmm.............., that sounds like a fuckin to me.
On the soap box for some reason to day. |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 09:50 am: |
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Greg... I think the main reason $G can't/won't sell the skid plate later is because they won't remember where they drilled the holes on their own bumper for the skid plate to mount to. Seems they can't even get it right when you order the bumper and skid together. A buddy of mine had to re-drill all the holes becuase they didn't align. And don't bother getting either front or rear bumper from $G without the skids since without the skids the bumper will rotate too much. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 09:59 am: |
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Yeah, I know. I like the look of the Safari Gard, but the price is outrageous, and everyone says the service is poor and the quality is questionable sometimes.
There are 3 possibilities that I am looking at to replace the ARB:
Kyle - Depending on his schedule and what could be done with my ARB, this may be an option as I think he is making an excellent product.
Greg Davis - But I can't get him back into the bumper factory. Something about loving his family.......... something like that anyway.
Rovertym - I keep hearing reports that John is working on a D2 bumper, but I haven't seen one yet, so I just don't know.
Anywhoo, these are the 3 quality sources I see right now in the foreseeable future for a D2 front bumper. |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 10:04 am: |
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I agree.
Greg Davis's rear bumper is really nice. I didn't take a look at his front bumper.
Roverytym - He lists the D2 front bumper on his web site now. No pictures last time I checked but I did see a price on there. Once I get a D2 rear bumper I may replace my front ARB with a Rovertym unless Greg D. can pump one out faster |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 10:55 am: |
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Oh cool. See, that shows what I know. I hadn't seen the D2 bumper on John's site and I usually check it about once a week.
Greg
However, I will have to put the bumper off a few months as my next upgrade, after I get the D1 rack thing sorted out next week, is the Rovertym Sliders. Still saving my pennies. |
Gregory W. Davis (Gregdavis)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 01:45 pm: |
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Greg, I am still in the bumper business, just not building the front bumpers. When I made mine I didn't make any drawings, so I now consider it a "one-off". Rears should start up agin late Fall. |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 01:55 pm: |
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Did you get my email earlier? I sent it to [email protected].
And dude, it's the front bumper I'm after. |
Mosi
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 02:21 pm: |
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Yeah me too! I emailed you a couple of times at that address. I want a rear bumper too! Oh wait, I already have your rear bumper .. just wanted to see what's up. |
brad
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 08:16 am: |
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Thanks for the ideas but I have a few more questions. If the $$ didn't matter what bumper would you buy? I can get the ARB for about $500 delivered but if it is not much better than just leaving it stock I won't waste the time & money. I saw several pics on Disco web of ARB's twisted into the fender or hood, is this a common problem? Will I get much more front end clearance with the ARB over the stock system. Thanks
Black 01' DII |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 08:55 am: |
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Brad, as I'm not on my trouble making stir up dweb tyrant this morning, I'll give you my opinion for what thats worth.
I don't think the ARB is going to improve your clearance over the stock bumper when it is properly trimmed. In fact, you probably have less clearance with the ARB as it sticks out much further than the stock bumper.
If I were in the position again, I would have saved my money for a few more months and started talking to Kyle www.roversolutions.com or John www.rovertym.com. I'm not sure either was publicly advertising D2 bumpers back when I bought mine though. I would consider triming my front bumper and going with one of those two for a D2 bumper.
I haven't seen either in person, but the pictures I've seen of both look great. I really like Rovertyms method of skid mounting and the frame looks fairly stout for the skid. I like the way Kyles bumper integrates into the vehicle. Both have lots of good points.
As a disclaimer to my advice, I'll point out something that someone else pointed out to me recently. The one benefit to the ARB may come when you are in an accident one day. ARB is such a large company with design and testing results in place, and design liabilities limited that you may be better off from a lawsuit stance with them. I'm not sure what the case law would prove on this subject, but in todays suit happy world, it might not take some attorney long to pick up on the possiblity of sueing over the bumper. Especially if the bumper really causes someone lots of damage and injury. Just a thought and I know there are lots of opinions on it, but I'm not sure if there is a true test of the theory yet though. |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 09:10 am: |
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Greg D. Put me down as a maybe for a DII front bumper if you start making them.....looks like 3 possible sales if you want to make it a "4-off" effort instead of a "one-off". |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 09:46 am: |
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Oh man. Rack and a bumper Randy? LOL |
Tripp Westbrook (Tripp)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 11:01 am: |
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I get the sense that most people here dislike the airbag compatible version of the ARB.
What are the issues with the non-airbag? Or any of the other non-airbag bumpers? Is it a fear of premature deployment due to the unforgiving nature of them?
I'm just wondering if this is really an issue or is it a marketing ploy by ARB.
I have to say, personally, I like the way the ARB looks, however all of the issues people here have raised (plowing, low winch, bending etc) make me want to look elsewhere.
I guess my second choice would be the Safari Gard, but dear lord it's pricey.
Greg D's, RoverTym and other bumpers mentioned here are nice and I'm sure best suited for the task. My disco, however is a daily driver that only sees occasional offroad usage. Those units make the D2 seem too single purpose to me and don't really fit the bill aesthetically. I need a bit more balance.
Just my .02 |
Ross Thoma (Rossthoma)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 11:36 am: |
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How is the Safari Guard winch bumper?
That is the one I am thinking of getting for my 2003. I never hear anything about them???
Ross Thoma |
Ross Thoma (Rossthoma)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 11:41 am: |
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OOps
$G = Safari guard
Still new here sorry |
Al Oliveira (Offroaddisco)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 11:43 am: |
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The Safari Guard (aka $G) is great if you don't mind doing some fabricating to get it to fit your vehicle. Yes I know it's made for the Disco II but you may need to grind and drill stuff on the bumper itself just to get it to fit. Some fit better than others but the build quality of the $G isn't that good.
Rovertym makes better stuff. And if we could get Rockware to make some for the DII that might be a good option too. |
Ho Chung (Ho)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 12:08 pm: |
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for disco2, may i suggest:
 |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 12:46 pm: |
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Yeah. I like Kyles bumper too. Is that Michaels truck?
gp |
Ross Thoma (Rossthoma)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 01:13 pm: |
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Ok Ho!
Where, when and how much.
And it is going to fit the 2003 like no other, Right.
Does itcome with a skid plate?
Ross Thoma |
Kyle
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 01:55 pm: |
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Keep in mind before all this way outta hand that I do not make bumpers for planetary winches. John does though so that is a better option if that is what you are looking for...
Kyle |
Gregory W. Davis (Gregdavis)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 01:59 pm: |
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Picky, picky, picky! |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 02:20 pm: |
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Kyle,
Will the mile markers fit in yours? Don't know how they compare size wise.
greg |
Kyle
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 02:53 pm: |
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Nope theyw ont fit because the worms and the little shitty planetaries mount completely different... Its a waste of time...
Kyle |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 03:52 pm: |
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Ah, call me an idiot. I just went and looked at their site for a refresher and just noticed the answer to my question.
Milemarker gearing = planetary
Sorry bout that. Don't know why I have this stupid desire for hydraulic. Crazy I guess, but I'll grow out of it eventually.
Just like all my other "poor" first choices........... I'm slow but I usually see the light eventually.
Greg |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 03:54 pm: |
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That last comment was directed at "ex-wives" not rover gear (just incase you didn't get the inside joke) |
Ross Thoma (Rossthoma)
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 04:06 pm: |
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Oh Kyle
Please please please please
Why can't you make one for a Warn 9000i...
Ross Thoma |
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