By CK Disco II on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 09:00 pm: Edit

Does anyone own or know anything about the Trek Outfitters equipment? is it any good? Do you like it?

I want something unique but good!! SafariGard is on my two Defenders (D90 D110 300 Tdi)

I like TJM. Does anyone own or have you seen this before?

By Mike B. on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 09:34 pm: Edit

About 18 months ago, I purchased some shovel mounts from Trek Outfitters. The quality and the fit of the parts was terrible. I hope they improved their quality since then.

Thanks,
Mike B.

By mongo on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 09:42 pm: Edit

I just bought a light bar protector from Matt and the quality is top notch. I also saw some his bumpers at RoverFest this year and the design and fit was impressive. I was really sold on his front bumper, I'm getting rid of my POS ARB for one of his...

Frank

By Wes Legaspi (Wes) on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 10:19 pm: Edit

How much for the ARB?

By CK Disco II on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 11:03 pm: Edit

Thanks Mongo & Mike B.

I am not sure what I want yet! TJM, RoverTym normal or custom, Trek Outfitters.

You don't like the ARB Mongo?

What are your reasons? I have never owned ARB I am just curious!

Ck B2B19

By Kyle on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 11:13 pm: Edit

I havnt seen any yet that havnt rotated on a disco. Recently there were some DII ARB failures. I havnt seen the Rovertym put through its paces or the trek outfitters. Most are just hanging off the front end like jewelry. Of you arent going to work it hard most brands will due. I still feel that the ARB is the most realistically priced. The others have bumped their heads. Its just a damned bumper....


Kyle

By Wes Legaspi (Wes) on Monday, October 22, 2001 - 11:35 pm: Edit

Kyle, are you still planning to sell the bumper you designed?

wes

By Kyle on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 12:07 am: Edit

Yep .....


Kyle

By Ron on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 09:08 am: Edit

The trek outfitters bumper is pretty nice. The one I saw and jumped on (standard buper flex test) was ok. Nothing like a rovertym in percieved strength but basically comparable to a SG (ie some movement when jumped on). Also the welds looked less clean than a SG or RTE with some splatter, but definately appeared solid.

Ron

By LNDRVR99 on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 11:07 am: Edit

Hey Mongo, before you toss that ARB bumper...A reliable source, and you know who that is I hope (worked on my vehicle), stated that the trek bumper on that OSX rig that Carl was driving had all the powdercoating fail and come off. Just see if Matt can back that info. or see if there is something that is being done so it won't happen again..

like the snorkel install,
Christian

By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 01:19 pm: Edit

Ron, the reason those $G bumpers move when you jump on 'em is probably because the owners installed them with the same bolts the original bumper was held with. I forget the exact sizes (it's been a few years since I installed mine...) but I went with MUCH larger diameter fasteners that matched the hole sizes in the bumper and frame.

You and three other BMF's can jump on my bumper and it doesn't move a mm.

keith
discosaurus

By Kyle on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 01:22 pm: Edit

LOL Keith , I know its a happy bumper. Its smiling isnt it? I have seena few with the bigger bolts and they are smiling as well...Including the one in the driveway...


Kyle

By Ron on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 01:24 pm: Edit

Keith,

when I jump on the end of something (the end you know by the fender) it usually moves. RTE did not. Both trek and SG did. Not much, but they moved. And as Kyle said I have seen a couple smiling bumpers (not mine) but I have seen them.

Ron

By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 01:33 pm: Edit

...nah, it's not smiling...yet

It's getting thinner on the leading edge every time it gets ground up on a ledge.

Maybe I can make it smile in Moab next spring !

Actually, I think that god-awful high priced skid plate frame has kept the smiles away up to now.

By ken on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 04:51 pm: Edit

Just curious what is a smile

By Ron on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 04:52 pm: Edit

When the ends bend up after you hit them on things.



Ron

By ken on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 04:54 pm: Edit

cool

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 04:54 pm: Edit

http://www.discoweb.org/thewindow/arbbumper4.jpg

By p m on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 05:06 pm: Edit

Ron - and the ends take the fenders with them.

peter

By Kyle on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 05:08 pm: Edit

Thats a big ole smile on that one... Thats one happy ass Disco.....damn...


Kyle

By mongo on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 09:46 pm: Edit

couple of comments....
Hey CK...ARB is a POS...Can't it to keep from rotating. Check out Klye's window, says it all I've done everything but weld the POS to my rig. I don't want to do that ...talking with the B-B guys about the 2002 trek, looks like I'm in...
Christian, I'll talk with Matt about that, let you know. I'm buying a rear bumper from Greg Davis and having it coated in my town, maybe Matt can ship naked? I still like his design, low profile...

Glad you like the snorkel...


Frank

By CK Disco II on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 10:00 pm: Edit

Frank hope to see you at the 2002 trek! I am not sure if I can attend or not yet!

CK

By mongo on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 10:05 pm: Edit

Hey CK,
looks like a cool trip...gotta be crazy...or just a rover owner/lover...

Frank

By CK Disco II on Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 10:18 pm: Edit

CK-Christmas Killer

dear Frank,

Welcome aboard!

B2B19

By LNDRVR99 on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 09:00 am: Edit

Hey all. I have to make a correction on that bit with the Trek bumper...I misinformed you. I got information screwed up from someone in PA and I want to apologize for it. As a matter of fact, the problem was with an aftermarket homemade bumper that was powder coated by hand and it peeled some but did not fail completely. I guess the individual compared the looks of it to a RoverTym and Trek style bumper. My apology for this. I shouldn't have jumped the gun about the bar and also Matt from TReK does one hell of a job with his equipment and if I hadn't already purchased my ARB, I would have sent the business his way and bought a front AND rear bumper.

By Kyle on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 10:02 am: Edit

Ahhh , So Matt does in fact do something ? He welds and grinds and all that good stuff ? Or , does he just really SELL someone elses creations ? Sorta like an insurance salesman....

Kyle

By Carl on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 04:10 pm: Edit

Got to jump to the defense of Matt with Trek.

I own the vehicle at Roverfest and have the Trek Outfitters bumpers and sliders. I got the front bumper knowing it was a prototype as Matt did not make D2 front bumpers at the time. (he also tested his D2 skid plates as well at the event.) He has been great in taking care of the problem with powdercoat and I would not hesitate in having his stuff. No question in a small "community" of buyers that quality is important and that problems are fixed, and people are fair.

By LNDRVR99 on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 11:29 pm: Edit

Nuff said. I completely agree with you carl. Quality work and customer service to back it 100%. I wouldn't and will not hesitate to pick up a rear bumper by TReK. Also, wish many of us could just say "Hey Matt, how about selling Disco II's with everything on it like the vehicles you've done" They are quite impressive and very capable vehicles with the equipment to match.

By jay caragay (Jcaragay) on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 11:53 pm: Edit

Mongo-

What's the deal with B2B 2002? I'm interested in participating.

By mongo on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 12:11 pm: Edit

Couple of things...
Trek Outfitters, I'm glad Christain cleared that up. I like the bumper desigh and I'm buying one, for all that's worth. I have a ARB and if the on;y problem was with the paint, I'd be laughing...The piece of shit rotated AGAIN and this time twekked my front right fender...
B2B 2002...Just starting to gather info...


Frank

By LNDRVR99 on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:12 pm: Edit

Frank,
I have to send you some pictures of my old cans and the new ones. Had the new ones welded with roughly 1/4 inch steel all the way around the inside of each can after the "U" on the drivers side can behind the opening that is provided for a winch spool. So far no problems, but like anything, there will be a failure point. Too bad you got some damage. Keep in touch and see you out on the trails..

Christian

By John on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:20 pm: Edit

So now thatg the dust is clearing with ARB, do you currently see a positive with the crush cans? Do they do anything effective or would a bumper with no crush can be just as good? Just curious as to your thoughts.

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:23 pm: Edit

I dont think he will know that untill he is in a head on collision John...


Kyle

By John on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:33 pm: Edit

Personally I cant see the value of the crush cans as they are a low impact area designed to give, which I dont think impacts the inertia senser which takes what, a 30mph hit to activate air bags? Bending at low speeds we use in 4 wheeling just seems to be a pain just as what we saw at Roverfest.I understand the liability of this stuff, but crush cans, or the lack of, has not been a detriment to older RR'ers, disco I's, etc. We all bump rocks, walls, etc when wheeling and I have never seen or heard of an airbag going off but once, on a tetter totter event of all things.

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:38 pm: Edit

http://www.discoweb.org/zilla/hoz01.JPG

teeter totter ? hehehe.

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:40 pm: Edit

Ya John,

Thats the way I feel. 5mm thick frame and thickwall steel boxed bumper. 3"x3" 1/4in thick sliders mounted to the frame rails and outriggers, all with 3in lift on 35s. Thats my ideal. Forget crumple, they are designed into the POS you hit or hits you.

Ron

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:40 pm: Edit

Not having them is going to change the dynamics of the system , there is no doubt. How much it will change I dont think we will know unless we had some decent crash data and feedback from those who actually crashed the truck with and without an ABS bumper... The bags on the slinky worked right and from talking to Ho it seems like thier timing was fine. But that was a direct frontal imact. it was more like a glancing blow...I am still under the opinion that some people just need to be sold that sort of bumper. I am sure you know the type John. For the rest of the world there is really no debate. Just put on whatever wont bend...

Kyle

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:42 pm: Edit

LOL HO , from that,,,,,to this http://www.discoweb.org/area110/DSC00137.JPG


BAM!


KYle

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:46 pm: Edit

i still think you kept my disco as parts vehicle and bought another one.

By John on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:50 pm: Edit

Yep, 2 schools of market does exist. So its pick your market...I guess we been doing that all along.

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:56 pm: Edit

i doubt that some coke cans behind that sg bumper woudl have made any difference.

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 02:59 pm: Edit

Just put on whatever wont bend...

Yes my series fender would have been find had it not been for the POS stocker bending back.

Need more steel . . . need $1100 miller matic with free spool gun . . . someone buy my Rangie please very nice lifted truck and only $4k

Ron

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:24 pm: Edit

Eeeek , dont get the Miller , get you a nice Hobart.....


Kyle

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:35 pm: Edit

Hey Key.

Miller and Hobart are the same welder, just different case. Check it out. If it will make you feel better I will get the Hobart version.

Free spool gun makes it a deal.

Ron

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:36 pm: Edit

Man am I special.

Hey Kyle, not hey key

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:41 pm: Edit

Naaaaa , it aint the same welder. And what exactly do you need the spool gun for? ts a pain in the ass... Initially everyone used them for aluminum because certain alloys wouldnt push through the long sheath out to the tip. But , they werent using the right grades of wire. There really isnt a big need for the litle spool guns..


Kyle

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:44 pm: Edit

Kyle, man it is the same. Even says made by miller on the hobarts. Same price, same specs.

Why do you think otherwise?

And except for the baby ones they are all the same price (hobart 135 is cheaper than miller 130)

Spool gun for aluminium. No way I can swing a TIG and I can't weld sheet aluminium without one without always messing it up.

Ron

By Scott Bowden (Scott_Bowden) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:46 pm: Edit

The theory behind the "airbag compatible" is to maintain the same impact speed required to employ the air bags. Factories set the triggers to activate the bags between 20-30 mph (early 90's Chevrolet SRS School). These triggers are usually made with a magnet holding a gold plated ball away from two contacts. On a frontal collision, the force will cause the ball to separate from the magnet, roll forward and "short" across the contacts. There are three such triggers in our Rovers. By attaching a "fixed mount" bumper, the impact speed required to employ the air bag will be less, ie. 12-25 mph, because more shock will be translated to the triggers.
The absorb cans undermine one of the reasons we get a heavy duty bumper. We know we might hit a tree, rock or whatever. We just dont want the bumper to bend.
I you want to disable the SRS, with the ignition off, you can unplug the SRS lead from the fuse block. This might reduce anxiety if you are afraid of the bags employing off road? I have not seen them employ off road yet, but take it with a grain of salt.

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:46 pm: Edit

Hmmm , sure you can weld sheet aluminum without it. Or do you mean really thin sheet? For the really thin sheet you need that soft shit and yes , cant get away without the gun. Maybe Hobart has changed. When I bought mine back in the 80s it was more money and didnt say anything like that.

Kyle

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:50 pm: Edit

YEah Scott , that is known. But there is a "Anal retentive" group that want all that good shit to work exactly as it always did. They are basically the group you will never please but in order to sell to them you need the cans to retain the systems operational parameters...

Kyle

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:52 pm: Edit

I was told hobart was bought by miller. The hobarts are cheaper usually. Only the miller 210 has the free spool gun. 1100 though. Hobart 210 is 990 but no spoolgun. I can get a 175 hobart for 550 and a 135 for 400 both with free economy cart I want to be able to weld series body panels though. w/o the spool gun it is a PITA for experts which I am not so it is darn near impossible for me

Ron

By Scott Bowden (Scott_Bowden) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 03:55 pm: Edit

Maybe use Cambells Chunky Soup cans. They,ve got to be strong.
You know, with the football players in the ads and such.

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 04:08 pm: Edit

http://www.discoweb.org/zilla/still2.jpg

The Hobart there on the lower right cost me about 2800 some years ago. Its the 250 AMP model and has quite allot of accesories that can go on it..

Kyle

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 04:20 pm: Edit

HOBART IRONMAN 250
$ 1349.00
FREE SHIPPING
HOBART IRONMAN 250/
SPOOLMATE 250
$ 1775.00
FREE SHIPPING

Prices have fallen. They are white now too

I like the little welder guy on them though.

Ron

By Kyle on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 04:27 pm: Edit

Damn!!! White !!!! It just wouldnt be the same.......


Kyle

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 06:14 pm: Edit

i guess once you go black you can never go back...

eh, kyle?

By LNDRVR99 on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 10:22 pm: Edit

Good rhetoric going. you guys are a blast. Anyway, it seems my cans did not fail at the crush zone area, or actually slightly. They actually bent where the drivers side inside edge of the can where a "U" is cut out to accept the one end of the winch spool etc. When I figure out how to get the pictures poste in here, I'll show you what I mean. Also, ARB does not sell a non airbag DII bullbar. S**T outta luck since that is what I shouldve had. I had the can welded so I can only predict that another very good off camber shot could bend the cans again. Hopefully the weld will hold up. See you out on the trails..

Christian

By Al Hang (Alhang) on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 01:22 pm: Edit

The Hobart there on the lower right cost me about 2800 some years ago.

I find it hard to believe you paid that. Just knowing you and how tight lipped you are about prices. Plus the fact you are volunteering information without even the slightest hint of torture. I think Rob would agree with this too.

-Al

By Kyle on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 01:29 pm: Edit

Didnt get a deal on that,,,,,

Kyle

By Marc on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 01:58 pm: Edit

Kyle,

What kind of bumper is that on your Disco?

-Marc