ARB bumper protection Question

coop74

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2015
287
7
Alcoa TN
I am a big fan of the ARB bumpers. After a deer strike i installed one my Disco 2. What is different with this one the others i have owned is there is not a skid that covers the area immediately behind the bumper but before the front of the vehicle.

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A quick look and you can see it leaves a very open path to the bottom of the Radiator. Good for cooling but not ideal off road.


How do owners with a ARB solve this issue. I was considering a light weight skid plate running from the factory stearing protection bar to the bottom rear of the bumper.

have others done this?

Thanks in advance for your replies. Replies with pictures doubly sooooo....
 

Jimmy

Well-known member
Apr 10, 2006
740
64
Aurora, CO
You're in luck! People with ARBs don't do much off roading
...and those that do would not recommend the ARB if you think you'll run into a rock or a tree with it.

Hate mine. It's only there because it was on the rig when I bought it and I'm going to get every ounce of life from it before it goes away.
 

coop74

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2015
287
7
Alcoa TN
Now that the peanut gallery has chimed in with the smart a** answers do we have any actual helpful answers? Possibly from someone who no longer acts like a 4th grader on the play ground.
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
ARB has one use, animal strikes. People don't strike animals off-road in the US. Consequently the ARB is an on-road bumper. I'll take the stock bumper any day off-road with its far lighter weight and better approach angles, and buy ten replacements for the cost of an ARB.
 

coop74

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2015
287
7
Alcoa TN
ARB has one use, animal strikes. People don't strike animals off-road in the US. Consequently the ARB is an on-road bumper. I'll take the stock bumper any day off-road with its far lighter weight and better approach angles, and buy ten replacements for the cost of an ARB.

The stock bumper on a Disco with the fog lights would not last long here...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6EzDSqN3fUArwv6Y2

And like many people, my vehicles are daily drivers as well... From the first week of ownership I had a deer strike. Got this as a reward.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bGwHDmXRCcJVge8y1


And if i really want to do something extreme i will take the bike!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nTskjJfJsBHvP2kw2
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
If you want off-road worthiness and animal strike protection I'd get an RTE or Tactical Rovers. Otherwise get some aluminum plate and cover that opening.
 

Maximumwarp

Well-known member
Mar 22, 2015
836
26
Fairburn GA
I hated my ARB too. It would hit rocks allll the time, it completely destroys your approach angle. There are lots of better bumpers out there for actually leaving pavement, get one of those instead.

The “trail” pictures you’re posting look like access roads to get to actual trails. You may not need a bumper at all.
 

disco_drum

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2006
1,990
13
41
Woodstock, GA
The stock bumper on a Disco with the fog lights would not last long here...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6EzDSqN3fUArwv6Y2

And like many people, my vehicles are daily drivers as well... From the first week of ownership I had a deer strike. Got this as a reward.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bGwHDmXRCcJVge8y1


And if i really want to do something extreme i will take the bike!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nTskjJfJsBHvP2kw2

I am fairly certain my wife's minivan could drive on those "trails"...
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
I'lll echo what everyone has said.. ARB is fine for light duty, but not for any serious off roading. I have a friend with an ARB on his D1. He hit a rock on a hill climb ( he was crawling) and it shifted back and bent his front fender and hood...
Sounds like it would work for what you do. I wouldnt worry about a skid plate.
 

coop74

Well-known member
Dec 10, 2015
287
7
Alcoa TN
I am fairly certain my wife's minivan could drive on those "trails"...

Bring the mini van I will bring the beer... I will put a hundred bucks down at the end of that trail for you to collect in the mini van... In the Army we call that a put up or shut up statement.
 

Maximumwarp

Well-known member
Mar 22, 2015
836
26
Fairburn GA
Bring the mini van I will bring the beer... I will put a hundred bucks down at the end of that trail for you to collect in the mini van... In the Army we call that a put up or shut up statement.

It's a Chrysler, so the trans would give out halfway through.
 

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
Now that the peanut gallery has chimed in with the smart a** answers do we have any actual helpful answers? Possibly from someone who no longer acts like a 4th grader on the play ground.

You're in the wrong place Pee Wee.