ARB Bull Barr Installation
- Thread starter GaryMc
- Start date
Willman
Active member
It is an easy install.....
ExpeditionWest has a great writeup on the topic
http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/tacoma/arb_bumper.html
End cab mod is a must if you are planning to winch off the bumper!
You can look over my mod thread for an example
Few links:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37759&postcount=3
http://www.wattora.com/index.php?page_id=13
ExpeditionWest has a great writeup on the topic
http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/tacoma/arb_bumper.html
Paul R said:
End cab mod is a must if you are planning to winch off the bumper!
You can look over my mod thread for an example
Few links:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=37759&postcount=3
http://www.wattora.com/index.php?page_id=13
FlatlandTRD
Observer
GaryMc said:
Good luck, mine didn't fit without using a hi-lift, grinder, and picking up hardware that they didn't include. And their customer service was less than par. I'm sure I'll get frowns for making waves with the almighty big company, but just wanted to prepare you incase things aren't smooth and "easy".
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
FlatlandTRD said:
The customer service you should take issue with is the company you purchased it from. ARB doesn't sell direct to the public for a reason, they rely on their re-sellers to provide tier one customer support, product knowledge and warranty support. ARB has a tech department that is more than happy to answer questions, but they should be a last resort IMO. Did you try and call the company you bought the bumper from? Were they not able to answer the questions you had? What hardware was missing?
I've installed 20+ of these bumpers, average is ~2.5 hrs, start to finish. Some vehicles do take more effort including separating to the two frame horns (I use a small bottle jack and a couple of blocks of wood). This is not a bumper issue, its a Toyota issue, for whatever reason there seems to be a slight frame width deviation between similar models. We had two here at the exact same time mounting bullbars. Neither looked like they had been involved with accidents yet the end measurements on the frame rails differed by just under 1/2". All part of the job and all something a good retailer will pass onto their customers
FlatlandTRD
Observer
"The customer service you should take issue with is the company you purchased it from. ARB doesn't sell direct to the public for a reason, they rely on their re-sellers to provide tier one customer support, product knowledge and warranty support. ARB has a tech department that is more than happy to answer questions, but they should be a last resort IMO. Did you try and call the company you bought the bumper from? Were they not able to answer the questions you had? What hardware was missing?"
Thanks for the attempt to insult my intelligence, but the company I bought it from has no control over the contents in the packages sealed by ARB. All the packages were present, but not the hardware! The customer service of the company I bought from was excellent, ARB's was less than stellar. The bar was shipped directly from ARB to the retail, where I picked up.
"I've installed 20+ of these bumpers, average is ~2.5 hrs, start to finish. Some vehicles do take more effort including separating to the two frame horns (I use a small bottle jack and a couple of blocks of wood). This is not a bumper issue, its a Toyota issue, for whatever reason there seems to be a slight frame width deviation between similar models. We had two here at the exact same time mounting bullbars. Neither looked like they had been involved with accidents yet the end measurements on the frame rails differed by just under 1/2". All part of the job and all something a good retailer will pass onto their customers"
Again, thanks. But the bumper components themself would not fit together. It was obvious that things fit prior to powder coating, but not after. Since ARB should know these inconsistencies and make the bumper for the vehicle in question, maybe they should pass on this info to the customers (i.e. the "good retailer" as they may not be aware of the small differences).
I appreciate your attempt to pass it off on to someone else and defend big company. But it's also important to inform the consumer about a potential issue that the "good retailer" has NO control over. Like I mentioned, I made mine work just fine, sorry to have ruffled your feathers. :smilies27
Thanks for the attempt to insult my intelligence, but the company I bought it from has no control over the contents in the packages sealed by ARB. All the packages were present, but not the hardware! The customer service of the company I bought from was excellent, ARB's was less than stellar. The bar was shipped directly from ARB to the retail, where I picked up.
"I've installed 20+ of these bumpers, average is ~2.5 hrs, start to finish. Some vehicles do take more effort including separating to the two frame horns (I use a small bottle jack and a couple of blocks of wood). This is not a bumper issue, its a Toyota issue, for whatever reason there seems to be a slight frame width deviation between similar models. We had two here at the exact same time mounting bullbars. Neither looked like they had been involved with accidents yet the end measurements on the frame rails differed by just under 1/2". All part of the job and all something a good retailer will pass onto their customers
"Again, thanks. But the bumper components themself would not fit together. It was obvious that things fit prior to powder coating, but not after. Since ARB should know these inconsistencies and make the bumper for the vehicle in question, maybe they should pass on this info to the customers (i.e. the "good retailer" as they may not be aware of the small differences).
I appreciate your attempt to pass it off on to someone else and defend big company. But it's also important to inform the consumer about a potential issue that the "good retailer" has NO control over. Like I mentioned, I made mine work just fine, sorry to have ruffled your feathers. :smilies27
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
FlatlandTRD said:...Thanks for the attempt to insult my intelligence, but the company I bought it from has no control over the contents in the packages sealed by ARB. All the packages were present, but not the hardware! The customer service of the company I bought from was excellent, ARB's was less than stellar. The bar was shipped directly from ARB to the retail, where I picked up....[/QUOTE=FlatlandTRD]
Your apparently taking this far too personal. I'm not insulting your intelligence, but I personally expect more from end retailers, just as I know customers expect more from me. Not I can't check every bag of parts to ensure they are all there, but there are few I wouldn't have replacements for in stock.
FlatlandTRD said:
What wouldn't fit? If there was a known inconsistency, they would gladly pass it along. The known inconsistency is the Tacoma frame, just as the FJ40's have know bent hangers, 80's can have swollen rear frames that hinder rear bumper install and etc... etc... etc... You can't honestly expect them to publish a book of what-ifs, they want their retailers to know the products so they can distrubute and retailers can sell and install. That said they are extremely knowledgeble imo on all their products and are willing to work with customers on said issues regarless of circumstances. I'm sorry your experience was different, hopefully it was just an off day for them.
FlatlandTRD said:
You didn't ruffle my feathers at all, you came into this conversation assuming someone would give you "frowns for making waves with the almighty big company" and thats obviously the way you read it. I was just pointing out my perspective. Had one of my customers had a similar issue, I would have been on the phone with a tech at ARB, someone I've developed a working relationship with that gets me results, I wouldn't expect my customer to do that on their first call to a tech department, and I honestly don't think it should be that way. If ARB really wanted to deal with all the install questions, warranty issues, etc, they would sell direct
Glad you were able to make it work
Last edited:
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
GaryMc said:
Sounds like a plan
4Rescue
Expedition Leader
On a related note, what needs to be done to mount the Deluxe winch bar onto a Gen1 Runner? The ARB fittment chart says you need P/U blinkers and that there is some modifications required. I'm planning on getting some fender bars made up along with my sliders and then going with the ARB Deluxe winch bar. Although the Warn Bumper is looking pretty tasty too.
Cheers
Dave
Cheers
Dave