[Jones]

The Minister for Finance and War has today given her approval for the purchase of a front bar for our Jimny. Now, weighing up whats important to us and our Jimny, i am looking for some opinions

I won't be lifting the car for the foreseeable future as the type of driving we do, spending $1500 odd on a lift is not an economical cost to benefit ratio, so the bar will need to be light to minimise potential sagging.

The Jim predominantly drives to and from work, and does short weekend or day trips, rarely at dawn/dusk etc so worrying about animal strikes is way down on the list. The biggest plan is for a trip to Fraser.

Main want for the bar is 1. Looks, 2. Cost, 3. Front recovery points, 4. Slightly better approach angle

I like the look of the ARB bar minus the top loops, but am concerned about the weight and maybe a bit overkill bearing in mind the above, i like the look of the Xrox bar, but again dont like the top loop. The MIC Offroad winch bar is nice, one of the nicest to my eyes, but kinda looks like it sticks out too much at the front and being steel may be heavy, and same as the ARB bar, maybe overkill.

Top of the list for me at the moment is the MIC Offroad Alloy front bumper
http://www.micoffroad.com/alloy-front-b ... -p-28.html



Its small, light, has recovery points, looks great IMHO but i would have to have the lower plate in black, decent price, easy DIY fitment

if anyone knows of another company that makes a good, light, useful bar for the Jim, please let me know

[Fatzook]

what about a JML bar?

[Jones]

Bugger, forgot to put that in my list, yeah i like the JML bar quite alot, that would be running the MIC bar very close

[monley]

While the mic bar looks nice, imo quality is very average from the front and rear bars I've seen. Don't forget about the off road armoury bar to...

[Jones]

thanks monley, not keen on the ORA bar, looks a bit too chunky and angular for me

[suzkboy]

The quality of the mic front bar is good on myy older alloy winch bar not so sure about the newer ones tho

[Jezza86]

i think most of the quality issues with my rear MIC bar were related to toll marine transport. it sat on its side bouncing up and down on a barge for a couple a days. the finish on them (its a sandy powdercoat matt finish) hides the poor welds and for 3mm steel, it sure bends easy.
the arb bar is pretty heavy, and for 2mm (and in some places 4mm) steel, a lot stronger then the MIC steel (both have folded edges), but if you are keen on the arb Rus from jimny bits has some very cheap (and 3 day cheap air freight) lift kits. $6-700 for a procomp 2" kit including shipping from the uk to au. even cheaper is a 2" bodylift and steering spacer.
the JML bar also suits a body lift, which realistically is a really good option. it gives you the clearance under the guards for bigger tires, without changing your castor and risking steering wobble. the arb mounting brackets have to be chopped up, and the bull bar modified to suit a body lifted car. the jml bar looks sweet and if you dont want/ need the hoops of the ARB bar, i wouldnt get one.
i only bought one as i was noob and TJM didnt sell anything, so it had to be ARB... i just didn't look around.

if you love your car, i suggest geting what you want or you'll end up spending near on double anyway and have your own ministerial privileges stripped.

[Jezza86]

just saw you were looking at the alloy MIC bar too.
from the weld quality on my steel rear bar, i would be dubious as to their welds, as i'm told its a lot harder to do.

[Jones]

i had narrowed it down pretty much to the MIC winch bar in steel, but given their email today that stated an 8-10 week lead time, and full payment including delivery cost required before they will build, coupled with some of the comments about dubious weld and steel quality, i have now chosen the JML bar, i think its the best compromise for cost and usability.

JML bar it is then

Thanks for all your help guys, always nice to hear honest, un-biased opinions on products in the marketplace.

[Jezza86]

transport costs from sydney also have to considered.
this is the MIC finish, it looks allright, but youll never be able to touch it up if it gets chipped, matt colours are never the same due to the particle size, and its a bitch to clean mud out of without a toothbrush.

[Jones]

Well big change of plan

Called in to the local ARB store today, have bought an ARB steel bar for $1009, they wanted $150 to fit and are the other side of town from my work. The local TJM shop who are conveniently opposite work will fit it for $110. The more i looked at the ARB bar the more i thought it was the best compromise, and the fact that if there is any issues with it, i can just go straight into the store here in town i think its the best option. Would have been nice to have something a little out of the norm, but going tried and tested boggo has its merits too. Also plonked 35kg's on the front of the car at work today and saw next to no sag, i dont think the bar will be too heavy.

Bar should be here Tuesday and fitted Thursday next week.

[dm90]

nice!!

they make the jimnys look tough!!

if it does sag down the track you could always just get some old stock springs off someone who has done a suspension lift and no longer need theirs, or just buy some new, longer springs yourself.

[Jones]

I'm warming to the looks of the ARB bar on a light coloured Jim. Mine has only done 38,000 klms and the first owner was an old dude who didnt know it was 4wd, so i reckon the coils are in pretty good shape, I'm thinking of coil spacers now just to add that little extra, rather spend a couple hundred bucks on them than $1500+ on a proper lift.

[Mike57]

I have the ARB front bar and a winch and no problems with front sag. I have the OME suspension and just told ARB that I was fitting the bar and winch and I think they selected the appropriate front springs for that.

[coily96]

I think its good that TJM will fit a ARB bullbar.

[Jones]

Me too, so much easier for me to grab the bar from ARB in the work van, drop it to TJM on Tuesday, then just park over the road on thursday morning when i start work and collect the car at lunch time all done. And for cheaper than ARB wanted to fit it. Good on ya TJM

[Jezza86]

ill have a set of OME springs and shocks with the diesel engine springs in the front. car sits level.
they'll be up for sale once my 3" kit goes in, which im buying on payday lol