Bullbar or Lift?

[clampy]

Hey all,

Rocking a 2009 SR dualcab with toyota factory alloy bar, and factory suspension.

Cant decide between doing a 2" OME lift or upgrading the factory bar to an ARB deluxe bar. both appeal to me, but i can only get one done right now.

I head out camping/4x4ing every few weeks, but also do a bit of highway driving as well. Undecided whether i need the clearance and ride from the lift, or the protection/approach angle improvements from the bar.

is there anything im missing here? has anyone else gone through the same thing?

[scott3806]

do the bar and then the lift or do the lift first but tell them that you need to allow for the weight of the deluxe bar and winch if your going to put one on.

[pipert]

I'd personally go with the 2" lift first and then aftermarket bullbar later

[bob14hilux]

Your decision, you didnt say if the factory bar was a toyota bullbar, nudge bar, or just the normal bumper bar. Giving it a 2' lift will also improve the aproach angle.

Agree with scott3806, if you do the suspension tell them about the bar that you want or you will probably have to upgrade again when it is fitted. If you are going to get a winch tell them that too.

[AshA]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Xtreme-Winch ... 4acf9b0f2b

Do the bar first but instead of getting the expensive ARB one, get one of these

[wyworrie]

Suspension first with above previso. Have a look at Bilstien and king lift, very happy with mine. 200,000 on mine since lifted and still driving great.

[mylux04]

I would do a good quality lift first as the benefits outway the bar as you already have one
as others have said allow for the weight you will be adding to the vehicle.

[StevenS]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Xtreme-Winch-Bullbar-To-Suit-Toyota-Hilux-2005-To-2011-New-Bull-Bar-SR-SR5-/321310625579?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4acf9b0f2b

Do the bar first but instead of getting the expensive ARB one, get one of these

Exact same bar I purchased, from the same mob too.

12 months after purchase I've had to:
- Throw out the included splash guards (completely rusted out, despite only road use)
- Rewelded the foglight mounts, as they are flimsy as shit and snapped
- Removed the rubber trims included (all of them) as they perished and fell apart within 3 months
- Grounded out all the rust on the inside face of the bull bar when it was brand new on the pallet!
- Had the whole bar sand blasted, chem dipped and re-powdercoated as the original powercoat was thin as hell and the whole bar was starting to rust through (and, only on-road use here it's my work truck after all)

The seller offered me either $50 credit, or I could have a refund if I shipped the bar back to him at my expense

"The best bullbar on the market" my arse, by a quality bar from a local supplier and avoid this imported crap

[clampy]

Your decision, you didnt say if the factory bar was a ...

sorry. factory alloy bullbar

yeah thinking maybe do lift last, so it can match the weight of all the accessories (well, bar and winch)

[bob14hilux]

That is the way that most people go. When I put a deluxe bar on mine (winch as well) it made the front end sag about 20mm over when it was stock.

[Steveyb]

Lift first, I did an arb deluxe bar first and was left with about 10mm between front bump stops after a month.

[clampy]

so i did a front lift based on kings HD springs and bilstein B6 Offroad shocks

does pretty well!

[Kevtek]

You already have the Toyota alloy bar which is rather hopeless under impact, but better than nothing. So I would go for the suspension lift first, rather than adding extra weight of a steel bull bar, onto the standard suspension.

(I have the ARB 2 inch lift and the ARB delux bull bar and I'm happy with the quality.)

Enjoy........