Need info on arb bull bar.

I posted this on the XOC and got lots of attitude and very few clear answers. My arb is in the mail and will be coming in next week and I have a couple of questions. First of all I know many put shackles on the front of their bull bars and I know these are used in conjunction with the hi lift and in some situations for pulling. My question is what specific attachment do I need to purchase to be able to use the shackles with the hi lift jack.

Secondly I know many who do not have winches have relocated their stock fog lights to the winch hole in the arb. Was this difficult to do and how did it work out.

Thanks for the info guys I know on this board yall stick to business and give straight answers.

I put my fog lights in the vent holes below the winch opening. Most people without winches seem to put their license plate over the winch hole.

I also don't believe anyone is doing anything special when they put shackles on the jack points of the ARB. You already know these aren't supposed to be tow points, but if you're going to go ahead, try and use both shackles for a more even distribution of the weight.

Personally I have a Warn tow hook mounted on the drivers side frame rail, right next to the ARB. I use that as my tow point and haven't had a problem yet.

When you put on your ARB remember: Middle bolts first, front bolts second and rear bolts last. Don't tighten anything down too much until you like the way it's sitting.

Wasn't that easy? You should have come here in the first place. :D

Ok great but you left one thing out how do you use the hi lift jack on it. I saw the arb attachment and it looks like a pain to put on and off and to move from one side to the other so if there is a way to jack from the shackles that would be a plus. Unless you are saying that the shackles (shudder) are mostly a cosmetic touch.

The D-Rings are pretty much cosmetic. You can use them if absolutely necessary - I used one to pull a tree out of a Jeep's wheel.

The Hi-Lift attachment isn't really that difficult to switch around, and it gives you much better leverage. It has a bit of padding where it rests against the bumper. It also won't wiggle side to side - the D-rings will.

Of course, this is all "if used properly."

ARB makes a hi-lift jack attachment that bolts onto the hole so it won't slip. I haven't gotten a straight story from ARB whether our bars will work with it. Can't see why not, but I haven't seen one used yet. Anyone got one?

I'll probably just drive over to ARB and test it out someday.

Originally posted by Mobycat
The D-Rings are pretty much cosmetic.

Yeah! Someone finally said it. :D I don't know why you would want to use a shackle on a weak point of the ARB when you can use a tow hook bolted on the frame. Unless you don't want to get muddy or something. :eek:

Originally posted by Schludwiller
ARB makes a hi-lift jack attachment that bolts onto the hole so it won't slip. I haven't gotten a straight story from ARB whether our bars will work with it. Can't see why not, but I haven't seen one used yet. Anyone got one?

I'll probably just drive over to ARB and test it out someday.

i got one. works perfectly. i have used it numerous times with no problems. how else would you jack up the front of the truck from the ARB? IMO, if you have an ARB this is a necessary component. it is VERY easy to use and VERY safe as it bolts to the bumper and bolts to the hilift for safety purposes. so even if something slips on the trails, nothing from the jack or bumper will flying. hi-lifting from the sliders is fairly unsafe, we all know that. with this thing it makes it so you can change a front tire with no problema nd only lift the offending tire. I also recommend the hi-lift hook and chain accessory. it allows you to jack from the rear bumper by hooking underneath of it. this is expecially great if you have the custom rear bumper like Schlud, myself and a few other have.

Originally posted by Schludwiller


Yeah! Someone finally said it. :D I don't know why you would want to use a shackle on a weak point of the ARB when you can use a tow hook bolted on the frame. Unless you don't want to get muddy or something. :eek:

mine are there cause it is a great place to carry them. i use them when i winch so everything is right there. i guess I would just put them in my winch bag of tricks, but they are just so handy where they are. as well as the reason mobycat mentioned.

and schlud what tow hook did you put ont he frame? did you have to drill and bolt the second hole? how did you do that?

Originally posted by Synchro


i got one. works perfectly. i have used it numerous times with no problems. how else would you jack up the front of the truck from the ARB? IMO, if you have an ARB this is a necessary component. it is VERY easy to use and VERY safe as it bolts to the bumper and bolts to the hilift for safety purposes. so even if something slips on the trails, nothing from the jack or bumper will flying. hi-lifting from the sliders is fairly unsafe, we all know that. with this thing it makes it so you can change a front tire with no problema nd only lift the offending tire.


Yep, me too - have used it many times. Most recently when I replaced my brake pads up front. Works great.

Ok I wrestled the bull bar onto my X today and I want to look cool like all of yall what size shackles do you put on your arb and where can I get them. Also where can I order that hi lift attachment.

you can order both the shackles and the hi-lift attachement from 4x4connection.com or any other decent off-road place that carries ARB equipment. i cannot remember the shackles size though. if you order from 4x4connection, they will know.

the shackles might be cheaper at a tractor suply store if you can find one in your neck of the woods. (you'd be suprised)

and when you do get the shackles on there, make sure you tighten them down with pliers or something and carry the pliers with you. you DO NOT want any part of them coming loose and bouncing behind you. having a huge steel shackle bouncing down the highway has happened before. they got lucky and it went of the side of the road. imagine if it had goen through someones windshield. :eek:

What Synchro said!

Tractor Supply Company has shackles for MUCH cheaper than anywhere I've seen.

They run about $11 for a 6 1/2 ton rated shackle. You can chose between screw in, or cotter-pin style. They are black already and the pin is usually a brass hue.

You can also get funky twisted shackles there for a little more.

http://www.tractorsupplyco.com is their website (though it's kinda hard to find anything on the site).

Ok weirdos now I have another question / request I put my arb one and everything is done but now I don't know where to mount the fog lights. I was thinking of putting them in the vents like some of you have done. could any of you tell me what kind of bracket you used or fabricated and how I can do it myself.

Also where do you get that skid plate for the arb.


:devil:

One easy solution for the fog lights is to drill a hole in that peice of flat sheet metal that hangs down under the bumper and mount them to that. It only takes about 10 minutes to mount them like that. They look a little vulneralbe down there, but I haven't managed to break one yet.

Ditch the stock fog lights and buy something with real output. The stock lights are, in my opinion, worthless.

Aren't you Imacsae on the XOC board?

Good luck with looking cool.

yeah I am imacsae vaderx is the name of my X I thought most people knew that. Thank you very much I do love looking cool but in case that was a smartaleck comment I do wheel.

Anyway I considered mounting on the cross bar that I needed to trim to reinstall after the arb. But when I get the arb skid plate won't it cover that area.

I agree the fog's are pretty worthless but when I upgrade them I want to have a secure mount. For now they mostly work for visibility by other vehicles and hell if it is on my X and they replace them for free I am gonna use them till the warranty runs out.

For real extra lighting I have some KC daylighters mounted on the arb already.

So where do you get that skid plate for the arb, is it something that is made by arb or is it a member manufactured part.

Originally posted by VaderX
So where do you get that skid plate for the arb, is it something that is made by arb or is it a member manufactured part.

you either make one yourself, which is not hard, or carlton's fab shop make some too. carlton's place makes the from aluminium, just FYI. i'll keep my steel one. i just feel more comfortable with steel instead of aluminium. but that may just be me.

Well yeah that makes sense if the whole arb is steel then the skid plate should also be. I think I will wait for gox to see the options on other vehicles before I decide what I am gonna do.

The aluminum skid has worked out great so far. It is only for protecting the radiator against rock and branch kick-ups.

http://www.io.com/~swallace/skidplate.jpg

Originally posted by VaderX
and I want to look cool like all of yall

Yes it was a smartaleck response, but you said it first. :)

I don't care if you wheel or drive off a bridge for fun. What ever gets you off. Unlike other boards, I don't think you have to "prove" yourself to others for any respect. But asking lots of stupid questions could ding you a couple of points.

Happy Wheelin'

Originally posted by Sc00ter
The aluminum skid has worked out great so far. It is only for protecting the radiator against rock and branch kick-ups.


And ice as Pikachu learned the hard way...

Brent

I stand ammended. Thanks for reminding me Brent.

BTW, the aluminum skid plate has a beffy as hell 2x2 steel support on the backside. I don't think the material will matter(composites aside), but definitely get something.