Group Buy - Strona Bull Bar for Gen4 (T&H Low Bull Bar)

[Ghostface80]

I'm in Cali also and know how u feel.. lol. Seeing these east coast guys get it the next day while I was still waiting for a tracking number kinda sucks. I ordered it on wednesday morning and Dean told me to expect it by next day wednesday, and once I got the tracking info the expected delivery is wednesday. I think they know what they're doing and seem like really nice guys to boot. :bigok:

 

[Uneek]

Ghostface80,

You mind me asking how long it took to get tracking information? I guess I am/was a little more concerned, because as of yesterday, I didn't see any activity on my credit card, thus they probably haven't processed my order yet. I hope to get my bar by next Friday, so I can install it next weekend instead of waiting another weekend. We shall see.

But I agree, the guys at Car-Mic are definately very nice and I'm not going to make negative comments about them unless they don't come through. Right now is probably a sudden high volume of calls and orders from 20+ members ordering bull bars and probably nerf bars too.

 

[scott78945]

I am sure that Car-Mic has sent the bars out. I got mine 2 days after I ordered and I am only 4 hours away from them in NY. So I would say that NJ is going to probably take 3-4 days. I never got tracking info but you can call them on Monday to ensure that they did send it out. When I talked to Mike on Tuesday, he said that Dean was on the road a lot this week and thats why he agreed to take our orders. I don't want to make excuses but Dean may not be in the office thouhg. I would just sit tight, I can almost guarantee you will be getting it. They are great guys and they wouldn't stiff us.

 

[scott78945]

Anyone with the factory skid plate purchased the Strona (T&H) bull bar? Have you run into any trouble installing the bull bar?

Mine has the factory skid plate and it was no problem at all. The installation is actually quite easy once you realize where the barckets go. The lower brackets adhere right to the frame almost directly under the engine. You'll see them once your under there.

 

[Ghostface80]

Uneek- I made the call on wednesday early morning and got the tracking info thursday evening. If they sent it out on friday, maybe u'll get the tracking info on monday.

 

[Ghostface80]

more daytime pics to anyone who has it installed! Especially the nerf bars!

:awais:

 

[outoftown7]

more daytime pics to anyone who has it installed! Especially the nerf bars!

:awais:

Ok here are some daytime pics...sorry didn't get the nerf bars...
Would like to see them installed myself.

 

[outoftown7]

One more..!!

OK Guys...Now I need Help on what type of lights we should put on with these ?

 

[Ghostface80]

That looks sweet! I also have an '03 with plastic cladding and was worried that the stainless would look too bling-bling with the cladding, but I think it just adds to the ruggedness on your truck. Very nice indeed!

I ordered the nerf bars also, should have pics of everything installed next weekend. :beer:

 

[scott78945]

Pick of my Strona installed. Pick of nerf bar coming...

 

[pickerdd]

Got mine 2 days after calling and ordering them. Great service.

I do have a question. When I attached the Bull Bar this morning there were two sets of brackets, but only one set on the bottom would attach to the truck. I'm a little worried because there is a little movement and the bottom ends of the BB touch the underside of the front bumper.

Is this correct?

Thanks,
David

 

[scott78945]

I believe these are the nerf bars in question as I purchased them from Car-Mic online about a year ago. They may have changed but I am happy with the look.

 

[scott78945]

Got mine 2 days after calling and ordering them. Great service.

I do have a question. When I attached the Bull Bar this morning there were two sets of brackets, but only one set on the bottom would attach to the truck. I'm a little worried because there is a little movement and the bottom ends of the BB touch the underside of the front bumper.

Is this correct?

Thanks,
David

Did you get the top brackets installed? You will need to open the hood and the piece of the frame that you will mount them to is behind the rubber sheathing on each side. The brackets will stick out of your grill and you them attached the bar to that. Leave everything loose as it will make you life much easier. Once you have the bar attached to all brackets them tighten everything down. Start on the bottom and work your way up. Should be easy from here on out.

 

[pickerdd]

I saw that part of the frame, but there is only one hole in that piece of the frame and it's only on top of the frame, not below. Hope that makes sense.

 

[matoolie]

here are some pics of mine

 

[outoftown7]

Pick of my Strona installed. Pick of nerf bar coming...

Looks Great Scott...

Did you have to cut the grill when you installed the upper brackets like I did on mine?

I just installed some brackets to lower my license plate since my neighbor told me that I might get hassled here in NJ.

Thanks again for all you effort in getting the bars!!

 

[scott78945]

Pick of my Strona installed. Pick of nerf bar coming...

Looks Great Scott...

Did you have to cut the grill when you installed the upper brackets like I did on mine?

I just installed some brackets to lower my license plate since my neighbor told me that I might get hassled here in NJ.

Thanks again for all you effort in getting the bars!!

Nope, no cutting required. I have a 2005 so I am unsure if they changed the grill or not.

 

[scott78945]

I saw that part of the frame, but there is only one hole in that piece of the frame and it's only on top of the frame, not below. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about. They are just little plastic pieces that are used to attach the rubber sheathing to the frame. What I did was I pulled them out. I used a flat head screwdriver and then just took a pair of pliers and yanked them out. Mine didn't come out very easily so I used the pliers to basically break the head of the plastic piece but be sure that you have it pulled out a little bit first. Then I took the pliers and basically cracked it until it broke and then it just came out. The bolts will then go right from the top all the way through. When you put the nut and washer underneath to fasten the bolt to the frame, you can either put the sheathing under the washer and that will fasten it to the underneath of the frame again. What I did was after everything was installed I just put the sheathing onto the bolt and then just took a seperate bolt and put it on the bolt. So if you look at it you will see the washer, then nut, then rubber sheathing then another nut. I can take a pic if you like. Thats what worked for me. The directions weren't the best but you can figure it out...maybe the 2006's are different. I am not sure.

 

[scott78945]

All the pictures look great! I am SOO glad I didn't cave and speand $300+ on the T&H bar as this is essentially the same thing for half the price. If we had enough interest, we can maybe get the back bar but I am unsure how that will look on my truck. I don't want to overdue it with stainless steel.

 

[4RunnerSE2006]

Mine has the factory skid plate and it was no problem at all. The installation is actually quite easy once you realize where the barckets go. The lower brackets adhere right to the frame almost directly under the engine. You'll see them once your under there.

Hmmm.. I am guessing the 05 and 06 factory skid plate brackets are not the same. PLease see this link:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=21512&referrerid=7072

Does your bracket for the skid plate come with bolt which goes into the thradless hole? Is it secured by two different size bolts? The top bolt is smaller and bottom one is larger. Once top top bolt is installed, you are unable to use the bracket that comes with the bull bar since it only has one hole in the bottom for the larger bolt.

Could you take a photo of your installed bracket?

I think I might need to re-work the bracket b/c I need to get rip of the "nipple" that is intended for the top hole.

The bull bar bracket is not compatibale with the 06 skid plate bracket kit.

Thanks in advance.