Photos of 4th Gen ARB bumper
- Thread starter loner
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JustinB
New member
The plastic insert comes with the bumper, as does the turn signal/running light. There is a plastic circle put in place of where the round fog light would be. If you want that, you have to buy the "Light-Kit (6821201). This 'kit' just comes with the lights designed to fit where the plastic circle is (you cut the circle out). Or, you can fab up some brackets and put whatever light you want there.
I don't think it's much more bulky than most of the others from what I've seen. I do appreciate the ability to be able to stand on it with solid footing, whether to climb further back into the engine or stand up tall looking out. So maybe side by side it sticks out further than others, haven't compared in that sense. I liked that the hoops are straight up and down, rather than tilted outward for a larger pre-runner type look.. I will say though that the quality and ability to customize are sub-par compared to most all others.
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techno
New member
The quality is excellent and the powdercoat is probably the best in the country, but yes, customization is not there. But you can have one in 3-5 days instead of 3-9 months like everyone else.
JustinB
New member
With some people getting side wings/covers (on either side of the rock guard in the front) that were made/bent reverse and unusable, or mine that didn't line up with the pre-drilled holes in the frame bracket (Requiring me to drill more myself, not a big deal), I'm confident in calling the quality (or at least quality control) below that of other bumpers. Bad quality? No. Big box store quality? I think so. I also won't go as far as to say the best powder coat in the country. I found multiple rusting areas on mine around welds that weren't powdercoated properly, specifically around the vertical bars (push bars?). A dremel, wire wheel and some automotive paint have solved those issues though. And lets not talk about their complete lack of tow points on this bumper...holes to put a high lift have already served useful to me, but I'd rather have tow points that I could use for both lifting with the proper accessories AND pulling.
Don't get me wrong. When you can snag it for a grand or under in cost from various websites running deals, and have it within a week or two, it's by no means a bad bumper (that's why I got mine). Mine has done me well and will continue to do so. Customer service also takes care of most concerns and I haven't had a problem getting a hold of them (very cool to get small company customer service from such a big company).
Bang for buck (which I personally believe is one of the best ways to decide on a purchase), the 4th Gen ARB is not a bad option at all, maybe the best. But is it the best/highest quality bumper around? I wouldn't go that far.
techno
New member
The only significant corrosion issue I've had with mine was with the turn signals, both the lens screws and the bulb retainer. They lasted 5 years worth of salt and snow before needing to be replaced. Other powdercoated products I have are fairing way worse than my bumper. Maybe there's a difference between the Thailand built ones like yours and the Australian built one like mine. I do know that a US company called AEV contracted ARB to produce their Jeep sliders years ago, purely for the powdercoat quality, which they claimed they couldn't find in the US.
JustinB
New member
Could be, seems to happen with a lot of things these days. I really like the older ARB's found on the 3rd gen 4runners and 1st gen tacomas (maybe others too, but those are where I've seen them in person). Sans-plastic light shroud and included recovery points = :thumb:
4th gen 4runner/fj one just didn't live up to those ones in my opinion.
JustinB
New member
Suitable, yes, haven't broken one so far and doubt I will (have heard of failures but they seem few and far between and there's the thought that they are in fact just tie downs, haven't had an issue though). Would I prefer easier accessed points on the front of my bumper and not have to stick my head under the bumper just to reach the factory ones? 100% (though there is an argument to be made a lower recovery point pulls the vehicle up and out vs straight through).
That's all more of a preference in the end though I believe. Albeit a preference a large number of enthusiasts have (preference for recovery points built into their aftermarket bumper).
That's all more of a preference in the end though I believe. Albeit a preference a large number of enthusiasts have (preference for recovery points built into their aftermarket bumper).
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AlexB-Runner
Junior Member
Nice congrats.EDIT - Someone on another forum pointed out that my lack of photography skills was making the ARB look larger than it really is. I took some different photos using his advice, and now present some much better pics. (BELOW)
Here are some photos of the production version of the ARB bull bar for the 4th Gen 4Runner.
It took me longer to install this bumper than it took me to install my Daystar lift by myself. The instructions ARB sent were good, but there were just lots of little details to work out.
You might notice a few things, including:
1. The fog lights are not the IPFs. Instead of paying over $300 for a set of IPF fog lights that won't do much, I decided to pay $55 for a set of Pilot fog lights that won't do much. The ARB bar has some sort of proprietary mounting system for the IPF's but it only took a small measure of redneck ingenuity to get the Pilots to fit okay.
2. The inner fender liners were trimmed a bit, but I also took a torch and heated the plastic to the point of bending easily, and then bent them inward so there wouldn't be any rough edges showing,
3. On the 2003-2005 models (but not 2006), the ARB has a gap between the bumper and the grille. ARB advises us to cut up the original plastic bumper, but I didn't have the desire to chop up a pristine OEM part. Instead, I took a piece of vinyl drip guard for gutters and made the gap filler for less than $4.
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