Any tips for 1st gen ARB bumper?

I just picked up a new ARB bumper for my first GEN Tacoma but it’s not brand new in the box and doesn’t have any hardware with it.

what do I need to mount this to my truck?

I have seen a video of a guy cutting off a small section of the frame on a 98 tacothen using some brackets to mount up the bumper.

$1,102 arb 3423020 winch compatible bull bar

arb 3423020
1999 Tacoma 4x4 v6 extended cab sr5 trd

much thanks team!

 

Good luck. This shit happened to me and a hardware mounting kit was $450 if I remember correctly

 

I called arb directly and they put me in contact with a 4wheelparts that had a kit in stock. So that’s what I recommend unless you want to fab your own mounts.

 

The 98-00 tacoma frames are all the same. When I stalled mine it required no cutting on my 98, I removed the bumper end caps as the arb brackets mount to the end caps as well and the hole under that are used for the tow hook and tie down loops. Do you have the actual mounting brackets from ARB? If not I don't think there is any way to mount the bumper.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wey2f8n0Klc

Do you have this bracket?


https://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamods/arbbumperupdate/arbbumperupdate.htm

http://www.parksoffroad.com/tacomamods/arbfrontbumper/bullbar.html

 

Just a heads-up, the post of mine you quoted is referencing part #s for the 2nd Gen ARB bumper (3423030).

Here's a screenshot of all the hardware/part #s of what included in their fit kit.


I also attached the installation PDF for this bumper (3423020) at the bottom.

Here's another helpful thread.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-with-installing-used-arb-bumper.494760/

Note, there are different mounts used on 2002+ models, as noted on the install guide. There is a complete hardware kit you can purchase from ARB (6171370) but it is expensive. They may have updated that hardware kit to include the '02+ hardware as well. The newer kit is 6173276S.

Hope that helps, but you can always call ARB directly. They've been pretty helpful every time I've reached out.

 

Agreed, no cutting on my 98

 

Got the fit kit ordered today - $115.00

 

Got what I needed ordered for $115 from my local 4X4 shop - I called ARB and got the part # for the "fit kit" ARB fit kit #6173277SP
They wanted me to go through one of their authorized dealers and did not have the option to purchase from them directly (USA).
This fit kit is everything I should need minus the bumper itself, all hardware and mounting brackets.

Thanks for the helpful info y'all!

 

I got the fit kit ordered today! thank you good sir.

 

I mounted an ARB bullbar on my 2001 DC when I got it in 2009 and moved it between trucks when I changed to my current 2003 DC two years ago. Here are a few of my observations over the years.

It’s a pretty straightforward fitment and the bullbar has gone on and off my trucks several times with no issues. No cutting or modding the end caps has been needed on my frames. But I don’t run a winch on mine. (I’ve also not drilled the vertical holes with long bolts that the instructions call for.)

The bullbar may or may not slip perfectly onto the mounting extensions. If it’s a little tight (sometimes because the extensions line up a fraction of an inch too narrowly) it can help to loosen the entensions and fit the bullbar into one side first and push it sideways to open the gap and slip onto the other.

There was a plate originally supplied to function as a splash guard between bullbar and skid plate that you may or may not have. It’s possibly more important for a winch mounted in the bullbar than a nekkid one like mine.

Anti-sieze is a good idea on all fasteners. It prevents corrosion and will make it easy-peasy to take off the bullbar down the road, whereas the naked fasteners can corrode.

Note that the headlamps and grille will not come off with the bullbar in place so it’s probably more convenient to do anything needed there before it goes on.

The wiring for the indicators is notoriously vulnerable to corrosion (as supplied). Changing to some sort of waterproof connector is a good idea — I’ve used Weatherpack for 10+ years with perfect results, but Deutsch or any other system would work equally well. The mounting screws for the indicators can also be replaced with stainless at this time — the originals are prone to corrosion in such an exposed spot.

Without a winch, the space for the fairlead serves as a perfect mounting spot for one’s license plate. I mount mine to a plastic mount, adapted from a BMW part (a rear plate mount from a number of models) with a couple of holes drilled in the BMW part to bolt up to the fairlead opening.

When I moved mine to the 2003 Tacoma shown below two years ago I took time to treat some (minor) rust behind the bullbar on the seams or the edges where the powder coat was thin. I used POR-15 topcoated with brush-on Rustoleum Satin Black. This is the time you can touch up any chips on the exposed faces, too. It was ARB's recommendation to use a commercial satin black for touch up -- they used to offer their own touch up paint, but it was going bad in the applicators faster than they could sell it. (POR-15 is my base coat recommendation. That stuff works, but note that it needs a topcoat if exposed to UV light.)

The backside of my bullbar is now sprayed with Fluid Film, too, so I expect long life from it on the 2003.

 

Well it’s a good thing you have the brackets and lights then, there are 2 different fit kits. I needed everything so I had to dish out $$$.

 

I did NOT have the brackets... they are included in the fit kit i ordered for $115, not sure how long ago you ordered but the ARB tech guy on the phone mentioned some kits run upwards of $400 BUT not this one... maybe it was more pricey in the past... but not now.

 

That is a beauty of a truck! I like the license plate in that place. Thank you for the info! cheers!

 

Well that’s good, this was like 6 months ago. The part # for mine was ARB 6173276SP and it was $381

 

Thanks, and yes, the ARB bullbar for our Gen 1 trucks integrates well with the design.

 

Any luck getting the bumper mounted yet?

 

Updated install instructions from ARB -

 

Where might this magical place be that sold you a fit kit for $115?? Looking at a used bumper but of course...brackets not included!

 

Any luck of where to find the kit for $115?

Thanks