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Yeah the ARB 03-04 units = deleted the front tow points. The earlier D1/D2 ARB bumpers had them, and yes on a sideways recovery pull = they would bend. I had one on the 99 D2 get bent after that 96 Chevy Truck ran the red light. I just got home, hit it straight with a 25LB sledge and it's good to go. Straight on pulls = they work just fine.
You can always install those aftermarket frame mounted front recovery hooks or for a pure emergency get a hold of the stock 99-04 D2 unit. It will be up in there a bit, but if you used a shackle and a strap vs a chain (chain would eat the bumper lip up) it will work.
Man... who would ever think that there would be so much to think about with changing out a front bumper? Thanks for all of the advice and tips, Best, Brian, whow1004, and redwhitekat.
It's making my head spin a little haha. Like the look of the Arb on your rig too, redwhitekat and yes, my bumper is fairly simple and plain but I do like it Brian I saw photos of your swap on the forum and your rattle can job looks professional to me!
You want to know something pitiful about my decision making? I've been looking at all of these steel bumpers and saying to myself 'where am I going to put my British Kernow license plate?' haha... My husband bought that for me when we were apart waiting for immigration papers to go through - he was still in England and I was here holding down the fort a few months after we were married. A colleague of mine volunteered to put it on for me and it's been there ever since. 13 years ago! I did see this set-up in google images today... curious if this is a stock bumper with a brush bar over it? I like where the brush bar sits in relation to the lettering on the hood. Anyone have any idea what it is?
and yes, my bumper is fairly simple and plain but I do like it Brian I saw photos of your swap on the forum and your rattle can job looks professional to me!
Knew l was going to "take one in the kisser" for that comment...lol. The old adage..."if you don't have anything nice to say, don't"..."...would have been a good rule to follow here . However, in my defense...at our house...my mom use to say..."if you don't have anything intelligent to say, don't say anything at all".
Yes, you could hear a pin drop in that house.
Those brush/bull/push bars show up occasionally on market place and other sites, usually for under 2 bills...depending on condition. Granted, you'd still need to get a factory bumper.
The factory one is probably going to be 7 bills shipped. I've also noticed that some early Dll's have the outer portion color matched...so it is a possibility. Believe, "Saturmine" did this to his Dll (in his build topic).
Good luck, with your decision.
Brian.
Last edited by The Deputy; Feb 16, 2021 at 04:08 AM.
I hear ya Best. Thanks for your input as it definitely helps me make a decision. I'm not too excited over getting a new bumper just to have it hit in the grocery store parking lot, deer, etc. And a very good point about totaling it as well.
I think it all comes down to "how much of a PITA is it going to be to have a body shop replace the OEM for an after-market" (when I don't know much about the process), and "will Bertha be exposing her lady bits for all to see because the bumper will be too high".
This is what she looked like before the tow strap slapped her:
I'm assuming everything aftermarket will show something unless I get a plate installed underneath, correct?
Here's a TJM I found:
This one was on the Lucky-8 website but states 'Terra Firma' on the front? Not too sure which one it is:
I do like the bull bar look in both photos above, but again am concerned about what will show underneath and how hard it is for a shop to put it on.
Is this the low profile you're thinking with Terra firma below?:
Anyhoo... still pondering on what to do. Thanks for all of the input. I can see the pros and cons to each.
Christina
those bumpers with that oval jeep looking thing i cant stand those, i think lucky 8 sells those my god i hate those things to me thats a jeep bumper
Knew l was going to "take one in the kisser" for that comment...lol. The old adage..."if you don't have anything nice to say, don't"..."...would have been a good rule to follow here . However, in my defense...at our house...my mom use to say..."if you don't have anything intelligent to say, don't say anything at all".
Yes, you could hear a pin drop in that house.
Those brush/bull/push bars show up occasionally on market place and other sites, usually for under 2 bills...depending on condition. Granted, you'd still need to get a factory bumper.
The factory one is probably going to be 7 bills shipped. I've also noticed that some early Dll's have the outer portion color matched...so it is a possibility. Believe, "Saturmine" did this to his Dll (in his build topic).
Good luck, with your decision.
Brian.
haha... and here I thought you were getting even for my "fine line between a hobby and mental illness" comment I'm on the cusp I tell you!!!
Your mother sounded like a smart woman. I probably should keep my mouth shut half the time but intelligence is overrated when it comes to style Thanks for the tip on the brush bars - I know Steve517 had one here in TC awhile back. I didn't see his post until earlier this month. He was trying to sell it a year ago so doubt that he still has it but I'll give him a holler.
Thanks for all of the tips and tricks of the trade you guys. After a long night's sleep - (I know Best, you're not going to like hearing this)... I'm going to stick with Stock for now and avoid the headache (to me) of having steel installed. I'll look for a brush guard for added protection. Many thanks to all who chimed in!
I did see this set-up in google images today... curious if this is a stock bumper with a brush bar over it? I like where the brush bar sits in relation to the lettering on the hood. Anyone have any idea what it is?
Yes, that is a Land Rover brush bar over the stock bumper. I have that setup on my 2003, minus the extra lights.
those bumpers with that oval jeep looking thing i cant stand those, i think lucky 8 sells those my god i hate those things to me thats a jeep bumper
Are you talking about the recovery points? I think they honestly showed up on LR's first to be honest. Jeep bumpers usually always just had the 3/4 shackle mounts. I've got a set of those shackles on my TF bumper and I don't mind them vs the 3/4 shackles. You can tighten the Allen bolts and they won't make any noise like the 3/4 shackles.
The Jeep bumpers I used to HATE used the copy cat H1/H2/H3 recovery points. Rugged Ridge started that and then a lot of people copied it. They looked big and beefy, but if you actually looked how they were secured it was down right scary! I owned an H3 Alpha and those puppies went directly to the frame vs a 5mm piece of steel.
I do really like the look of the OEM LR brush guard, but I've also had one completely destroy the entire front end of my LR after being struck by an average sized deer. After that 6k repair bill I went with ARB bumpers, and 2 aux lights tapped into my high beams. After that I haven't had a run in with anything that got anywhere near 6K in damage. The worse I had was an aux light mount break.
My XD has the OEM brush guard on it currently only because it's got limb risers attached to it, and the aftermarket bumper I have for the XD doesn't have any hoops so I've gotta figure out a way to nicely mount em to the front fenders.
I saw photos of your swap on the forum and your rattle can job looks professional to me!
haha... My husband bought that for me when we were apart waiting for immigration papers to go through - he was still in England and I was here holding down the fort a few months after we were married. A colleague of mine volunteered to put it on for me and it's been there ever since. 13 years ago! I did see this set-up in google images today... curious if this is a stock bumper with a brush bar over it? I like where the brush bar sits in relation to the lettering on the hood. Anyone have any idea what it is?
Thanks for the tip on the brush bars - I know Steve517 had one here in TC awhile back. I didn't see his post until earlier this month. He was trying to sell it a year ago so doubt that he still has it but I'll give him a holler.
