Wow! I can't imagine what would make me go back to the air ride, maybe I'm missing something? LR did make some spring and coil from factory in the UK, they must have reasoned that it was still worth doing? My rig is more than capable off road than many of my friends vehicles, FJ's lifted broncos,some older jeeps. My friends 2016 Wrangler for sure is better in a number of circumstances that we get ourselves into, but that being said I usually go where he does. As for the ride to and from the shale pits I for sure have the most comfortable ride, the luxuries of my LR are not effected by not having the air ride, and all the special features seem to work just fine with the springs except for the raising up part obviously!
Anyway off topic again sorry moderators!
I use my vehicle about 40% off road, I drive through lots of mud and crud every day, I love the washer sensors for my lights, a refinement I don't want to lose by adding the winch, so I will go with the hidden option.

 

Just to reiterate an earlier point I believe was stated:

The ARB winchbumper is made to reuse the washers for the headlights, they pop right into the bumper when you mount it, and they work just like they do on the normal bumper. Yes you have to move the washer bottle a bit and remount it to the new bumper but you do not need to cut or resize it AFAIK. If that is all that is keeping you from the decision you may want to take another look.

 

@DavC thanks for the input, I did miss that on previous posts. So the washer bottle for the bumper is not replaced just remounted in a different position? That's a big +1 for the ARB. What is it like for approach angles?
P

 

Yes different position if the installation manual remains the same. Do a google for the PDF ARB provides to install the bumper, it should explain how everything fits together.

As for approach angles... Don described it pretty well, it is worse than the stock bumper because it increases the overhang a bit, good for overland, less so for rock crawling. Not a deal breaker for me IMO but he would be the one to ask (Zelatore).

 

Yes, the washers are used on the ARB. My main dislike about it is the horrible winch access. Just last weekend I had my clutch handle partially stuck and had to find a suitable stick to jab through the holes in the bumper to get it to engage. There's just no way to get your hand in that little hole for any leverage. A really poor design. The other aspect is that it does stick out quite a bit more than the stock bumper so you'll make contact with rocks earlier with this than with the stock stuff. At least it's steel so it's not the end of the world if you drag it on the granite, but it could certainly be slimmer.

 

Thanks for the input Zeltadore...I'm still on the fence with this. Now it's not so much the washer issue as the approach angle, here on the island we don't have granite just sandstone...but still hard enough to destroy the crappy plastic bumpers..
What about the bush bar that was from LR? Would this be a good option?
Paul

 

If the OEM bush bar is what I'm thinking of it's pretty much worthless as protection goes. It's a styling thing that gives you a place to mount some lights.

The ARB isn't the end of the world, there are just some things I wish they had done differently. Certainly lots of people (including me) are running them. I'm sure it's the most popular bumper on the LR3. It does offer more protection than the stock bumper and looks OK, I just wish they had addressed those two points (winch and approach) better.

Ask around, you may be able to find somebody local who has one so you can check it out installed on a truck.

 

The OEM A-Frame brush bar offers "minimal" protection. It isn't like a steel bumper that you can just not worry about. It is mostly as Don says, aesthetically nice and a place to mount lights. If it offers any protection it's by way of "getting in the way" of brush and trees. Land Rover did; however, make one that could accept a winch.

There is a steel bumper that has a hidden winch mount out there somewhere, too.