Is a suspension upgrade required when fitting steel bullbar on a new 2015 150 GXL?

[WehaveaPrado! Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close WehaveaPrado!]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking at getting a bullbar for my new 2015 150 GXL and have shortened the list down to an ARB Deluxe steel bar or a ECB alloy bar.

I know that the steel bar will offer a much greater amount of protection than the alloy bar (and looks much better), but it's adding the extra 50/60kg to the front of the vehicle and how that will affect the car's handling that concerns me.

Can anyone advise me on whether a suspension upgrade would be necessary on a brand new vehicle. The vehicle will be used 70%/30% highway/off-road.

Thanks for your help. Cheers

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I went 2 years with an ARB Bar and no suspension upgrade. It worked well for most of that time, but I noticed that the front end was getting quite "soft" just prior to the suspension being done (that's why I got it upgraded). It was particularly noticeable under braking, the nose of the car would dip quite a bit. The ride also seemed to deteriorate in the months leading up to the upgrade, though I suspect this may have been partly due to going a little quick over some pretty big pot holes on the Dargo High Plains road.

So, you can get away without the upgrade for a while, but I think it is an inevitable modification if you have a steel bar.

[WehaveaPrado! Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close WehaveaPrado!]

Did you notice any suspension height drop at the front?

[Fred63 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fred63]

I have a TJM outback bar fitted with dual battery in the front. the weight would be similar.
MY14 TD auto.
I have been running with standard suspension for about 7 months now.
The nose does dip a bit more under harder braking but i would not say it really takes a nose dive.
I have not noticed it deteriorating so far and i would be doing similar highway to off-road you are planning.
The front dropped around 8mm after the bar was fitted.

I would advise the steel bar over alloy.
As Spilsy said you will get away with it but an upgrade will be required eventually.

[fatboydave Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close fatboydave]

I've just done 150k on my Prado 120 with an ARB steel winch bar and dual battery. I've just replaced the front suspension due to noticeable height drop. To be honest, it was really due to be done about 30k ago.

Mostly highway and daily driver miles. So as others have said, you don't need to do it straight away but it will need to be done eventually.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Every second farmer in the country bolts a steel bullbar to their Utes and cars and run standard suspension, often through the paddocks and dirt roads for much of the vehicles life. So not something that "needs " to be done.

Cheers Andrew

[Goggo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Goggo]

Probably would if you were thinking of adding a winch to the bar.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

If your only adding the bar it should be fine . And anyway you may as well use it until you notice a problem , otherwise you will be throwing away a new set of springs which no one will want . By the way you only need to change the springs . If you were to go to a heavier spring you would probably need to go to a custom made spring . I put heavier dobinson springs in mine because I was adding a winch and lights . But the heavier spring rate is too harsh , ie I don't have quite enough weight up front . Things to think about . Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

Note that the bumper and bumper support has weight. So you need to subtract that weight from the 60kg steel bar.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Did you notice any suspension height drop at the front?

The front height was consistent right up until the last little while. It dropped about 5-10mm in the month or so before I upgraded. Again, I think this was a combination of the extra weight and a poor speed choice travelling on a road that was in bad shape.

What finally broke the back was a day trip with some guys from work where, while travelling down hill (on a track I had had no issues with going up), I hit every 3rd stone on the path...and I mean stone, things about 50mm in diameter sitting on the track gave me grief.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Every second farmer in the country bolts a steel bullbar to their Utes and cars and run standard suspension, often through the paddocks and dirt roads for much of the vehicles life. So not something that "needs " to be done.

Cheers Andrew

Sound like you've spotted my old man!

[WehaveaPrado! Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close WehaveaPrado!]

Hi Everyone.

Thanks very much for all of your advice.Decided to go with ARB's steel bar.

Cheers Michael

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

I think the standard tyres have soft walls and cause most of the diving under brakes, once upgraded to light truck most drivers report it is significantly reduced.


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[Ryanhonter Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryanhonter]

I'm getting my 2015 GXL fitted out with the ARB deluxe bar and 30mm OME Lift next week......

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Post picks of that 30mm lift


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