Kakadu front camera view with TJM bullbar

[PugzMikey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PugzMikey]

Hey people,

I have just taken ownership of my 2016 Kakadu and now I'm in the market for a bullbar. After much hunting the around net and 4x4 shops I have found very little about how the bullbars actually affect the front camera. I have asked both TJM and ARB, but none can give me a definitive answer on how much of the vision is blocked by just the bullbar, every time they start talking about spotlights, which is obvious that they would block the camera. From pictures that I have seen, the TJM bars are less obtrusive to the camera and headlight washers where ARB seem to block both almost completely.

Could someone do me a massive favour and post a picture of the camera view from the front camera with a TJM bar fitted?

Cheers,
Michael

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

With the Toyota bar the view is limited and totally blocked if and when you put spotties on. I'd imagine with the TJM bar it would be the same if not worse. Having a quick look on tjm website then I can see that the view will be very limited. Are you getting a set of spotties eventually?

I spliced a length of cable into the existing cable that powers the camera from behind. I moved my camera to a new position in my bullbar out front. Works a treat now.

[dBC Member Find all posts View Profile Close dBC]

How do they go with the radar sensor that's hiding behind the Toyota badge just above the camera? Hopefully its view of the traffic ahead remains unobstructed?

[PugzMikey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PugzMikey]

With the Toyota bar the view is limited and totally blocked if and when you put spotties on. I'd imagine with the TJM bar it would be the same if not worse. Having a quick look on tjm website then I can see that the view will be very limited. Are you getting a set of spotties eventually?

I spliced a length of cable into the existing cable that powers the camera from behind. I moved my camera to a new position in my bullbar out front. Works a treat now.

At this stage I don't think I will get spotties, that may change in the future of course. I have been thinking of an LED bar though, but to be honest, I don't think I will get a whole lot of use out of them.

What bar did you go with?

How do they go with the radar sensor that's hiding behind the Toyota badge just above the camera? Hopefully its view of the traffic ahead remains unobstructed?

I do remember reading that theTJM and ARB bar does not affect the radar at all, I couldn't find anything for ECB though. The Toyota bar is not meant to affect anything at all, but that depends on which staff memeber you ask...

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

At this stage I don't think I will get spotties, that may change in the future of course. I have been thinking of an LED bar though, but to be honest, I don't think I will get a whole lot of use out of them.

What bar did you go with?..

My 2010 Kakadu has the Toyota alloy bar up front. I find the biggest use of the front camera is when in a car park. I can't say I've used it off-road to be honest. As I always reserve park, the camera comes in handy when pulling out of my spot and my view is blocked from other large cars either side and you can't see. As the camera has a very wide viewing angle this makes it easy to see what is coming from either side. With the standard camera position, the bullbar uprights block the view either side quite a lot. This is why I moved the camera forward. Mine now pokes out the front of the bullbar is the air intake. The TJM bar may be harder to adapt because of the winch mount.

[PugzMikey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PugzMikey]

My 2010 Kakadu has the Toyota alloy bar up front. I find the biggest use of the front camera is when in a car park. I can't say I've used it off-road to be honest. As I always reserve park, the camera comes in handy when pulling out of my spot and my view is blocked from other large cars either side and you can't see. As the camera has a very wide viewing angle this makes it easy to see what is coming from either side. With the standard camera position, the bullbar uprights block the view either side quite a lot. This is why I moved the camera forward. Mine now pokes out the front of the bullbar is the air intake. The TJM bar may be harder to adapt because of the winch mount.

I haven't got much use for it off road either, it is mainly for my wife (if I am ever forced to let her drive), parking and as you say, looking around other larger vehicles. This is why I want to see by how much the vision is blocked, then I can decide if it is worth moving the camera or just leave it where it is. I think the TJM bar looks less obtrusive, but this is just based on the photos I have seen from the photos online though....

[therang Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close therang]

i have a 2010 kakadu with the toyota alloy bull bar. I find it obstructs it a fair bit, but still usable. In saying that i am going to move it forward into the bull bar so the camera isn't obscured and use it to its full potential. Mainly so the wife doesn't nudge the bar into something when parking. Should be able to give me a clear view of where exactly the nose of the bar starts than. i have also found it handy at hill crests etc where vision is hard which will really help with that.

[PugzMikey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PugzMikey]

i have a 2010 kakadu with the toyota alloy bull bar. I find it obstructs it a fair bit, but still usable. In saying that i am going to move it forward into the bull bar so the camera isn't obscured and use it to its full potential. Mainly so the wife doesn't nudge the bar into something when parking. Should be able to give me a clear view of where exactly the nose of the bar starts than. i have also found it handy at hill crests etc where vision is hard which will really help with that.

Don't suppose you have a photo of the view with your bar?

[therang Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close therang]

[PugzMikey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PugzMikey]

You are an absolute champion! Thanks for that, this is probably the only picture on the internet of the front camera view from a Kakadu with a bullbar fitted.
I think it is still usable and will most likely get a genuine bar, though I'd still like to see the view with a TJM bar fitted.

Thanks again therang!!

[therang Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close therang]

no worries all good. gives you a rough idea. going to look at moving it forward into the front bar to get a better use out of it, should be able to define the edge of the bull bar that way compared to that. you only get half a view and obstructed the way it is now

[IBoughtAPrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close IBoughtAPrado]

Hey there,

I also have a 2016 Kakadu and looking at a bull bar. I have seen posts on here about the ARB bull bar where it seems the front camera is moved. ARB people can't tell me and I am waiting for the poster of the post I am refering to to reply. I wanted to find out if it is standard to move the camera or if it's something to request. ARB retailers seem to be a little on the back foot when it come to modifications to the Kakadu. Went to one who said a lift for the Kakadu was totally out where others have said yes. It's a real minefield for Kakadu owners.

I'm very interested in hearing what others have to add.

Paul

[PugzMikey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PugzMikey]

Hey there,

I also have a 2016 Kakadu and looking at a bull bar. I have seen posts on here about the ARB bull bar where it seems the front camera is moved. ARB people can't tell me and I am waiting for the poster of the post I am refering to to reply. I wanted to find out if it is standard to move the camera or if it's something to request. ARB retailers seem to be a little on the back foot when it come to modifications to the Kakadu. Went to one who said a lift for the Kakadu was totally out where others have said yes. It's a real minefield for Kakadu owners.

I'm very interested in hearing what others have to add.

Paul

Hey Paul, I found ARB very "hit and miss" with their information in regards to the Kakadu. I don't think they realise or care that there is a camera on the front grill below the radar. But ARB won't move the camera unless you ask them to.
After giving up on speaking to the manufacturers, I went and had a look at a few Kakadus myself and found that the ARB bar completely blocks the camera, the bar actually covers it rendering it useless until you move it. You can get a camera relocation kit, or so I have heard, but I have had no luck in finding one. I have also found that there are many different ideas on where to relocate the camera as well, I have seen one neat solution where it was put in the hole where the winch cable would come out and others where they make a box that move the camera further forward.

[IBoughtAPrado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close IBoughtAPrado]

Hi PugzMikey,

I know what you mean but ARB seem to be the only ones who seem to have much knowledge of the differences with the Kakadu. I suspected that you had to tell them to move the camera.

We did get some info from ECB i think it was cause I can't find the info right now, and they said that there shouldn't be any problems. They had tested the parking sensors but hadn't tested the radar system but thought that there shouldn't be any problem. I'm sorry but I don't want to fork out thousands of dollars just in case what they suppose doesn't work.

If people have experience with other bull bars from different companies and can tell what they effect was please let us all know.

Paul

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Hi Michael.

If you send me an email address I will send you some pics of my ECB bar with front sensors and camera relocated.

Cheers.

David