H3 THOR or ARB

[Sneakysilver]

So saved up money for either THOR bumper or the ARB, id like thoughts about which you would recommend and why also.

You guys are always good help!

 

[skeptic]

If you are looking for opinions from someone that doesn't have either one, I'd go ARB every time. IMHO it looks a lot nicer, it better hides and protects a winch, and has better protection for the grill. To me the Thor parts bumper looks incomplete. Downsides for the ARB that I can think of are it appears to be much heavier, and it's considerably more expensive.

 

[DJinCO]

I would recommend the ARB winch bumper.

Reason being that the ARB has been tested to maintain the factory protection in a front end collision.
I had a Ranch Hand bumper on my Tahoe and was in a collision (a kid blew through a stop sign into me) and the bumper did not bend or flex. All of the energy of a 35MPH front end impact was transferred to the frame. The result was that the secondary impact caused damage to my body. My body, not the vehicle body. IMHO, the crash would have been absorbed by the vehicle as the Tahoe wrapped around the other vehicle; what happened was the Tahoe bounced off the other car. The Ranch Hand bumper was impressive that it did not bend. But that is not what the front end was designed to do in an impact. No, the airbags did not deploy, there was no collapse of the front end to trigger the sensors.

That's my opinion.

 

[954paulo]

i have the thor front and rear and they are fantastic. i have hit a ton of trails and they still look great. not to mention they are high quality!

 

[06 H3]

Thor...arb is too heavy and Thor gives tire clearance

 

[jakesz28]

I would never waist my time putting a heavy bumper like the ARB on the front of an H3. The torsion bars are to weak to support the weight. If any one thinks the Thor parts front bumper offers less protection then the stock bumper your wrong. It might not protect the fenders like the ARB, but it weights less and your already adding extra weight with the winch.

Hands down the Thor parts is what I would go with. I have seen some other bumpers dragging which could have held them up. I haven't scraped my front bumper yet.

 

[alrock]

I have neither. I did not like the Thor in the first pics I saw, but the pics do jot do it justice. It agree that it can look incomplete in pics but I think it looks great in person.

Definitely a well built product

 

[H3nightrod]

I don't have either of them.

If i had the cash Thor all around!

 

[3Hummers]

I have the BA winch bumper but if I were in the market for one I would lean Thor.

 

[JonBishop]

When I get the chance, ill be defiantly getting a Thor front bumper in the near future

 

[06 H3]

Alex makes a great point, on the computer I wasnt crazy about the THOR bumper but when I saw it in moab for the first time my opinion changed the second I saw it. They look 1000000x better in person.

 

[Tdavis]

Another option for a hidden winch and light weight is the DOI or Defelice. Looks good!!

 

[Spectre]

I got to vote ARB. I installed mine a few weeks ago and love it. Honestly I don't think its that heavy, I was able to move it around myself. Although I did need a second pair of hands to balance it when installing. I think it is about 150 lbs. Not light weight, but not as bad as some of the solid steel ranch bumpers I have seen. I also feel better knowing the testing ARB does for animal strikes. We have a lot of dear that think they own the road or something here in Illinois. ARB designed their bumper to take kangaroo strikes, but I've heard it works on deer too . The downaide is it makes it very hard toget to the winch should it (for whatever reason) break down. If you are looking for an all around bumper for protection on the road and trail, ARB is your best bet.

 

[954paulo]

Here's my Thor


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[cgalpha08]

I'm a fan of Thor. That is biased since I know CJ and have wheeled with him. I will say the open winch access, tire clearance and the lower weight of the Thor are benefits for me. As well as cost. The ARB is one of the biggest names in offroad equipment so that's a plus for them. If I didn't have a BA bumper I would have s THor.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[954paulo]

CJ is a good guy. He has helped me out numerous times


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[ReconH3]

Definitely THOR! Has much better angles for Offroad. I have a rear ARB because Thor hadn't put his on the market yet. If I didn't already have the ARB, I would get the Thor. ARBs are way too heavy, and stick out way too much.

"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

[jakesz28]

The nice thing with the Thor rear bumper is the location of the trailer harness plug. I'm missing some powder coat on that one but not a scratch on the front yet.

 

[Highatop]

Thor here also. I had the same question just a few months ago when I started my mods. Lighter weight and you will be addin another 70 or so w/ a winch, rock rails and even more w/ diffrent mod you choose to do. The weight starts addin up w/ all the mods. Also, the way everythin is nice and tucked in gives a great angle to go up and down rocks. I have rubbed my back stock bumper goin up and down the same rock and the Thor front did not touch either way. and gettin the bull bar will help w/ protection. I also like the look and the ez install. I just got my bull bar so I don't think my sig shows it yet. Happy huntin

 

[silvrzuki77]

I have the ARB bumper and like it alot and would buy it over again! As it was stated early on its crash rated and with my two little kids thats a huge plus for me! I also have the BA bumper that I took off and put on my dads bumper which I personally DO not like. ARB uses more mounting points than just the front tow hooks like the BA. There is not much difference in weight between the two. The ARB isnt as heavy as people think, or maybe I workout a little harder than than most THOR makes a great product no doubt.

I dont agree you lose alot of departure angle except out near the outer wings. The winch sits about 6-8" above the tow hook brackets.

Either way you will get a good product

 

[RamRod]

I have the ARB bumper and like it alot and would buy it over again! As it was stated early on its crash rated and with my two little kids thats a huge plus for me! I also have the BA bumper that I took off and put on my dads bumper which I personally DO not like. ARB uses more mounting points than just the front tow hooks like the BA. There is not much difference in weight between the two. The ARB isnt as heavy as people think, or maybe I workout a little harder than than most THOR makes a great product no doubt.

I dont agree you lose alot of departure angle except out near the outer wings. The winch sits about 6-8" above the tow hook brackets.

Either way you will get a good product

Thanks for posting an up close pic, would you be able to post a pic of the side profile ( 90 degrees fro the truck, marker light to the front of the bumper) I am interested in how much further the bumper sticks out.

Thanks!!

 

[silvrzuki77]

Sure have to wait till tomorrow.. Work the next 24hrs.

 

[Schwarttzy]

Thor hands down.

 

[skippy]

i have both art front and rear
aussie made
so don't ask me

 

[silvrzuki77]

Here you go ramrod.