What would you buy??

HOGO80 · 08-01-2010, 10:07 AM

GDay Guys,
Ive just recently come into some money (woohoo) and want to spend it as quickly as possible on my 00' Hilux. Ive been looking at getting a Bullbar, still tossing up between a TJM, ARB and Ironman Deluxe so i need some advice on what is better value for money and also will look good? Im not planning on getting a winch in the future and i dont go in the outback that much (not around roo's and other wildlife that much), so therefore might not need a bullbar? and might want to spend this money on an Ironman rooftop tent?
Ive currently got a Denco aftermarket Turbo and turbo timer, just recently installed some remote central locking with immobiliser, 2inch exhaust, reasonably new BF Goodrich A/T tyres. Im still yet to get a good recovery kit but wanted to spend this new money on one big object for the ute.
Im pretty happy so far with my outfit as i am just starting out and dont need anything too extreme.
So bullbar or rooftop tent? and if bullbar, which one? Or maybe something else that might benefit that im not aware off?
$1500 is my limit!! What would you buy with $1500? haha
Thanks for your help fellas and ladies.

bmurray2250 · 08-01-2010, 02:29 PM

I have a TJM bar designed for a winch which gives me few choices of lights. ARB looks better. It would be between the ARB or TJM bars

rodw · 08-01-2010, 02:49 PM

Depends on what is your priority, Camping accommodation or the vehicle.

Personally, I am not fond of rooftop tents as I climbed up to look at one at a 4WD show and the thought of climbing that ladder to pee halfway through the night after a few beers left me cold. I have got an Oz tent which could aslo absorb your $1,500. I bet it will outlast the Ironman one!

What about a Snorkel and the recovery gear and maybe a UHF as another option? You'd nearly get the lot in your budget. Or a fridge and a few beers (or recovery gear) to go with it? Even a Dual battery to get ready for the fridge (I paid about $1,100 fitted by ARB but you could probably do it yourself for about $500.

1. Oztent $1,500
2. Rooftop tent $1,500
3. Snorkel ($700 or $450 fitted yourself), Recovery Gear ($300) and UHF ($400), Beer $100
4. DIY Dual Battery $500, fridge $1,000
5. Bull bar (But look for a second hand one)

Personally, I'd leave the tent as a $100 dome tent will get you out of trouble for quite a while. Maybe I'd go for the fridge and Dual battery when I think back to the order I bought things if you don't want a bull bar. If you are not the camping type, go the snorkle package.

phs · 08-01-2010, 10:07 PM

id personally would not spend 1500 on a tent those 40 doller dome tents from anaconda seem to do fine iv got a burke and wills swag as its easyer.

id be looking at ARB recovery pack, hand winch and cable and snorkel, (fit it your self)

i guess it depends on how much 4x4 you want to do

the snorkel id do for sure as it will save you money on fuel.

HOGO80 · 09-01-2010, 12:48 AM

Hey guys,
Thanks so far for the advice.
I have already got a snorkel as part of the turbo and exhaust system, so i dont need that.
The dual battery seems to be a good idea as it has alot of uses and is good incase i leave an accessory on and run the battery flat (much harder to jump or clutch start a truck battery). So approx $500 if i install it myself...how much to get an auto elec bloke to do it? I dont think i have the knowledge/skills to do it myself. Would love to give it a go but would also prefer for it to be done properly.
The other thing i thought of this arvo would be to possibly get a suspension upgrade/ lift kit on both the front and back, however what benefits will i really be gaining out of this, and does an already quite high Hilux need it?
I would like to talk to the ARB bloke in the store, but am afraid he will just rip me off and just sell me something he gets more commission on if you know what i mean!!
Cheers again

rodw · 09-01-2010, 08:31 AM

Just guessing but probably around $800. ARB charged me $1100 with a few extras. Ask a few leccies. You wouldn't get your fridge then!

Here is a DIY bible I used for the one on my previous car I did myself
Dual Battery Systems & Alternator charging

ARB will only rip you off if you accept their quote!

HOGO80 · 11-01-2010, 02:20 PM

So what ive come up with after a bit of shopping around is either a...
Waeco fridge freezer, CF-40 (package with insulater cover and 2-way CB radio pack) for $999
Dual battery system from Battery world, installed with Deep Cycle Auxillary battery for $500
Or
Ironman Protector Bullbar BBT001 which is over budget ($1750) but i might be able to save for a few more weeks. Dunno about this bullbar as it isnt from ARB or TJM, but it looks awesome and i wont be using it for winching and therefore might not need a high strength bar. Should i completely steer away from this?
I went into ARB to ask about the dual battery systems and they quoted me $1200+, which steered me way clear from them. The 'salesmen' also said that they dont sell a dual battery pack, just the individual parts which would cost a fortune to buy seperately.

Any advice on the Waeco fridges?? Good, bad?? Am i better off spenging more on an Engel fridge?? and how big should i be looking at getting?? The Waeco CF-40 is 37 litres and most of the time it will just be for the missus and i for a week or so. Will a 37 litre fridge freezer saffice in your opinions?
Cant wait to finally spend the money and use whatever i buy with it!!
Thanks again

Split pin · 11-01-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hogohilux

So what ive come up with after a bit of shopping around is either a...
Waeco fridge freezer, CF-40 (package with insulater cover and 2-way CB radio pack) for $999
Dual battery system from Battery world, installed with Deep Cycle Auxillary battery for $500
Or
Ironman Protector Bullbar BBT001 which is over budget ($1750) but i might be able to save for a few more weeks. Dunno about this bullbar as it isnt from ARB or TJM, but it looks awesome and i wont be using it for winching and therefore might not need a high strength bar. Should i completely steer away from this?
I went into ARB to ask about the dual battery systems and they quoted me $1200+, which steered me way clear from them. The 'salesmen' also said that they dont sell a dual battery pack, just the individual parts which would cost a fortune to buy seperately.

Any advice on the Waeco fridges?? Good, bad?? Am i better off spenging more on an Engel fridge?? and how big should i be looking at getting?? The Waeco CF-40 is 37 litres and most of the time it will just be for the missus and i for a week or so. Will a 37 litre fridge freezer saffice in your opinions?
Cant wait to finally spend the money and use whatever i buy with it!!
Thanks again

Mate a lot of things from ARB are over priced

.If I was you (again

) you can never buy a big enough fridge. What size fridge you think you need always go up 1 size bigger. We didnt and after 3 months bought the next size up and sold our old one ( thank god we didnt loose much on the sale from our 40 litre waeco). As for the bar you never know what the future holds regarding a winch. You may not want or need one now but maybe in 1 may be 2 years time you may wish that you did buy a bar that was winch compatable ( like constantly get yourself in trouble and after a while the wife buys you one as a birthday present.

Mine did

)

Any way thats my 2cents worth

............................. Oh bugger inflation better make that 5 cents worth

croozza · 11-01-2010, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hogohilux

So what ive come up with after a bit of shopping around is either a...
Waeco fridge freezer, CF-40 (package with insulater cover and 2-way CB radio pack) for $999
Dual battery system from Battery world, installed with Deep Cycle Auxillary battery for $500
Or
Ironman Protector Bullbar BBT001 which is over budget ($1750) but i might be able to save for a few more weeks. Dunno about this bullbar as it isnt from ARB or TJM, but it looks awesome and i wont be using it for winching and therefore might not need a high strength bar. Should i completely steer away from this?
I went into ARB to ask about the dual battery systems and they quoted me $1200+, which steered me way clear from them. The 'salesmen' also said that they dont sell a dual battery pack, just the individual parts which would cost a fortune to buy seperately.

Any advice on the Waeco fridges?? Good, bad?? Am i better off spenging more on an Engel fridge?? and how big should i be looking at getting?? The Waeco CF-40 is 37 litres and most of the time it will just be for the missus and i for a week or so. Will a 37 litre fridge freezer saffice in your opinions?
Cant wait to finally spend the money and use whatever i buy with it!!
Thanks again

If you are going for a dual Bat syst, the ARB one is the better one (the other brands tend to rip panels due to vibrations), BUT don't get them to fit it, that is where they are over priced. Get instead from your local 4WD accessory shop.

The Waeco is the better fridge out of the two, the engel is a good fridge but uses more power to run as it is metal, not poly like the Waeco.

If you get a bull bar there are no better than the ARB, cost a little more but worth every cent. Better quality, fit and finish, also look better on your rig.

HOGO80 · 11-01-2010, 04:14 PM

Hey Crooza,
What do you mean by 'rip panels'? And vibrations caused by everyday road use or on corrugations?
I plan on having the aux battery installed in the tray so i can have direct access to the battery for the accessories. Have you been to visit the ARB stores in Coopers Plains or Capalaba? Im coming up that way tomorrow, is it worth dropping in to either of those two stores and seeing what they have to say?
And the problem with the ARB bar is that they only have one style that fits my 00' Hilux and its dog ugly, so i dont wanna fork out the money for something that im no happy with visually!! The Ironman bar looks fantastic, and is winch compatible so if i do decide to get a winch i can.
Are there any good tracks around Ormeau that you go out on often? Ive had a look on the track map and gonna hit them up soon. Would you ever want to meet up as i need to learn the ropes with someone that knows more than me (wouldnt be hard!).
Cheers