As for the first picture, that demonstrates how disadvantageous the ARB design actually is. Something like the RTE slimline, Safari Gard, or even the
RTE "thick" bumper would not have been as susceptible to this type damage. But, the more noteworthy point is, the RTE or Safari Gard would have never bent up like that. The RTE style bumpers are 3/16" and 1/4" steel, fully boxed. The ARB and TJM style bumpers rely on the folds in the metal for their strength. Once a fold is compromised by a dent, or if the fold is hit from the wrong direction, the bumper is rendered useless - as we can all see.
Here, you can see a TJM, and how, like an ARB, the thin gage material they're made from works as a disadvantage to you.
As you can see, the bumper is stuck into the tire. To get home, you either have to 1) remove the bumper entirely, winch and all; 2) cut off the damaged part. Either way, the bumper is trash.
Will this happen to an RTE? I think not.......
You also claim that the ARB bumpers are being bent as the result of a poor installation. Sure, this could happen. But don't you think that in picture #4...
...with the two D2's and ARB's is a little odd? I mean, here we have two D2's, different owners, same bumpers, and the same rotating effects from winching.
If you've never seen the ARB rotate due to winching, I find this very hard to believe, if you do the extreme type wheeling you say. This is VERY common for ARB and TJM bumpers.
You then carry on about "I'd rather swap a bull bar than a damaged frame". PLEASE P76, show me where someone has damaged their frame off-road as a side-effect of having an RTE bumper installed. There's no credibility to your claim. Do you understand how hard you would have to hit something to bend your frame? It would have to be harder than this...
The two people riding in the D2 walked away from the accident and the D2 drove home. No bent frame. The truck is still on the road today.
Yes, you're right that anything can be bent, but if you've paid several hundred dollars for a bumper, and have taken some vacation time to go off-road, what bumper gives you more piece of mind? The bumper that folds up from hitting a stump at less than 1MPH, or the bumper than can t-bone another car at 45MPH and still get you home?
