KAYMAR REAR BAR & WHEEL CARRIERS 

Review and Install

KAYMAR REAR BAR & WHEEL CARRIERS

Review and Install

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WHY BUY A REAR BAR AT ALL?

A well-designed rear bar improves the departure angle of the vehicle for better protection and offroad capability. Rear bars also provide a mounting option for spare wheel carriers, fuel/water containers, lights, HF radio aerials and other accessories. Even if you don't require two spare tyres, relocating the spare from under the vehicle is critical for the installation of a long range fuel tank for remote travel and extended driving range.

In many cases rear bars also double as a towbar, but with a hitch receiver built into the chassis, that doesn't apply to the LandCruiser 300.

I've never owned a 4WD that wasn't eventually fitted with a replacement rear bar, and the 300 is no exception. Carrying two spares, plus the installation of additional fuel and water tanks is a critical part of my build.

Vehicle protection and offroad ability: The plastic factory rear bar on the 300 offers no real protection, either offroad or on. It's large and hangs low, delivering a poor departure angle, and will quickly be damaged offroad.

Spare wheel mounting: By far the most common reason for installing a rear bar. Carrying two spares is vital for remote travel, and a rear bar is the most convenient way to do so. Whether you add two spares to the bar, or keep one under the vehicle and just carry the second on the back.

Enabling extended fuel: This really goes hand-in-hand with relocating the spare tyre. As with many 4WD wagons, the 300's spare is located under the back of the car. The perfect location for a long range fuel tank. So relocating the spare onto the rear bar enables the installation of a long range fuel tank and/or water tank. Two more vital accessories for remote travel.

THE KAYMAR REAR BAR FOR THE LANDCRUISER 300

By the time my 300 finally arrived, there were quite a variety of rear bars available for the 300. But one really stood out from the rest, and that was the Kaymar. A really innovative design that solved a lot of issues common on other 300 series rear bars:

Carrier mounting system: The design of Kaymar's carrier mounting system is absolutely brilliant. Instead of a regular axle pin with a drop-on carrier, the pivot and swingarm is permanently attached, then the upright for the carrier just bolts on to it using four regular M10 bolts. This makes removal easy and clean, to avoid lugging an extra spare tyre around when it's not required. No more greasy bearings, seals or caps to deal with.

Departure angle: Most 300 series rear bars extend out past the factory rear bar at the corners, because that's where the pins for the wheel carriers sit. This makes the bars a little untidy, and ensures the departure angle can actually be worse than a factory bumper, particularly out towards the sides. Because the Kaymar swingarms mount within the bar instead of behind it, the bar perfectly matches the line of the factory bar, and delivers a better departure angle than the standard bumper.

Trailer wiring system: The first thing you lose on a rear bar when offroad is the trailer wiring, which is almost always attached to the bottom of the rear bar, so it's the first thing you land on. Kaymar have made provision for 7/12 pin flat, plus up to three Anderson connectors, vertically beside the hitch receiver. So they are completely protected from damage offroad.

 

 

SLIDESHOW

Check out some images of the great looking Kaymar rear bar for the LandCruiser 300

IMPORTANT

The "Installation" section should not be taken as instructions. It is simply a documenting of the procedure I followed for my own installation. No warranty is provided as to the accuracy of the information, and/or whether it applies in your situation or to your vehicle. If you're not qualified and/or don't have the correct equipment, have the rear bar installed professionally. Check the latest version of installation instructions which are supplied with your rear bar.

  • There is the potential for vehicle damage if the products are not installed correctly;
  • There are potential injuries if appropriate safety procedures are not followed.

If you undertake your own installation, you do so entirely at your own risk.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

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CONCLUSION

Installation is quite complex compared to a more traditional single-piece rear bar. Getting the modular components installed correctly can be a challenge, but the final result is beautifully integrated with the 300, and makes temporary removal of wheel carriers far easier than a traditional mounting system.

The Kaymar bar's already been through the torture test that was the Canning Stock Route trip, and come through without an issue.

A brilliant product from Kaymar, and highly recommended.

LandCruiser 300 Kaymar rear bar installation

Please refer to the comprehensive step-by-step video and stop/start it as required to follow the installation, and refer to the printed instructions from Kaymar if required.

Promotional and advertising content declaration

Undeclared promotion is rife in the 4WD "influencer" industry. Project300 is different. In the interests of full transparency, every page on Project300 will contain disclosure of what -if any- benefits were received in the process of choosing and installing the listed product(s).

I plan on owning and driving the Project300 LandCruiser for at least a decade. I'll only ever choose and install products which I believe to be of the highest quality, and which will serve me reliably throughout the life of the vehicle.

Disclosure for this article:

  • The Kaymar rear bar was supplied by Kaymar at no cost;
  • No monetary payment was or will be received from Kaymar to use or recommend their product;
  • I have no obligation to only make positive comments, and am free to say or write whatever I choose about the products, now and in the future;
  • This page contains affiliate links to eBay and/or Amazon. If you click on a link and then purchase any product at eBay/Amazon within a 24hour period, then I may receive a small commission on the total sale amount. The price you pay is unaffected;
  • This page contains advertisements from Google Ads, for which I receive a small payment. I do not control the content of the advertisements and do not necessarily endorse the products being advertised.

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