Bull Bar Recommendations

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For bull bars I would look at Steelcraft. It mounts in four places and is much more likely to withstand abuse. There are some Hunter branded bars on ebay several have tried and say they are as good as the Westins, just cheaper. Either of these would be looks only and provide no protection. The Steelcraft wouldn't provide a lot of p?rotection, but some.
 
Steelcraft and Westin will provide you with the exact same amount of protection...that amount is very little to none. As far as Hunter bull bars go they're no longer made or for sale on ebay as far as I'm aware, but you may want to look becasue I personally liked them the most.

If you're doing it just for the looks (and there's nothing wrong with that) I'd say either Steelcraft or Westin will look good.
 
While it still isn't much, the Steelcraft WILL offer more protection than Westin and the others. The Hunter bars I'm talking about is very similar to the Westin, not the ones that several here bought for cheap as they were being discontinued.
 
Ahhh, I see. Those are the Hunter bars I was thinking of.

Chaz, what do you mean by only two mounting points? I had a Westin on and it bolted to at least six factory bolts if I recall correctly.

Regardless, if you get in an accident neither will provide much, if any protection.
 
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chaz said:
maybe it was an old westin design but i thought it bolted only on thr bottom, the steelcraft also has mounting points that go thru the lower grill on the bumper. this is on an FJ but - YouTube - Westin Bull Bar Installation - etrailer.com
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I'm not sure if that's an old mounting style for Westin or a newer one, or maybe something specific to the FJ. Mine mounted differently. I was under the impression that Steelcraft mounted in a similar fashion to what was in the video you posted.

Youtube videos of the Steelcraft that I've seen look similar to the Westin video you posted. I didn't realize they mounted directly through the grill as well. Is there any cutting of the lower grill required?



Bossman, I like that as well. I think the steelcraft skid plate can also be removed.
 
I ordered the Romik bull bar with the driving light guards. One piece with four mounting points. Mainly because the tubing is 2.5" vs 3", it is Polished SS and it protects the whole front bumper. The Westin is chrome plated.

Koz
 

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ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
For bull bars I would look at Steelcraft. It mounts in four places and is much more likely to withstand abuse. There are some Hunter branded bars on ebay several have tried and say they are as good as the Westins, just cheaper. Either of these would be looks only and provide no protection. The Steelcraft wouldn't provide a lot of p?rotection, but some.
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hunter's are good, i got one on mine, its one they dont make any more and i have bumped into my friends jeep at about 5mph and it did its job and kept from scratching his bumper, also have bumped trees with it when turning around off road.

when i first installed it you couldnt push down on it with a lot of weight cause it would move, and i had my doubts but then i put loctite on the bolts and after almost a year of it being in the weather it is super solid now and i can sit on it with no problem,( i weigh about 145 lbs. though but i think someone heavier could sit on it as well)

hunter makes bull bars that look exactly like westin's safari bar and like steelcraft and westin's bull bar with a skid. and its a TON cheaper

here is a safari one
Bull Grill Push Guard Bar 03-09 Toyota 4Runner GX470 BK: eBay Motors (item 250670853062 end time Aug-01-10 12:46:02 PDT)

here is a regular one
Bull Grill Push Guard Bar 03-09 TOYOTA 4RUNNER GX470 BK: eBay Motors (item 250670861297 end time Aug-01-10 12:58:41 PDT)

i beleive they both have light tabs as well

also if you want a full brush guard
Toyota 4Runner 03-09 2004 2005 Grille Brush Guard B: eBay Motors (item 110563446663 end time Aug-01-10 12:34:30 PDT)

hope this helps
 
ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
While it still isn't much, the Steelcraft WILL offer more protection than Westin and the others. The Hunter bars I'm talking about is very similar to the Westin, not the ones that several here bought for cheap as they were being discontinued.
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yep i bought the Very last one they had!!! woot woot:trophy: haha about 55 bucks shipped! it would have been worth it if i paid 150 bucks too
 

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Ahh, that's the one. I like that one a lot. Wish they still made them.

Chaz, I see now. I never realized there were tabs on the back.
 
thanks bro. haha so many ppl would have them if they still did, as i get at least 1 message a month from someone asking me where i got it couse they wnated one haha. only problem is it doesnt have built in light tabs but PIAA makes some that i bought and they worked great till i broke one of my lights so now i have jsut the mounts haha
 
4Runner8 said:
hunter's are good, i got one on mine, its one they dont make any more and i have bumped into my friends jeep at about 5mph and it did its job and kept from scratching his bumper, also have bumped trees with it when turning around off road.

when i first installed it you couldnt push down on it with a lot of weight cause it would move, and i had my doubts but then i put loctite on the bolts and after almost a year of it being in the weather it is super solid now and i can sit on it with no problem,( i weigh about 145 lbs. though but i think someone heavier could sit on it as well)

hunter makes bull bars that look exactly like westin's safari bar and like steelcraft and westin's bull bar with a skid. and its a TON cheaper

here is a safari one
Bull Grill Push Guard Bar 03-09 Toyota 4Runner GX470 BK: eBay Motors (item 250670853062 end time Aug-01-10 12:46:02 PDT)

here is a regular one
Bull Grill Push Guard Bar 03-09 TOYOTA 4RUNNER GX470 BK: eBay Motors (item 250670861297 end time Aug-01-10 12:58:41 PDT)

i beleive they both have light tabs as well

also if you want a full brush guard
Toyota 4Runner 03-09 2004 2005 Grille Brush Guard B: eBay Motors (item 110563446663 end time Aug-01-10 12:34:30 PDT)

hope this helps
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The reason it is cheaper is because they are powder coated steel, the westin and Steelcraft are powder coated SS. The steel will rust in a couple years and you will have to continually repair it.

Koz
 
i have no rust on mine, and have had it for a year. but its your money so you can pay a sh1t ton for some metal if you want to. im just trying to help with some cheaper options
 
4Runner8 said:
i have no rust on mine, and have had it for a year. but its your money so you can pay a sh1t ton for some metal if you want to. im just trying to help with some cheaper options
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I did not mean cheap in quality, I meant cheap in price. For a powder coated bar that is a steel. For that price, if it rusts too bad you could just toss it and get a new one.

This is the cheap cow catcher (Made in China) I had for years. It looked as good as it did when new, until!

Koz
 

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