T&H OffRoad or Westin Ultimate Bull Bar?

[X5Runner]

Hi all, I'm looking to buy some sort of Front bumper protection for my 05 Runner. There were two of tem have caught my eyes. The first one is T&H Stainless Steell bull bar, and the second one is Westin Ultimate bull bar, also stainless steel. The price is almost the same. However, the Westin does come with a built-in skid plate. To those whoever has installed either one of it please post. BTW, I just picked a set of IN CHANNEL VENT SHADES off ebay. Oh god, it looks so good and fit perfeclty as OEM product. It was made by WADE, and made in USA. Pictures will be taken as soon as all the dress-up are done. Thanks inadvance guys....and gals.

 

[chunderboy]

As far as the weston, i prefer them. I have the safari bar on mine, and the reason i chose that was b/c i was able to put any size fog light on them. Bobby, and a couple of other guys had a hard time finding lights small enough to fit into the space on the t&H. But it is up to you.

As a side note, i have heard that the in channel wind guards bind the windows, and destroys tint if you have them on there. IMO

 

[Noloc]

I'm partial to the T&H b/c that's what I went with. I think it gives the front a nice look. THe skid plate is nice on the Westin but I guess it all depends on the look you want. I think the Westin would look better on a Domestic than Import.

 

[MacVay]

Noloc,

I am in the same boat as you and I have chosen the Ultimate Bull Bar as well.

Just a note though. I ordered mine in January and I still do not have it. I have called Westin several times and they are still telling me that the bar has not gone to production yet. Granted, the last time I called was 2 weeks ago but they would not give me an estimated time of production

I think the bar will look amazing on our rigs, so I'm going to wait it out.

Sucks though, as I hate waiting

 

[X5Runner]

As a side note, i have heard that the in channel wind guards bind the windows, and destroys tint if you have them on there. IMO [/B]

.

Man, I haven't tint my windows yet, but I'm worrying now if that sh!t is binding my windows. I think it's too late to take it off now. Any ideas?

 

[chunderboy]

You could always take them out of the channels. The ones that i got were the stick on ones that go on the outside of the door. They are great. Sturdy, do what they are supposed to and don't touch the windows. I have tint on mine and it doesn't touch it at all. Go with the other ones.

 

[loudog2]

I have the in-channel one's and tinted windows. Never had a problem. No problems with tint scratching or the auto-up/down feature. I would rather have the in-channel instead of sticking adhesive on my 4-runner. But it's all preference. Get what ever you think looks best.

 

[X5Runner]

I have the in-channel one's and tinted windows. Never had a problem. No problems with tint scratching or the auto-up/down feature. I would rather have the in-channel instead of sticking adhesive on my 4-runner. But it's all preference. Get what ever you think looks best.

Ahhhh! I'm feeling a bit better now, but wait. Are your in channel ventshades also have 3M tape, that keep them from falling out of the window channel? I think once the 3M has set on the inside rubber, it much be a paint in the a$$ to take them off. Well, I guess I just leave it there for awhile.

 

[loudog2]

The front 2 have no 3m tape. The back 2 come with 3m on it. If I remember right you peel the tab off the back 2 and stick them in the channel. Then close the window to put the pressure on it to stick. The front 2 have no adhesive. You can take the back 2 out, and the tape will still be on the vent-shades, not stuck to the rubber on the inside.

 

[GalacticRunner]

I too have the in channel shades and to date never a problem. On the bar I'm partial to the T&H I'm very impressed with the quality of their product.

 

[chunderboy]

Isth, i am getting destroyed here. Just something that i heard. The tape ones are good enough for me. Oh, but don't you guys with the T&H wish you could have choices when it comes the lights you can put on the rig.

I know with the Weston there is plenty of room for 5 and 6 inch lights. But as far as the T&H's (at least in bobby's case), he had a hard time finding lights.

IMHO

 

[Bobby]

I heard the same thing about the in-channel vent visors so I ordered the Canadian Vent Visors that stick on the doors.

I didn't have any problems finding lights. I just got cheap and bought Hella FF75s but they measure just the height of the light body and not the mount . I got them to work.

Catz MSX and PIAA 2100XT both fit fine and you could even go cheap and get some from Pep Boys/AutoZone/etc for under $25.

 

[EdL04Sport]

I had the in-channel ones on my Maxima and they binded up the windows. I left them in for about 2 months hoping they would get better, but they actually got worse...to the point it started to push the driver's window off it's track. That's just my experience with them...maybe I got a bad set. Since then, I've only gone with the stick on type. I have the Canadian vent visors and love them. They're pretty slick.

 

[sharp4runr]

I know with the Weston there is plenty of room for 5 and 6 inch lights. But as far as the T&H's (at least in bobby's case), he had a hard time finding lights.

IMHO

I was able to squeeze the FF500 lights into Westin Safari Grill without doing a custom mount, see the avatar. http://www.hella.com/produktion/Hel.../Performance_Lighting/Model_500/Model_500.jsp Westin says a 6" light will fit, the FF500 are almost 7" and they do not make contact with the grill.

Also, I went with the Canadian stick on ones because they look better than any other stick on/in channel ons currently out.

 

[X5Runner]

The front 2 have no 3m tape. The back 2 come with 3m on it. If I remember right you peel the tab off the back 2 and stick them in the channel. Then close the window to put the pressure on it to stick. The front 2 have no adhesive. You can take the back 2 out, and the tape will still be on the vent-shades, not stuck to the rubber on the inside.

So...I've got a different product then your. The one I bought came with 3M tape, both front and rear. I don't think it's easy to take them off with those 3M

 

[loudog2]

I have the weathertech in-channel