Avid light Bar as protection- Yes it works

There have been several threads and discussions wondering if the Avid light bar actually provides any real protection in a collision. Weather has been crap for awhile here and the roads have been solid packed snow turned to ice for a week. Last night on the news they said there are 10 people waiting for each rental car available in town because of all the accidents.

During lunch time I was behind a lady in a Ford Focus trying to get up an incline and she wasn't making it, just spinning her wheels so I gave her a pretty decent cushion. She decided to put it in reverse and still didn't move so she floored it. Tires caught and she panicked and never let off the gas slamming into my front end, I was sitting on ice too and it shoved the truck back a ways which helped soften the blow. Pieces of her bumper and lights went flying over my windshield the impact destroyed her rear end. I had Brandon at Avid modify my light bar when I ordered it for brush protection and an additional cross member when I first purchased my truck. It had 2,991 miles on it when she hit me.

She could hardly speak English and had 2 older teenage sons with her and they all kept apologizing. I felt bad for them have a feeling that Focus was about all they have. The oldest son kept looking back at her car and my truck and before they left he said Mister when I can afford to buy me a truck I'm getting a Toyota just like yours and putting a cattle guard on it like yours too. Well I wouldn't tackle a cow, moose, deer or elk with it but was surprised at how well it worked today. At first I thought it was a little "off" after the impact but think it is still totally intact without any damage. Both ends seem to drop down more than they did but that doesn't make sense not sure. Dirty, the car washes don't open until it is at least 10 above zero and been a long time here since that.



Where the snow is on the front of it is what took most of the impact. It paid for itself today and then some. I feel it worked very well considering the speed she was going.

 

thats a nice bar, and glad it protects aswell.

 

Looks great. I'm glad it's functional, too. You may have sold me on this.

 

Looks a little tweaked to me. But, better that than the front end of your truck. Have you checked the mounting points to look for any damage? When my wife's van was hit in the front end the insurance adjuster found some significant hidden damage that we would have otherwise missed.

 

I can test to avids strength. I have hit two deer with mine, one at 35 and one at 15.
The one at 35 moved the left side in about half an inch at most but didnt touch the truck surprisingly

 

I loved my avid bar. I got a plate bumper for more clearance for offroading. I was hit in a parking lot at a low speed. No damage. I also hit a bolder. No damaged except it had to be repainted. The avid bar is a solid steel product unlike many alloy bull bars. Glad it saved your truck.

 

Yes your right Tugboat I went out and took a closer look at it a little while ago. I was correct in that the ends were lower than before that is because it is pushed up higher now and closer to the truck. I did a fairly quick look at the mounting points first thing and can't really get a solid look at the top ones all the way around but so far looks like it is just the angle of the tubing where it bends off the mounts that has changed. It is now up tight to the bottom grill but if everything checks out will likely leave it as is, it does improve the approach angle. When it warms up I will crawl under it and take the grill off for a good inspection all the way around. Had some concern of other damage exactly like you mentioned but the mount points, thank goodness, are pretty solid. So far it looks OK.

 

Oh boy. I've been cooped up in a hotel room for two days now and my spendy finger is starting to get a little twitchy!

 

Hope it works out for you. And, if their really is no other damage… I may have some shopping to do myself.

 

I can't wait to get my Avid light bar. I placed my order like a month ago and I'm still waiting.

 

I like those Avid bars. Hopefully I'll have one someday. Glad to hear its resilient.

 

Do they mount at 2 or 4 points?

 

4 point mount. But fairly close together and on the same piece of steel, it is pretty solid.

 

Where is this sold? I like that it installs in front of the stock bumper.

 

Good to hear. Always wanted one.

 

Avid Off Road, on here http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/avid-off-road/

And his website http://www.avidoffroad.com/cart/index.php

Brandon modified mine with perforated steel and an extra cross member at my request. Turned out great. I did end up getting an alignment, all was fine, but still haven't pulled it back out yet. I'm afraid the metal that will be stretched will then be weak and should be replaced locally but haven't gotten around to it.

Here is someone else that has also had it prevent front end damage (in the Avid TW member discount thread)
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/avid-off-road/64955-how-apply-avid-discount-8.html#post9837655

 

i just ordered one with the additional crossmember and perforated metal on Friday.

 

I do not believe you will regret it!

 

In the pic you can tell it's slightly higher on the driver's side. Compare where the "bar" sits in relation to the fog light holes.

That being said, if the bar moved, then that means it absorbed the energy and hopefully no energy transferred into the frame.

I'm putting one on my wish list. I don't even offroad but this seems like cheap insurance against dumbass drivers.

 

Just received an email that my front bumper guard is shipping today!!