Avid off road light bar vs Westin bull bar with skid plate

Hey everybody, I had a quick question that I was hoping TW, with it's infinite knowledge, could help me with. I just bought a 2010 Access Cab SR5 Taco. It is 4x4 with a 4 cylinder, but not set up for off-roading anymore than any other SR5 at this point. Eventually I want some AT tires, maybe some TRD wheels, a tow hitch, tonneau cover, and a light bar. This post is regrading the light bar.

I think I've narrowed it down to the Avid light bar or the Westin bar with skid plate (since mine doesn't have one). I like the looks of both of them but I'm not leaning one way or the other. One deciding factor I really want help with is how sturdy they are. I know neither are meant for hitting deer BUT here in Montana, deer happens. If a little bugger does jump out, I would hope that my light bar could take the brunt of the damage and not fubar my radiator or any other important pieces. With that in mind, which of these would be the stoutest if IN WORST CASE SCENARIO I do need to use it as protection?

THANKS A TON TW!!!

 

Neither, you need something much more substantial if you expect it to protect your front end from a deer. You need something like an ARB bumper or I've heard the ranch hand grille guards are pretty strong. Even then, if they go up and over or around the side, there will still be a lot of damage to your bodywork.

 

i had the westin bull bar, and now i have the avid. the avid is built much better and is very solit. The westin IMO is a peice of crap that wont protect you from anything besides a bump in the parking lot, and even at that it will dent very easily. Im guessing that if you hit a deer with it it would not offer much portection. The Avid is much more solid. GO with Avid!!! Brandon is great to work with.

 

N fab all the way

 

Sorry Badguybuster, N-fab pre-runners just don't do it for me :\ Pugga, I'm not planning on using it to mow deer down, but if I am buying something for the front of the truck, I feel it should be somewhat substantial.

 

One thing to consider: The avid off-road bar looks awesome, and the westin bull bars are ugliest POS I've seen.

 

N-Fab light bar. it comes with 4 tabs for lights. Can't go wrong.

 

Ok, so the ARB might be slightly overkill since you put it that way... I threw it out there because the bull bars and light bars don't seem like they'd be high enough to offer any protection to your radiator or headlights if you do manage to hit a deer. Just a thought, hopefully you won't have to find out how they perform against a deer!

 

Yeah, the ARBs are cool but I feel that would be a lot on a 4 banger truck. Hopefully the light bars will work!

 

I say AVID!!!!

 

I personally like my bull bar. It goes with my truck! It is not a Westin. They would be ok, if they did not have Westin cut into them.

 

Agree 100%

 

If you decide you want a Westin let me know. I have one for sale.

 

fuck bullbars

 

neither.

Steel tube bumper or plate bumper

ARB
All-pro
Demello

 

By the way... Im running the Avid front bar + the AllPro IFS skid plate

 

I had the Westin and had a jackass at a gas station think he was in reverse drive into me. At about 5 mph it bent it in to my bumper and offered zero protection. Insurance cashed it out and I now have an ARB. The Westins may look alright but against anything they crumble. ARB all the way!

 

Just ordered an Avid Lightbar tonight

 

I have some chrome oem headlights that'll go with your truck real good & I'll trade them for those blacked out ones you have that don't go with the rest of what you got goin on there. I'll even ship mine first so you don't have to go without headlights and you can keep your silverstar parking/blinker bulbs too. PM shipping info if interested.




Avid by far of the choices listed but same reservations as have been posted as to the lack of effective protection from deer from either.

 

i have been tossing around getting one or the other, at first i was set on a westin or aries bull bar and even after seeing the avid bar i liked the westin. but i searched and after seeing many many pics of the avid bar it grew on me and i think it looks way better than the bull bar, i also like how it goes across the whole bumper... and looks sick with off road lights! ill be ordering my in a week or so!