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

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by claw, Aug 31, 2010.

?

Which is the best (in your opinon) on looks and strength?

Poll closed Nov 29, 2010.
  1. Avid off-road bar

    130 vote(s)
    81.8%
  2. Westin bull bar with skid plate

    29 vote(s)
    18.2%
  1. Sep 8, 2010 at 9:11 AM
    #21
    claw

    claw [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Cam
    Bozeman MT
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    Tonneau cover, bed lights, fog lights, VHF radio
    Does anyone here have a 4 cylinder with an ARB bumper? I like how they do interact with the airbag system, but I still think that is a lot more than what I'll really need most the time....
     
  2. Sep 9, 2010 at 6:41 AM
    #22
    RZRob

    RZRob Well-Known Member

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    I'm definitely NOT a fan of bull bars, but mine came with one. I welded light tabs on mine to cool it off a bit. The way these attach offers no protection.

    I don't like the Avid either though - it's too wannabe. Just the basic straight bar is better.

    I'm trying hard to find someone to make me real bumpers and sliders.

    RZ Rob
    IMG_0345_0193bfa60bd329f32993ee35708c0a16151e3cba.jpg
     
  3. Sep 9, 2010 at 8:51 AM
    #23
    kris77

    kris77 Born in the Backwoods

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  4. Sep 9, 2010 at 10:16 AM
    #24
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    Differential Breather Mod Light Bar: 4 Cree LED lamps Bilstein 5100s Ride Rite Air Bags
    Here's my custom made light bar... now for my Hella 4000 metal, spot 100 watts

    Hella4000003_db5279fe211e1c569dc523ebf40a836497a5e3b7.jpg

    Origianlly for the Kragen HIDs (until they cracked in Baja)...

    lightbar079_887462ff65c504d870ad254e4534ba118e3bb66c.jpg

    lightbar034_03e372b9d332e562939f7ea882fd21fd207ea689.jpg

    Bolt on location...

    lightbar016_738f89dc137dd98e4f252990c032ee463aeddd98.jpg

    Made at Stewart's Race Works (Ivan's son's shop) by our son, Josh...

    lightbar010_e190ab4a48310cec87a231c2ad9f508a613e1bc2.jpg

    Now THAT's a light bar (electric motor pop up and angle ajustment while racing):

    lightbar023_6fab9db409538c05bec4cfd774475b5305fc4202.jpg
     
  5. Sep 9, 2010 at 10:36 AM
    #25
    claw

    claw [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Tonneau cover, bed lights, fog lights, VHF radio
    That's interesting, I had always seen the switches mounted near the front of the car and was told they were airbag sensors. Is the accelerometer switch new or was I just misinformed?

    Someone else here was talking about just leaving the bumper to do all of it because it is easier to replace and allows crumple, etc. I think if I hit something hard with either (Avid for location or Westin for what sounds like build quality) they will give and serious damage would ensue, with airbag deployment.

    For everyone with just a straight light bar: I'm not a huge fan of those looks but if that is what people want, it should be super easy to rig up mounting! Thanks for everyones input!
     
  6. Sep 9, 2010 at 10:53 AM
    #26
    Caduceus

    Caduceus Well-Known Member

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    So does Avid.
     
  7. Sep 13, 2010 at 6:23 AM
    #27
    IsmellBacon

    IsmellBacon Well-Known Member

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    None yet, need to finish the HEEP first
    If you are looking for something that will help against a deer or what ever jumps infront of you, you will need something that covers the grill and maybe the head lights. The ones you have linked and everyone is oooing and awwing over are bumper covers that are bling only and will clip a deer knee or thigh. Which means it is still going into your grill, radiator and then into your windshield and cab. If you are looking for protection and utility spend the extra money for an ARB or something simular to it.

    On the ARB website it says their bumbers are airbag approved, what that means on how it interacts I do not know.

    Best of luck in what you decide,

    Bacon
     
  8. Sep 23, 2010 at 7:40 AM
    #28
    Twirlin

    Twirlin Nature just gets the blow-by

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    how do the Avid light bars work with the TRD skid plate?
    do i need to specify that in the order process somehow?
     
  9. Oct 4, 2010 at 5:51 AM
    #29
    Twirlin

    Twirlin Nature just gets the blow-by

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    how did you put the white TRD logo on your skid plate? I'm possibly getting mine powdercoated along with my Avid light bar and then would be a good time to get it done. What do you guys think of powdercoating an item like a skid plate? I'm going for blending, so I want the bar and skid to be close to the same color as the mag grey truck.
     
  10. Oct 4, 2010 at 5:56 AM
    #30
    Twirlin

    Twirlin Nature just gets the blow-by

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    I'm sorta worried about durability with the salty roads we have here in Wisconsin, but then again I don't do off-roading, so it's not like it's gonna get scraped. The most that may happen to it is if I roll up onto a snow bank this winter......(probably will :))
     
  11. Oct 7, 2010 at 5:29 PM
    #31
    005Tacoma

    005Tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Bull Bar and Avid Light Bar both mount up same way correct?
     
  12. Oct 29, 2010 at 3:10 AM
    #32
    Taco4x4NC

    Taco4x4NC Well-Known Member

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    Avid "light bar" and the bull bar are only as strong as the couple of bolts that hold them in place. Both applications are "Eye candy" at best. I am not convinced either affords any protection for the $$$ spent.
     
  13. Oct 29, 2010 at 5:39 AM
    #33
    Twirlin

    Twirlin Nature just gets the blow-by

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    Avid light bar is at powdercoater and should be ready for pickup today. got the thing coated to match the mag grey pretty closely. will hopefully have pics up by the weekend. Had them do my TRD skid plate as well.....same color.
     
  14. Oct 29, 2010 at 7:28 AM
    #34
    virgilus11

    virgilus11 Well-Known Member

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    TRD supercharger,EMU 884 springs, 90000 shocks, air bags rear and TSB with EMU shocks, grillcraft mesh, Relentless front bumper,Armology rear bumper, byxenon hid's retro ,undercover lid with bike rack on top, Kenwood dnx9140,TRD cover seats
    I had a Westin type on my 2000 and the first cabby I hit ni New York ,,, I ended with more damage then I would expected. Simply looks and minor protection in a parking lot.
    I was one of the first to order a Avid bar ant it was a much better option then Westin. The guy is building something good for the money you pay and you can add more reinforcements if you want.
    I have a full plate from Relentless now and this is another soup. This is very sturdy but even these one will not provide me complete protection for the deer. The reason been,,, is that I dont have the big loop on top of the bumper. But hey,, these is my choice.

    No,, is up to you ,, how much you want, can pay for a bumper. I would add a good set of lights on top of that bumper. These will give a better chance to avoid hitting a deer.
    Remember,, the heavier you go,,, you will have to beef up the front suspenssion or at least relocate the baterry in back somwhere.
     
  15. Oct 29, 2010 at 7:46 AM
    #35
    claw

    claw [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Tonneau cover, bed lights, fog lights, VHF radio
    The heavy ARB/Relentless bumpers are great, but I don't want to rob my 4 banger of any more power than necessary. I looked into the aluminess (sp?) bumpers, which are plate aluminum that may offer a compromise, but not really sold on them yet either. I think I'm still going to stick to something like the AVID, just waiting for $$$ to come.

    Thanks for all the good feedback still!
     
  16. Oct 29, 2010 at 6:13 PM
    #36
    Sunburst

    Sunburst Well-Known Member

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    My Avid light bar is on the way and I have a Westin installed on my sons Pre-Runner. I had a Ranch hand on my 07 Tundra Crew Cab so I have had a little experience in testing the products (Minus the Avid until I get it here). The Westin looks good but its a beer can molded into a bull bar with no real protection capability. The Ranch hand I had on the Tundra was tested by a 250 lb wild hog two weeks after install and passed the test but barely. It knocked the bottom middle bars inside out and folded in my stock bumper behind the Ranch hand. My shop mechanic cut out those two bars and we put in something much more substantial, but I had the messed up stock bumper for the next 138,000 miles.

    I am hoping the Avid light bar is as good as advertised by the members of TW...Brandon has been great to work with on the order and fast email responses. I run a gauntlet every day going to work and dodge many a wild hog and deer on the 45 mile ride. I know there are a lot of beefy front bumpers out there but I want to keep the original bumper in place and run the normal protection in front of it. Most of the bumpers I see that replace the stock bumper look like they are geared toward a Baja race series and not designed for dodging wildlife in Tropical Central Florida.

    Just and opinion...
     
  17. Oct 29, 2010 at 6:19 PM
    #37
    estutes

    estutes Member

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    Love my Avid Light Bar as it is a quality built product and Brandon provided great service. I was so please with the light bar, that I also bought the Avid Step Bars. :cool:
     
  18. Nov 11, 2010 at 5:17 PM
    #38
    TacoBow

    TacoBow Intentionally cosmetically correct.

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    Outstanding... I'm thinking that will be the next, "uh, hey honey, you know there's still the chance of random deer crossings... " Very nice indeed.
     
  19. Nov 11, 2010 at 6:05 PM
    #39
    claw

    claw [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Tonneau cover, bed lights, fog lights, VHF radio
    Yeah, unless something awesome comes up I think I'm going to be waiting and hoping that AVIDs go on sale like I think they did last Christmas time. (Fingers Crossed)
     
  20. Nov 11, 2010 at 7:05 PM
    #40
    DiamondDG

    DiamondDG Well-Known Member

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    N-Fab!
     

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