Alloy is light but stays bent
Steel is heavy but takes a flogging , arb is honestly the best built bar with extra gussets and pipe that runs through other components then facewelded to surface, the reason i mention this is where the top bars meet the main body there are major differences , the cheap b bars actually only have bolts holding the the bars on . The bulk of b bars have the top bars welded directly to main bar body which is better but arb are drilled through main body and welded down low as well as on top plus gusset brakets.
Smart bars are light and flex back into shape , i had one for 15 years hit 80 odd roos from 20kph upto 140kph ]
hit them too high and the smart bar flexes and can damage the panels , hit them just right and floor it straight after and the plastic springs the roo foward and you can hit it twice :Y:
The biggest key is to mount your b bar up all square and neat , tighten all mounts, then cross drill the plates that have sliding adjustment slots and put a bolt through, failing to do this will let the bolts slip on impact and cause the b bar to move back and damage the bonnet headlights etc.
So....
If the b bar is for looks or mounting lights etc and you care about feul consumption go alloy,
If you have a lighter built 4x4 with more road type suspension like a triton or vw (no offense
) go a smart bar ,more so with torsion bar suspension.
If you have a tuff truck like a hilux , crusier etc go steel , spend 2000 or upwards and go steel.
If you dont leave the city after dark a cheap steel bar would be fine .
I now run a arb premium bar and love it
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