I had seen some other bull bars that look very simular to the Westin bars and was just wondering if anyone else has used them?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Smitt...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARIES...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-08...Q5fAccessories

Just didn't know how they hold up, quality, duribility, etc if any had any experience with them.

 

I'm using a stainless Aries Bull Bar. I've had it for like 8 months I think. I Haven't had any trouble with it.

My only problem with it... well to tell the truth I haven't seen any other bull bar, but the lights that I have on mine weren't the easiest to install.

Just the way they sit on the bull bar, and the way there was a hole bigger than the size of a bolt, so I had to use a piece of rubber.. which came with the lights, but I had to use that to mount them.

Other than that It has been amazing, and I really like the way the guard on it is shaped with the slots and the overall design. I picked mine up on Ebay for $215 shipped.

 

Shanks, a couple of things..

1st: you answered a question about the aries installation before I even asked it. It looks like you didnt have to cut any of the front fascia. thanks

2nd: (a little off subject) in your pics in your profile, nice hog barns. My father-n-law is a hog farmer in sw MI. I got me a farmer's daughter At one time in the 90's he was the leading hog producer in southern MI

 

oh forgot to ask....you said that you had to use a rubber piece for the install of your off raod lights. Just wondering if they vibrate or jiggle around at night when they are on?

 

Its hard to explain really of how the lights are constructed. (I was Misled on Ebay they were KC... They were Not, but thats another story) But the bottom shaft of the light goes down and has about an inch round piece of rubber with a bolt in the middle... and seeing how the bull bar is round its hard to sit a flat piece on a round surface.. if you get what I mean. but I've got them tight enough where they don't really move. Once a month.. or so.. I'll check them to make sure they are still straight and not pointing up or down. Most of they time they do not move.

As far as the barns, Yeah thats one of our barns. we have about 6000 pigs at any given time. Its actually my Dad's and Uncles farm though. At the time those pics were taken I was working as an electrician wiring those type of hog barns. We actually did some barns in MI, IL, IN, KY, OH. You might ask who built your Father-in Law's barns. Name was Henderson Electric, BCMI was the Construction Company.

 

Thats cool, do the lights make a big difference in driving at nights?



He had all of his hogs free range at the time of his hay day. When I started dating my wife in, gosh, 99' and started working for him he was in his transition to moving them in confinement barns like yours. He never built any, just rented from farmers all over sw MI and NW IN to consentrate on trading. He rents from guys in Laporte I know.

 

yeah the lights do make a big difference. I think if i had some higher quality lights it would make more of a difference. I'm using 55w bulbs right now. And since I am running 5% tint around and 35% on windshield its always nice having extra light..

But overall I'm still impressed with the quality of the Aries bull bar, and the design of the skid plate i think looks real good, but I can't use it since I have a different front bumper than stock

And thats cool, we used to have free roamin hogs to back then.. I think before I started with the company they did a bunch of barns up in that area.

 

Bull bars are just approach angle reducers.

 

I think it looks pretty ugly without the skid plate. Does the bull bar take the place of the front tow hooks? I want one but dont want to give up my tow hooks.

Btw i like the new bars you got after u messed up the old ones, howd you do that by the way?

 

I wish i could use mine with the skid plate. I put it on once, but it hits and rubs against my front bumper.. due to having a different style bumper. I'm looking to fab up something so I can leave it on.

And yes it does take place of the front two hooks. I have seen a guy or two on here that made his own bull bar and added two hooks into his design.

 

Man that really sucks, i want a bull bar bad, but dont want to loose the stock hooks. Anybody know of any that dont take place of the hooks?

 

I think the off-topic discussion about the hog farms was better than the bull bar discussion....just my 2 cents. rofl