Westin Ultimate Bull Bar

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:56 am

I am interested in purchasing a Westin Ultimate Bull Bar for my KJ. I was going to buy the black powder coated carbon/mild steel finish to compliment my "murdered out" theme, but when I talked to an associate at Westin he said that material would not hold up for more than 1-2 years where I live [Minnesota]. I was thinking of spraying a coat of Plasti Dip on the bull bar before I installed it to give it some protection from weather conditions/salt on the road/etc. Do you guys think the mild steel finish would hold-up where I live if I Plasti Dipped it? My other option is going with the chrome-plated stainless steel finish and Plasti Dipping it black. This way I know the material will last, but it raises the cost up about $100. What bothers me is that I would be spending an extra $100 for the same black look.

I purchased a pair of PIAA 525 fog lamps and want to install them on the Westin Ultimate Bull Bar. The bull bar provides mounting points for two auxiliary lights. On Westin's website, it states the lights can be up to 6" in diameter. However, I called Westin and the associate said the PIAA 525's will not fit since the maximum light diameter the bull bar will accommodate is 5.75". Here is a picture displaying the PIAA 525's front view dimensions:

Here is a picture displaying the PIAA 525's side view dimensions:

Has anyone mounted PIAA 525's on a Westin Ultimate Bull Bar? Do you think these fog lamps will fit on the bull bar? If not, what modifications would I need to do to make them fit? Thanks in advance for your help!

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:44 am

A couple of years is about it no matter what you do, paint it, Line X it, rubber paint it, they rust from the inside out a lot of times. They are cheaply made, if you hit a shopping cart they'll fold up. Lots better ways to throw money away .

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:48 am

I had one on my Tacoma and got into an accident with it (rearended another pickup) and it held up quite well actually. wasn't even bent, I did have a hard time freeing up the bolts to remove it. must has moved a little during the collision.

I think they serve a purpose and add some style to the front. All depends on your rig and what you do with it.

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:58 am

Carmodifier wrote:

when I talked to an associate at Westin he said that material would not hold up for more than 1-2 years where I live [Minnesota]

That's not a red flag for you?

I can understand wanting to toughen up the look of your Jeep, but these cheap POSs are mostly used by the "look at me" crowd and not those serious about their vehicle. I agree with Mudd, so many better things to do with your money.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:50 am

tommudd wrote:

A couple of years is about it no matter what you do, paint it, Line X it, rubber paint it, they rust from the inside out a lot of times. They are cheaply made, if you hit a shopping cart they'll fold up. Lots better ways to throw money away .

I am assuming you are referring to the black powder coated carbon/mild steel finish. The same wouldn't occur to the chrome-plated stainless steel finish... Correct?

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:17 am

Sport wrote:

I had one on my Tacoma and got into an accident with it (rearended another pickup) and it held up quite well actually. wasn't even bent, I did have a hard time freeing up the bolts to remove it. must has moved a little during the collision.

I think they serve a purpose and add some style to the front. All depends on your rig and what you do with it.

Did you have the black powder coated carbon/mild steel finish or the chrome-plated stainless steel finish?

I like how the Westin Bull Bar incorporates a skid plate. The main reason I want the bull bar is to mount my PIAA's to it. I don't like how the Renegade models mount the fog lamps right on the bumper... Makes them look like they were just thrown on there. I also think the bull bar will give my KJ a more rugged, off road look. Where did you get your light bar for your fog lamps? You can disregard the comment that I left in your guestbook on CarDomain; I asked you the same question awhile back on there lol.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:31 am

ihatemybike wrote:

That's not a red flag for you?

I can understand wanting to toughen up the look of your Jeep, but these cheap POSs are mostly used by the "look at me" crowd and not those serious about their vehicle. I agree with Mudd, so many better things to do with your money.

It is a red flag to me, that's why I posted on here before I bought that finish. The black powder coated carbon/mild steel finish is backed by a 5-year warranty, whereas the chrome-plated stainless steel finish is backed by a lifetime warranty.

I considered purchasing an ARB Deluxe Bull Bar, but don't want to spend the extra cash (at least not at this point). I also don't want to deal with it sagging my front since I only have a Daystar 2½" spacer kit installed. I plan on installing a Jeepin' By Al 6" Lift Kit, but that won't happen for years to come. I have other priorities I need to tend to first before I dish that amount of money out on my Winter vehicle.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:12 am

Either one will rust through just the way they are, very thin and cheap
They may have a warranty but they are going on people trading every two-three years
I have seen both chrome and powder coated ones rust through from the inside out.
My old neighbor had one which actually looked pretty good on a Ford F150, one day he leaned on it to reach in and check the oil and it almost fell completely off :ROTFL:

Look at the one made by Detours
can mount lights on it and be winch ready

SweepnChoke · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:24 pm

The bull bar is for esthetics only and provides no functionality. Mine rusted out from the inside out in under 3 years. Save your money for an ARB bumper.

spitfire36o · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:39 pm

I had one on my old explorer. They cause more damage than offer protection. In a small bump, instead of a scratched/dented bumper i has to replace the headlights, grille, and hood. The mounting points are weak and the entire assembly bends back and just adds to the damage.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:27 pm

spitfire36o wrote:

I had one on my old explorer. They cause more damage than offer protection. In a small bump, instead of a scratched/dented bumper i has to replace the headlights, grille, and hood. The mounting points are weak and the entire assembly bends back and just adds to the damage.

x2... and listen to tommudd.

if you cant swing an ARB (best option) atleast check out detours. They mount very strongly to the jeep and wont rot out quickly. plus.. winch ready is always nice.

LIBERTYinLIBERTY · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:09 pm

By daveinliberty at 2012-02-06

$30 14 ga. muffler pipe

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:24 am

Carmodifier wrote:

Sport wrote:

I had one on my Tacoma and got into an accident with it (rearended another pickup) and it held up quite well actually. wasn't even bent, I did have a hard time freeing up the bolts to remove it. must has moved a little during the collision.

I think they serve a purpose and add some style to the front. All depends on your rig and what you do with it.

Did you have the black powder coated carbon/mild steel finish or the chrome-plated stainless steel finish?

I like how the Westin Bull Bar incorporates a skid plate. The main reason I want the bull bar is to mount my PIAA's to it. I don't like how the Renegade models mount the fog lamps right on the bumper... Makes them look like they were just thrown on there. I also think the bull bar will give my KJ a more rugged, off road look. Where did you get your light bar for your fog lamps? You can disregard the comment that I left in your guestbook on CarDomain; I asked you the same question awhile back on there lol.

Mine was black powder coat, had it for 3 years. There was a little surface rust starting. Now I wouldn't recommend it as protection when off roading but if you just want to mount some lights and add a little style then this should be fine.

The light bar I have now is a TJ light bar that I bought from quadratec.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:04 am

Sport wrote:

Carmodifier wrote:

Sport wrote:

I had one on my Tacoma and got into an accident with it (rearended another pickup) and it held up quite well actually. wasn't even bent, I did have a hard time freeing up the bolts to remove it. must has moved a little during the collision.

I think they serve a purpose and add some style to the front. All depends on your rig and what you do with it.

Did you have the black powder coated carbon/mild steel finish or the chrome-plated stainless steel finish?

I like how the Westin Bull Bar incorporates a skid plate. The main reason I want the bull bar is to mount my PIAA's to it. I don't like how the Renegade models mount the fog lamps right on the bumper... Makes them look like they were just thrown on there. I also think the bull bar will give my KJ a more rugged, off road look. Where did you get your light bar for your fog lamps? You can disregard the comment that I left in your guestbook on CarDomain; I asked you the same question awhile back on there lol.

Mine was black powder coat, had it for 3 years. There was a little surface rust starting. Now I wouldn't recommend it as protection when off roading but if you just want to mount some lights and add a little style then this should be fine.

The light bar I have now is a TJ light bar that I bought from quadratec.

I am leaning towards just installing the gloss black Olympic 4X4 Products Front Bumper Auxiliary Light Bar [http://www.quadratec.com/products/12110_100X_PG.htm] or the KC HiLiTES Hood Mount Light Bar [http://www.quadratec.com/products/12110_411.htm] on my bumper and mounting my PIAA 525's on it.

How difficult was the install? How did you mount the light bar to your bumper? Any words of advice? Thanks in advance!

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:28 pm

I am leaning towards just installing the gloss black Olympic 4X4 Products Front Bumper Auxiliary Light Bar [http://www.quadratec.com/products/12110_100X_PG.htm] or the KC HiLiTES Hood Mount Light Bar [http://www.quadratec.com/products/12110_411.htm] on my bumper and mounting my PIAA 525's on it.

How difficult was the install? How did you mount the light bar to your bumper? Any words of advice? Thanks in advance![/quote]

yeah, had I known about the KC hood mount that is the one that I would have bought. it is just a plastic bumper so drill a few holes and your good. I bought some large washers to mount underneath. Also in an effort to make it more secure I mounted it closer to the body. Doing this I was able to actually drill two holes into the metal and secure a few bolts. It was a bit of a job getting it done that way

Westin Ultimate Bull Bar

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