Nerf Bars?

[geologist]

Have any of you guys ever fabricated your own nerf bars? I want some for my truck, but they're all very... crappy looking. I've got a welder, and I'm stupid enough to believe I can do it. What say you?

 

[crewchief888]

i built a set for my s-10 blazer, more functional than pretty,

they are angled up towards the rocker panel, and tucked in close,
and tied into the cage so they dont bend.

they have saved the rocker panels and doors from rocks more than once

 

[KPSquared]

So, by "nerf bars" do you mean functional rock sliders or those big 3" pieces of thin wall chrome exhaust tubing bolted on 80's Chevy's with KC lights on the roll bar?

I've built a couple pairs. They were all function. They looked good but they definitely had a purpose. . .keep rocks off the rockers. . .

Do you want something with a step? What kind of vehicle and what purpose will they serve?

 

[geologist]

I'd like something like about 4 inches wide, with tread along the whole top surface, solid to the vehicle... not this stupid exhause pipe ****. I have 20" Tahoe LTZ wheels and tires on my Silverado, so it sits a bit high for me (5'7") and my lady (5').

One of the things I hate most is the crappy brackets on the "over the counter" **** you find on ebay and elsewhere. They have no style. I have an extended cab truck, and all of the ones out there just don't look right. I thought about diamond plate on the top, but if I'm not mistaken, it can get rather slick, correct?

 

[crewchief888]

you may be able to bend something up, but i'd think at 4" wide, it's not gonna look proportionally "correct"

diamond plate, especially aluminum is slick when it's muddy or snow covered.

since the wife is vertically challenged you may be better off looking at some of the steps, instead of a nerf bar type set up.

i had the same problem with the wife, (she's 5'2") and my 6" lifted '94 sierra on 35's.

i always had fun helping her up into that truck, especially in a skirt and heels.

i have a '00 sierra, 3" body lift on 305's...

i still have fun helping her get in

 

[dieselman321]

I used this bender for my rock sliders. http://www.barnonediesel.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=34&product_id=28

 

[KPSquared]

What did you build those sliders from? That thing would be a workout trying to bend 2" DOM. . .

 

[ert01]

For traction on whatever you make, goto your nearest skateboard shop and buy a roll of grip tape. Its what skateboards have stuck on their deck. It's easily cut with a utility knife and is fairly cheap.

 

[Rural53]

After bending the factory running boards up so far I couldn't open the front passenger's door on my Nissan Patrol I decided to build some real side rails. I basically combined about three other peoples designs, with my own thoughts and came up with a bolt on design that has a tube under the rocker and a tube outboard of that for the factory running board to sit on. They are made from 32mm NB Schedule 40 pipe and are strong enough to jack the truck up off.

We have built a set of these for my mate's Hilux using 4Runner running boards. I have also seen them done with folded aluminium plate as the step surface with non slip tape on top.

 

[geologist]

I'm thinking about using 4x2 rectangular tubing, radiused at the ends for the step itself, with the serrated metal grating recessed into the top of the beam. I know that'd be a PITA to recess a pocket and tuck in the grate, but I think the finished product would be pretty nice.

I've got the idea in my head... time to sketch it out, play with some cardboard, and see how it turns out.

 

[crewchief888]

mine are 1 1/4" black pipe,

bent with a HF pipe bender

 

[Rural53]

I'm thinking about using 4x2 rectangular tubing, radiused at the ends for the step itself, with the serrated metal grating recessed into the top of the beam. I know that'd be a PITA to recess a pocket and tuck in the grate, but I think the finished product would be pretty nice.

I've got the idea in my head... time to sketch it out, play with some cardboard, and see how it turns out.

I built a set made out of 3x2 RHS for my Isuzu Wizard, based off a set I saw on Planet Isuzu made from 4x2. I stuck some 3M grip tape on the top.

 

[AKmud]

What about a step of expanded metal? Could be either flat or you could wrap a section of the pipe for traction.

 

[tarbellb]

Nice Hilux Rural53! Man those things are awesome, and everywhere except the USA. The only thing tougher then a Toyota truck is a Toyota truck with a solid front axle.
What about that Isuzu Wizard (never heard of one) is that also SFA? Does the Hilux run a diesel or petrol engine?

 

[Rural53]

[Hi jack]

Nice Hilux Rural53! Man those things are awesome, and everywhere except the USA. The only thing tougher then a Toyota truck is a Toyota truck with a solid front axle.
What about that Isuzu Wizard (never heard of one) is that also SFA? Does the Hilux run a diesel or petrol engine?

That's not a Hilux! (in post #9) That is a Nissan Patrol. The Nissan/Toyota thing in NZ is like the Ford/Chev thing in the US.

Nissan Patrol is I6 4.2L turbo diesel, SFA.
Hilux up to late 90's were SFA with a diesel. There were a few petrol ones as well.

This is what a mid 90's Hilux looks like with a few mods (s/c Lexus V8, coil sprung etc)

The Wizard is sold as a Isuzu Rodeo in the US. This one is I4 3.1L turbo diesel that I intercooled. They are IFS, this model has coil sprung rear unlike the US Rodeos that are leaf sprung.
[/Hi jack]

 

[Nostraquedeo]

I hade a muffler shop make me some. I took them a drawing with dimensions. They used a thick wall pipe. My three issues.....

1. Mounting - I ended up drilling some holes in the frame of the truck at the time. It was a 67' pickup. Looking back I would have made a bracket that compresses on the frame and the bars mount to it.

2. Chipping - I painted and put several coats of clear on them, but they were all chipped up after about two years. Powder coating might have worked better.

3. Slick - I put some of that adhesive traction tape on them and it also stayed on for about two years. Once it wore off, they became a slip hazard. Maybe the powder coating can fix this too.

Summary - If it is a vehicle I am keeping for a few years, I don't want them. Even the factory installed ones look like **** after a few years. I had about $100 total in building them, so at that age and that truck, pretty cool for a couple years use.

 

[motorscot]

I just got this 83 CJ7 today on a partial trade for my Harley.

I am wanting to add some nerf bars as well. It sits on 36" tires, chevy 3/4 ton front/rear axles. I think it's a 6" lift, but maybe only 4". Anyway, it is a pain to climb into.

I plan on using some 2.5" square tube with bedliner on the step area.

 

[gf0012-aust]

by nerf bars are you talking over riders or a full bull bar?

eg: mine



when I think of nerf bars I think of the over riders you see on US police cars....

 

[motorscot]

I believe everyone is referring to the bars that extend along the rocker panels between the front and rear wheels.

 

[gf0012-aust]

I believe everyone is referring to the bars that extend along the rocker panels between the front and rear wheels.

ah, sliders...

thanks for that

I've seen other sites where nerf bars are basically sectioned brush bars (middle section only)

english isn't always a common language

 

[justanengineer]

ah, sliders...

thanks for that

I've seen other sites where nerf bars are basically sectioned brush bars (middle section only)

english isn't always a common language

Especially in this country. This is a very popular misnomer amongst the younger/misinformed crowd as evidenced by this thread.

Nerf bars = bumpers intended to "nerf" (push or intentionally hit) someone....a popular method of starting race cars without starters.

Nice fab work on your side steps tho fellas.

 

[Rural53]

Especially in this country. This is a very popular misnomer amongst the younger/misinformed crowd as evidenced by this thread.

Nerf bars = bumpers intended to "nerf" (push or intentionally hit) someone....a popular method of starting race cars without starters.

Nice fab work on your side steps tho fellas.

Not neccesarily, it depends on the context and country. (Damn it where is the stir the pot smilie)


Here in NZ in 4wd scene a nerf bar is a front hoop (over riders as per gf0012-aust's post). In off road racing and speedway nerf bars are side rails to stop open wheel type vehicles locking wheels. In speedway nerf bars, by justanengineer's description, are called push bars or push plates.

edit: there may be regional differences.

 

[justanengineer]

Here in NZ in 4wd scene a nerf bar is a front hoop (over riders as per gf0012-aust's post). In off road racing and speedway nerf bars are side rails to stop open wheel type vehicles locking wheels. In speedway nerf bars, by justanengineer's description, are called push bars or push plates.

Not trying to stir the pot too much or start an argument, bc yup, its all about context and location today, but as for the origin of the word....my understanding is its a split set of push bumpers. Admittedly, I dont know if there is a real origin to the phrase relevant to something else, but I dont know how "cool" came about as being used either.

According to several "old" sources who corrected me on this when I was about ten years old (along with the definition of "lakes pipes" and several other slang misnomers), "nerf" bars are mini bumper/frame "horns" that allow you to push start a vehicle/be push started and were originally used for the salt flats/dry lakes land speed record cars of the 40s and 50s along with early Indy and other high speed race cars that either didnt have one period, or had a separate starter that was removed during the actual race. Side rails on dirt track cars came much later after they evolved from the junk "jalopy" racing. My Dad's got a decent collection of Hot Rod and some of the older now-defunct auto rags from the 40s and 50s, and in the early pics the dirt cars were pretty scarey looking between missing these and the **** roll bars instead of cages. As for the side rails, I always heard my neighbor call them "sliders," and he retired about age 50 from building sprint car chassis and bodywork for the WOO full time <---- one guy said it so it must be true right?

 

[gf0012-aust]

I think I've got a CarCraft from the late 50's where they do an article on a police special, the mini nudge bars on the front are referred to as nerf bars, they were an idea taken from push cars used in early racers, and in the police car example, used to nudge off an offfending vehicle

 

[geologist]

My truck is slowly becoming a pre-runner, so a step bar / slider might be a more appropriate term.

 

[mayday0017]

I personally like the look and function of N-Fab type bars... Had them on my last truck and they were great. Also just an idea, when I was looking into making my own before I got the N-fab's I was thinking of sealing both ends of the bars and making them into air tanks. Thought it sure would be cool to have a little compressed air in both tubes that I could use to fill a tire if needed. But if you do that you will want to look at the design and see if you can get them hydro tested. For me my company does lots of hydro testing I was just going to bring them up to the shop and do it during lunch.

 

[bacpacker]

I hadn't gave much thought to making a set for my Tundra. I have a long bed double cab model and found these for steps only. The wife is 4-11" and has to pull herself up in the truck now. It would also make getting anything out of the bed much easier. I'm sure they would be worthless on rocks, but without 4wd, I don't rock crawl. I also gave some thought to doing the LineX treatment to help with them being slick in snow and ice.

http://www.n-fab.com/products/productID/165

 

[geologist]

Also just an idea, when I was looking into making my own before I got the N-fab's I was thinking of sealing both ends of the bars and making them into air tanks.

That's a damned good idea.

 

[gf0012-aust]

.............. I was thinking of sealing both ends of the bars and making them into air tanks. Thought it sure would be cool to have a little compressed air in both tubes that I could use to fill a tire if needed.

One of the aussie 4wd mags had an article on doing this about 4-5 years ago, unfort I can't find the links as it got blown away on a computer rebuild

the tech vehicle used 3" pipes for runners