Grille guards, steps, push bars, roof racks - what would a serious off-road rig be without one or more of these 4x4 badges of courage? It would just be a truck, a weekend honey-do, a hauler of potted plants, a vehicular wimp with no serious dirt creed. Any self-respecting 4x4 would appreciate some protection from the nicks, dings and smashed headlamps it may receive from tangling with sagebrush and rocky trails. That nifty lift's few extra inches now require extra leg lift to get your fat rump into the beast, but a set of step bars will help get you into the driver's seat. If you didn't have a sturdy roof rack to stow all your safety, camping, playing, fill-in-the-blank extra equipment, you wouldn't have enough room for a passenger or your dog to witness your off-road feats. Truck accessories are more than just flashy bling, they're useful the minute you pull off the pavement.
Westin Automotive knows this fact as well as anybody. They are a truck accessory company that has welded heavy-duty function with eye-catching form. They realize there's no reason your rig has to look like it went head-on with an erector set to gain the protection of a bull bar and skid plate combo.
When Wes Westin started the business in 1977 in Minnesota, his shop chrome-plated lawn mower handles. The company's first venture into the automotive market was a line of drop-step rear bumpers. This was in the day before receivers with towing couplers (variableheight hitch inserts) gained wide use. Drop-step bumpers put a tow vehicle's ball at a height compatible with a trailer.
From bumpers, Westin expanded with a line of grille guards, bed rails and running boards. Westin Automotive still makes OE replacement bumpers (Perfect Match) and Universal units ideal for truck restorations, under the Fey brand.
In 1992, Wedgestone bought Westin, moving the administrative function to its headquarters in Irwindale, California, but leaving the manufacturing and warehouse facility in St. James, Minnesota. Westin's sturdy guards and steps got a shot in the arm with the introduction of tubular designs.
"That first year we quadrupled revenues," says Bob West, senior vice president of sales. "We were definitely in the right place at the right time. Trucks were becoming popular beyond the commercial and farm markets, and available in configurations that made them suitable for family vehicles and every-day drivers." Westin was there to make sure 4x4s had a distinctive, rough-and-ready look.
"The product that really put Westin on the map was our step bar," adds West. The old, three-inch round step with a sand-papery patch providing questionable traction for the stepper was converted into the Westin bar with a recessed, embossed area and polymer step pad, the same basic design that still runs through the current line of step bars. Westin's Signature Series, the original step bar, is a three-inch steel tube step available in chrome plate or a black powder coated finish.
In addition, the step pad resists dete- Off-Road Adventures rioration from UV rays. "The UV stabilizers in the plastic keep the color consistent," explains West. "The pad won't fade or dry out."
The Platinum Series steps, manufactured from 304 stainless steel tubing, either black powder coated or chrome plated, protect a 4x4's rocker panels from errant rocks and brush. For even more protection, the chrome plated stainless Sport Tube Accent Bars fit snugly against the rocker panels with no loss of ground clearance. To balance the look of the rig, Sport Tubes are available in 2-inch tubes for compact 4x4s, or 2.5 inch tubing for mid and full-size models.
Westin's 3-inch Wheel-2-Wheel Step Bars solve another height issue. As pickups got longer and lift kits got higher, easy access to the truck bed became a remote memory. Unless you're 6-foot 7-inches tall, and have arms like a B52, quickly grabbing that elusive item in the middle of your cargo bed just isn't going to happen - unless you've got wheel-to-wheel steps with an extra step in front of the rear wheels. Like all the steps in Westin's line, this model features no-drill installation and durable stainless construction.
Other Westin steps include the Oval Tube with a nearly 5-inch wide step pad and two running boards with optional light kits. The Step Board features the molded polymer pad mounted on an extruded aluminum baseboard in lengths to match regular, extended and crew cab pick-ups and SUVs. The optional lighting kit turns on when the door is opened. The Sure-Grip board has a 4.5-inch wide rubberized pad and comes in five lengths, from 54 to 93 inches. The bright, long-lasting LED light assembly can be installed anywhere along the board.
For front-end protection and function, Westin offers everything from the Safari Light Bar to full-coverage grille/brush guards. One of the most popular styles is the Sportsman, a one-piece welded guard. Every Sportsman is designed specifically for one model application. They provide a secure, snug fit that blends with the contours of the front end. No-drill installations, use existing holes in the frame as mounting points. The result: extra strength and minimal vibration.
To ensure strength on the trail, the vertical uprights are heavy-duty and the welded crossbars are manufactured from 2.5-inch steel tubing. Available in either black powder-coating or chromeplated stainless, the Sportsman features removable light guards for easy access to head lamps, rubber extrusions on the vertical uprights and holes on the cross bar to accommodate auxiliary lights. The Classic guard and its bigger brother, the Fat Boy Classic, provide grille and head lamp protection in 1.25- and 2-inch diameter, respectively, steel tube cross bars.
If you live in Texas or ranch/farm country, you know where push bars get their name. Livestock gates are designed to be pushed open - no pesky locks or latches, just pull up to the gate, give it a tap and cruise on through. To keep front bumpers from permanent disfigurement, push bars were designed. Westin's version includes optional brush guards and 3-inch diameter, heavy duty steel cross bars bolted to extra-thick, 1/4-inch uprights designed to the contours of each application. You don't have to be a cattle rancher to use one-push bars work just as well on traditional trail obstacles.
Considering the origins of push bars, bull bars weren't specifically designed to move bulls, although Westin's Ultimate Bull Bar could probably tip its share of cows. With a 3 or 2.5 inch diameter hoop and cross bar, depending on the size of the application, the bull bar offers ultimate front-end protection, as well as an ideal mounting spot for auxiliary lighting. With an optional stainless steel skid plate, this unit has both rugged looks and heavy-duty construction for tough off-road conditions.
If you're not worried about encountering bull-sized obstacles but still need a protected area for auxiliary lights, the Safari Light Bar will fill the bill. To finish off its functional grille guard line, Westin offers a series of driving and fog lights with 55- watt H1 bulbs in a variety of styles.
To solve one last off-road rig problem, Westin has developed roof rack systems with built-in versatility. Folks with cargo issues can choose from the Aerodynamic (sleek looking), the Heavy Duty (ruggedly designed for off-road adventures) or the Utility (specifically made for work van and truck needs) system. Each model line has three mounting options to fit securely on a variety of light truck configurations. The fixed mount works with any flat surface, such as a vehicle or a truck cap roof. The OE rail mount is designed to incorporate the existing roof rails as the mounting points. And, finally, the track mount allows the cross bars on the track to be repositioned to accommodate the cargo.
All three include heavy duty, extruded aluminum cross bars and support legs made from UV stabilized, glass-reinforced nylon. Cargo accessories include an alloy tray, bike, ski/snow board racks, canoe or kayak carriers as well as ladder and other equipment carriers for multitasking pick-ups. Westin will soon have adapters that accept Tulle or Yakima cargo carriers.
On the eve of its 30th anniversary, Westin will be releasing new products in early 2007. "We'll be coming out with an Extreme Push Bar," says West, "with a one-piece welded center section, light tabs and an optional brush guard." Also in the offering are oval stainless step bars and a line of Prerunner products, including front-end protection and step bars.
Whether your rig sees extreme offroad trails or does light duty along maintained dirt roads, Westin's line of grille guards, steps and racks provides just the right balance between good looks and function.
View a complete listing of Westin products online, or to order by phone call 4 Wheel Parts at 800-284-9840.
