Side Bars

[Garyde]

THQ ones are listed as SS -

"Our Trapezoid Sidebars are stainless steel and come with a 2 year anti corrosion warranty"

 

[Pelicansquawk]

I still think they’re worth it - I’d rather have a chipped & rusty bar than a sill!

I have basic vanstyle trapezoid bars which are showing signs of rust. I’m going to buzz them down to see if surface or coming through from inside.

If surface going to clean them down and paint with 2k raptor.

If holed then I want some stainless trapezoid with powdercoat.

Yeah you’re probably right. I might preemptively raptor paint some from veedubs.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I know the issue of rusty side bars has been well covered. Mine were beginning to show signs (4yrs old) so I’ve decided to change them. The brackets are actually in good order but the fixings are a little crusty.
Which side bars do you recommend for replacements? (I note there are vastly differing prices for what appear to be identical products)

Thanks all

I’m in the same boat. These are the ones I will upgrade to.
Says powder coated stainless steel

Black Side Bars with Rounded Ends for Volkswagen Transporter T6 LWB | eBay UK

Smooth black powder coated bars give a stylish look to your vehicle. Cleaning Direct4x4 products with said solutions may invalidate their warranty. Ensure you have received all necessary components; if there's anything missing let us know right away.

ebay.us

 

[Pelicansquawk]

I’m in the same boat. These are the ones I will upgrade to.
Says powder coated stainless steel

Black Side Bars with Rounded Ends for Volkswagen Transporter T6 LWB | eBay UK

Smooth black powder coated bars give a stylish look to your vehicle. Cleaning Direct4x4 products with said solutions may invalidate their warranty. Ensure you have received all necessary components; if there's anything missing let us know right away.

ebay.us

Ahh these are a good find. Do you think if it fits a T6 it’ll be ok on a t6.1?

 

[Paynewright]

I think the ultimate bars would be to buy plain stainless, have them bead blasted to roughen up the surface then have them nylon powdercoated. Normal powdercoating is quite hard so prone to chipping.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Ahh these are a good find. Do you think if it fits a T6 it’ll be ok on a t6.1?

I’d be really surprised if there’s any difference

 

[StratosFearXX]

I’m trying to decide if any bars are worthless. I’ll only consider stainless steel with black powder coating. But it seems hard to find SS, I thought the Vee dubs ones would be perfect but the paint peels?

I only want these to protect the sills; and I’m starting to think it’s probably not worth it.

Get some of the SS painted ones and have them powder coated?

 

[Pelicansquawk]

Ok I’ve ordered Veedubs ones because they’re stainless steel 304. And to counter the paint job issue I’ve ordered some large clear heatshrink wrap tubing which I’ll wrap around the front and back by the wheels and obvious stone chip hot spots. Will post some photos once I’m done. I might consider wrapping the whole length if it doesn’t look too bad.

 

[Paynewright]

Well just had a poke around in the rust and theyre holed so new ones it is. Fitted Nov 2020 so 5 1/2 ish years old.

Whatever I end up with I’ll be waxing inside them prior to fitting even if stainless!

 

[Sasquatch]

I sprayed the inside of my old ones with all sorts of anti rust stuff and it still rotted.

I went for stainless as a replacement, and eschewed black because sooner or later the finish will fail no matter how good is.