Step bars and off roading

This may be a silly question but then I'm new to this whole offroading thing. I would really like to get a safari bar and a set of Tone's step bars for my VX but I don't know if I should get them before Moab or afterward. Looking at the pix on Tone's site, it looks like the step bars might cut clearance down a but (but then they might protect from attack rocks, too).

Any thoughts from you guys who have been there, done that?

Check these out. When Stinkbug was working on them, there was a video floating around of those on a rodeo and they ropped the front wheel down about a foot with a **** load of force off a ledge right on the slider. Took the impact with out bending and protected the body like it was supposed to. He can probably make a custom set for the VX.


http://www.stinkyfab.com/sliderslay.html

From

http://www.stinkyfab.com/index2.html

The step bars will crush under hard impact. They offer little in the way of protection. If your looking for protection the rock sliders are a much better option. they are built and designed specifically for that purpose. The step bars are larger and will take away a bit more clearance than the sliders. Several people at moab last year removed their step bars before wheeling.

Thanks! Looks like Stinkyfab is right around the corner from where my bro lives. Maybe I'll head down there after the dust settles from this paint job.

:bwgy: Dallas is a good guy and is very skilled in fabbing. You will probably want to call before you drop in to make sure he's there. He has been traveling a lot with the Red Bull rock crawling team as their pit mechanic. Make sure while you are there to check out his awesome Trooper he just finished...the thing is Wyld!