Nerf bars, rock sliders, tree kickers—no matter what you call them, you know you want them. But they’re not all exactly the same thing.
So do you want to slide rocks, kick trees, or… nerf bars? We’ll explain the difference between all three so you get the machine protection you really need.
In this article, we’re going to cover nerf bars, rock sliders, and tree kickers. But keep in mind that not everyone calls each kind of nerf bar the same thing. So “nerf bar” and “rock slider” are sometimes interchangeable. Ideally, those names mean different things, so that’s how we’re gonna talk about them here.
Nerf bars are the simplest type of side-protection bar.
They’re usually made up of a single tube mounted to your lower frame. They’re designed to give you general protection from anything that might whack into the side of your machine.
They use a low-profile design that makes them good at deflecting stumps, rocks, logs, and just about anything else you might find on a ride. The point is that they’re effective everywhere because they’re not specialized for just one kind of terrain.
Rock sliders are probably the first thing you think of when you think of this type of machine protection. That’s because they look pretty badass and are super popular on trucks and Jeeps.
They’re built a little differently than nerf bars. They typically use two tubes connected by metal plates, cross-member tubes, or both. This double-tube design has proven results against rocks that tend to hit harder than anything else on the trail.
The shape varies depending on what kind of machine they’re supposed to go on. On utility machines like Rangers and Defenders, they usually stick out straight from the lower frame so that they double as a step.
On sportier machines like Mavericks and RZRs, rock sliders stick up to give more protection for your plastic bodywork and give the rocks a bigger surface to slide off.
Tree kickers are the most specialized type of side-protection bar. They exist to do one thing: keep trees away from your suspension.
How do they do that? They stick out away from your machine at an angle, and they reach far enough to be almost as wide as your suspension.
The idea is to keep your rear tire from slamming directly into a tree which can cause serious damage. They change the way you drive too.
You can fly through trails and hug tight to those trees around every turn with a good set of tree-kickers. They’re designed to let you get up close and personal with trees without wadding up your suspension.
You know how you ride and where you ride. And hopefully, now you know exactly what you need. Whether you need nerf bars for your weekend adventures, rock sliders to plow through rock gardens, or tree kickers so you can weave through backwoods trails, we’ve got you covered.
