What the heck are these for?

[Alpine Warthog]

I've been seeing these bars on the interwebs, is there some sort of functional purpose?

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[Sweetums]

Looks like a strange version of a rub rail, used for keeping your vehicle off rocks and trees; these stick out really far though and kind of defeat the purpose of having tires outside the fender. At that point I'd just put sheet metal over them and make it a reinforced fender. Maybe they are like a stigner for the sides and intended to keep you from going onto the roof if you flop it in a bad off-camber section, but they would probably only work on flat ground; anything that off camber would still result in the Jeep on its lid.

Or it's just for looks and doesn't serve any purpose at all.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

It's to make sure you get mud on your face so people know you went off-roading.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Officer, I DO have fenders. The law didn't say anything about being open.

Or something like that.

 

[Splenda]

Weld some sheet metal in there, and those would be pretty cool!

 

[omgoddard]

From what I've seen - these builds are all located in Japan and they require a "cover" on any tire that isn't covered by a fender. They take these off when offroading, but for onroad they have to have these. - bk392_jlu on Instagram is one of them.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Just another reason to spend money. All I see them doing is making contact, if hard enough they damage the body where they attach. When the tree or rock would have never reached the body!

 

[Alpine Warthog]

From what I've seen - these builds are all located in Japan and they require a "cover" on any tire that isn't covered by a fender. They take these off when offroading, but for onroad they have to have these. - bk392_jlu on Instagram is one of them.

This seems the most logical explanation. PA has a no poke rule for tires but I doubt this solution would be ok with the inspection station lol.

 

[Blade1668]

"Training fenders" kind of like a tricycle for toddlers. Sections of expanded metal and welder.... handy tables all around the truck. Each to his / her own. I had to put extended rubber "flares" on my Comanche years ago to keep it legal and to keep paint from rock, mud and slush.

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