Side pipes - are they just bling or do they serve a practical purpose?

Deskman · Aug 26, 2016

Most sidebars are nothing more than bling. They are just too lightweight (thin walled tubes) to serve as sliders and most are only mounted on 2 or 3 places to the body which is not enough to carry the 2,5 ton of a loaded Cali. I think the only bars that serve well for this purpose are the (not very visible) Seikel bars.

I think a Cali don't need this kind of bling but I probably belong to a minority.

T6 CFO · Aug 26, 2016

I like the sound of the Siekel ones. My good lady beached our Touran on its sill and it was not an easy fix. A little bit of bling and protection would be good but would need to see a Cali with them fitted.
Presume it's something I could get done on my travels. Can't find a UK company on the WWW
Edit: found one

http://www.coastvw.co.uk/seikel-en/t5-side-protection-bar-swb

Mike

Andy · Sep 1, 2016

The problem with side bars not giving protection is the mounts are not strong enough. Can get side bars that fix to a subframe that bolts to the chassis & should offer more protection.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Loz · Sep 1, 2016

T6 CFO said:
I like the sound of the Siekel ones. My good lady beached our Touran on its sill and it was not an easy fix. A little bit of bling and protection would be good but would need to see a Cali with them fitted.
Presume it's something I could get done on my travels. Can't find a UK company on the WWW
Edit: found one

http://www.coastvw.co.uk/seikel-en/t5-side-protection-bar-swb

Mike

Seems they have 2 in stock...

Ciki62 · Sep 1, 2016

Deskman said:
Most sidebars are nothing more than bling. They are just too lightweight (thin walled tubes) to serve as sliders and most are only mounted on 2 or 3 places to the body which is not enough to carry the 2,5 ton of a loaded Cali. I think the only bars that serve well for this purpose are the (not very visible) Seikel bars.

I think a Cali don't need this kind of bling but I probably belong to a minority.

Hi. Any experience with seikel side bars? They are on my watch list.

Ikr,.

T6 CFO · Sep 1, 2016

Loz said:
Seems they have 2 in stock...

Yep! They look good but I'm going to have to see a set fitted and ad it's something I can get done later I shall wait.

Mike

Mark Garrett · Aug 1, 2017

Can bars support an adults weight (ahem, say 80-90 Kgs?), if it helps the kids get in and out, thats a handy thing?

I dont like the look of the steps available, but assume that its the same mounting points for either bars saor steps...

DrJuanKerr · Aug 9, 2019

There appears to be a huge variety of side bars available as well as varying costs.

I've located so many web sites I'm confused as to which are the"best bang for buck". Specifically chrome.

I know from reading numerous threads on the topic I need "OEM style" to not block access to jacking points.

Apart from VW direct can anybody a particular make/brand from their own experiences pls?

[VW := £412.50 fitted EXCL VAT] https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/e...sories.html#item=6&gallery=149572794699241850

Thx

DrJuanKerr · Aug 11, 2019

..... surprised I've had no response to this. I would have expected at least a few recommendations based on personal experience with respect to OEM side bars.

westfalia · Aug 11, 2019

DrJuanKerr said:
Specifically chrome.

I wouldn't go for chrome ones as they easily get rust spots on em.I got
mine at the Vanfest ( stainless steel ) and are a bit shorter to allow access for jacking
cost i think, 180 and fitted myself.

DrJuanKerr · Aug 11, 2019

westfalia said:
I wouldn't go for chrome ones as they easily get rust spots on em.I got
mine at the Vanfest ( stainless steel ) and are a bit shorter to allow access for jacking
cost i think, 180 and fitted myself.

Stainless I meant sorry