N-FAB ARC Sport Bar: New Spin on Old-School Style

When you think of sport bars, we wouldn’t fault you for envisioning the 40/40 Club, or your local Buffalo Wild Wings. In fact, we’d expect you to think of a place to grab a bite and watch the game.

This is because the other sport bars — those that frequently graced the back of pickup trucks in the ‘80s and ‘90s — haven’t had their day in the sun for quite some time. But like baggy jeans and white, chunky dad shoes, what was old is now new again.

Sport bars are back baby!

Like most things that come back in style, truck bars have evolved to match their present-day application. While myself and others drool over Marty McFly’s Toyota pickup with sport bars and KC lights from Back to the Future, modern problems require modern solutions. And while Marty’s round, tubular sport bars look great on a period-correct pickup, today’s trucks demand a rack with a bit more angular styling.

But before we get into modern iterations, what are the purpose for sport bars anyway? Do they exist purely for style and aesthetics?

What is the purpose of a sport bar?

Aside from looking, well…sporty, sport bars traditionally serve two main purposes for the vehicle they’re mounted on.

Light Mounting

If you want to go a different route from typical above-windshield mounted lights for your truck, but still wanted to get a wide throw of light, sport bars are the ticket.

While the top of your cab may prevent a bit of downward light angle, sport bars instead have a clear path to point your lights behind your vehicle. This is an overlooked and useful feature to have when out in the wilderness or doing a bit of outdoor work at dusk.

As tempting as it might be, lights pointing behind your vehicle are not for putting the fear of God into that guy riding your bumper with their high beams on.

Structural Support

This was certainly more of a benefit back a few decades ago when the connection between a cab and a truck bed was a bit less rigid and secure. Many sport bars helped keep the cab protected in case of a rollover, adding stiffness to the middle portion of a truck.

As the years passed, truck body technology got better and better – to the point where truck bars didn’t have much of a structural benefit. This contributed greatly to the downfall of the category as the ‘90s progressed.

Modern bars do tend to function more as a style and mounting piece. If you’re looking for added support for your old or late-model truck and go the sport bar route, make sure it’s designed as a roll support as well—as not all bars offer this protection.

N-FAB ARC Sport Bar

As sport bars make their comeback and grace more mid- and full-size truck beds, choosing a company known for its metal fabrication and finish is paramount in your own decision.

A poor fit can lead to awful road noise, continual maintenance, and potential damage to your vehicle. A poor finish will lead to an unsightly metal behemoth that stands out from the rest of your build – and not in a good way.

Luckily for sport bar shoppers out there, the highly-respected folks at N-FAB have a new bar that nails the fit, finish, and style of a resurging modern classic. With a throwback look and modern design, construction, and finish, the new N-FAB ARC Sport Bar takes the style we loved back then and brings it into the present age.

With dual 1.75″ tubular construction, N-FAB’s ARC Sport Bar has a look that Marty McFly would certainly appreciate, but features a sleek styling that complements your mid-size truck, rather than overpowers it.

But the look is only half the story.

The ARC features N-FAB’s tried and true multi-mount system that’s been loved on their lighting products for years. So, whether it’s a robust 30″ LED bar or a series of individual pods or rounds, the ARC Sport Bar can handle it. Aside from lighting, the built-in anchor points keep any cargo you may be carrying secure over varied terrain.

And with N-FAB’s exclusive 3-stage texture powder coating finish, you won’t need to worry about flaking, peeling, fading, or rusting. It’s this finish that’s led them to top-dog status when it comes to cutting-edge tubular products. The 5-year finish/lifetime structural warranty certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Plus, when it comes to installation, N-FAB doesn’t take a one-size fits all approach. The company has developed each application to work with the integrated slots, holes, and channels of each pickup they’ll be outfitted on. This means a no-drill easy installation, no matter what you drive.

Currently, N-FAB has ARC Sport Bar applications for mid-size Ford, Chevy, GMC, Jeep, and Toyota applications. But don’t fret full-size owners, as N-FAB is hard at work developing the ARC for the big boys as well. To learn more about the new N-FAB ARC Sport Bar and the company’s other impressive products, visit: www.n-fab.com