A nerf bar is a tubular device mounted on the side of a race car, usually a single-seat race car competing on asphalt tracks or oval tracks. A "nerf" is a small, sometimes intentional, collision between two cars where one driver bumps into another to facilitate a successful pass. The nerf blades protect the sides of the vehicle and also keep their tires from getting tangled. If spinning tires are in contact with each other, one or both cars can lose control or even become airborne. This is typically used on Modifieds as used in NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, and the wheel pod behind the rear wheels on Dallara DW12 INDYCAR is often dubbed the nerf bar because of the same purpose.
The more commercial applications of the nerf bar are for convenience purposes on pickup trucks or sports vehicles. This can act as a move to ease in and out of the vehicle, or to help prevent damage to the vehicle when crossing the rocks off the road. Nerf bars can also be used to duplicate as side bull bars on off-road vehicles.
This term is sometimes applied to the foot rest on a motorcycle. Nerf bars are usually made of stainless steel, chrome or powder coated steel, although there are many variations in style and design. For motorcycle tanks/engine protection systems on dual sport bikes, the term "P.D. Nerf" was created by Happy Trails Products for Kawasaki KLR 650. On a quad nerf bars bike is used to help stop the two-engine wheels becoming entangled.
They are also known as step stubs , boss bar , step moves, step rel steps , or step casings .
The most common types of nerf bars are: cabin step length, bar-to-wheel nerf wheel, oval tube, sport tube, and one step. This installation is common to all nerf bars and includes a universal or model specific bracket. The brackets are attached to the rocker panel or bolt directly to the vehicle frame. Some special brackets for nerf bars do not require drilling and use existing mounting holes in the vehicle frame.
Usually if they are used to glide over the rocks and pass through the trees they are built with thick tubes and attached directly to the truck frame rails rather than the body. Glued to the frame can allow them to sustain the entire weight of the vehicle and even be used as a jack point to replace the tires. They are not called Nerf Bars anymore and are instead called Sliders, Rock Bars, or other variations of both.
Video Nerf bar
Hot bar app from nerf bar
The hot rod world sometimes uses a smaller version of the nerf racing bar. Probably only about 6 inches tall and used on the front and rear hot rods in place of traditional bumpers. The hot nerf bar sticks are attached to the end of the frame rails and are usually chromated. Hot rod nerf bars provide little protection and usually do not qualify as bumpers in most states.
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References
Source of the article : Wikipedia