suggestions
I am just about to refit my old ARB bar to my new JK, but, with the prices you are looking at, I could be tempted to sell off the old bar and get something a bit better looking and more functional.
The only real problem I have had with the ARB bar is the indicator lights - the seals leaked from the start and the metal plates inside the indicator rusted out. If you could leave a trench or indentation of some sort where yellow/orange strip LEDs could be mounted that would remove any question about compliance in terms of indicator visability and would be more robust than the old clunky indicators used in the ARB bars.
I've attached a pic to show you where I am talking about adding a strip of LED lights.
Also, if you look at the RSE bar, they have a neat little LED under the top hoop: great for seeing where the winch rope is up to on the drum when winching at night. (A great little extra that would help set you bar apart from the AEV and ARB bars)
The bestop bar perhaps has a better angle at the front for mounting the number plate.
And, I can't see it from your picture, but, make sure that back of the bar is not a mud bucket for crap thrown off the front tires.
One other suggestion: as well as accomodating the stock fog lights, if you make it easy to mount other lights, such as the monster LED range that would be helpful. (the guy from Monster LEDs has a write up on replacing the factory fogs on an ARB bar - i've bought those ML-18 lights in anticipation of my ARB bar being returned from powder coating).
As far as the alloy bar question: if it was noticably lighter and could be powder coated like any other bar, I would go for it.
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