chrome VS polished stainless steel - opinions please

B

Backwoods_VT

Joined
Mar 27, 2006
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I wanted to get side steps for my truck, westin offers chrome side steps for 299.00 with a 3 year warranty or polished stainless for 299.00 with a life time warrany. Anyone have any opinions? I like the life time warranty of the polished any downside to polished?
 
Chrome is a finish. It can come off. That's why the 3 year warranty. Stainless is a metal. It will always be stainless not matter what you do as far as wear and tear, scratches, scrapes, bending etc. That's why the lifetime warranty. Go with the Stainless, especially at the same price.

Just my humble opinion. YMMV,
KR
 
i would opt for ss based solely on the "feel" of not having a coating that might come off no matter how thick/abuseresistent the coating might be, but thats just me.
 
In such application, I think the stainless steel will rust because of the wet condition and contact with other dissimilar metal due to electrolysis. You will find spot rust on the stainless steel after a while.

Does the step need to be strong? What stainless steel is it made out of? What is the thickness of the tubing's wall?

Most of the time, the chromed version is usually made from thicker and/or stronger material then the stainless steel version. Most of the time anyway......

Not much help but more things for you to think about.

singteck
 
Stainless Steel, no hesitation. It can be cleaned easily, removed and rebuffed when needed. In normal situations, just clean it with a Scotchbrite pad and wax it. You can also choose your finish, brushed, satin or mirror finish.
 
I would say depends on where you live. Places that have wet weather and see lots of salt I would say SS. I live in northeast USA(cold, wet winters with road salt) and I had a chrome tip on my exhaust. Looked good, cleaned up fast and was shiney, but rusted fast. Later got a SS tip. Looked good, little more elbow grease to polish, but no rust. Just my experience, hope it helped.
 
Thanks guys , im gona go with SS. I live in jersey and they throw salt like its free. So i think in the long run SS will hold up better.
 
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