opinions on steps/sliders

I won't be rock crawling, more overlanding so I think rock sliders are overkill for me, but I like the look and I narrowed it down to these 4 "slider style" steps. anyone have strong opinions or experience with any of these?? #1 Tyger, #2 Westin #3 EAG, #4 Go Rhino
I have only ever had nerf bars with steps on my Tacomas, so I am trying to figure out what to do with my new 5th gen 4runner. Thanks!!

 

I will be following this thread, as I am wanting to add some to my ride as well. No crawling or very rough duty. Just some rocky mountain roads.

 

I am looking to remove the stock predator step tube and am leaning towards the C4 sliders with no plates on top!

 

I like the look of sliders without the top plate, but I would be worried about someone slipping in between the bars and injuring their ankle getting in or out of the truck.

 

Great point!

 

#1 on your list weighs 88 lbs, which is the same weight as Shrockworks sliders, and is only slightly less money. I would just get sliders even if you think it's overkill. You'll have protection for your rocker panels for those just-in-case situations, and they're also good for preventing door dings.

 

I had Stock Rock Sliders on my 2013 FJ Cruiser TT, and I eventually removed them. The weight difference was noticeable and all they did was start rusting around the welds and required yearly painting.

Once removed, it was easier to get in and out, plus the rig appeared higher off the ground.

 

I see a lot of folks make similar statements. 2nd most common one is - I don't like mud.

My initial response is... Good luck with that.

Every Overland meet / get together / rendezvous - I've been to, has turned into an off road event. You know what you find off road?
Rocks and Mud.

You want frame mounted sliders - they will protect the body of your vehicle from getting dents and creases from rocks and trees. Light weight running boards or nerf bars might protect you from 1 or 2 hits. The problem is the other hits down the trail.

Check out the nice dent in this Wrangler:


Another famous nerf bar failure:

 

Love my RSG's: flat with a top plate and kickout. Bonus points for them being local to me.

https://rsgmetalworks.com/collections/5th-gen-4runner

 

I had steps in the past and it was very cheap from Walmart yet look good. But I changed to sliders in case if I need it by accident. I travel with my little one so not going on hard trails, but sliders are their if I make a mistake.

 

What is the ball park price of thase RSG's?
Are they truly strong enough to not collapse into the rockers. Probably a stupid question, as you've most likely not tested that. I guess nobody really plans on that test.

 

Its around 800ish for HREW and 1000 for DOM. The owner Jason Sampson is on our FB group so I get another $125 discount. May be if you call RSG you might get coupons too.

I've used Hi-lift on mine at the far end that has least strength (compared to using the jack near a support leg) and did not damage anything

 

https://rsgmetalworks.com/collections/5th-gen-4runner

There are a lot of options on their sliders! Looks like they start at $699 + shipping...no idea on lead times.

 

wow good point!! my mom uses them and she's 80... ok, I liked the look of those too, and the EAG seem to sit pretty far away from the rocker panel and I don't like the way that looks either. I found Smittybilt ones I really like now too but of course they are back ordered..... thanks for that input!

 

Hopefully they have improved their quality. I had Smittybuilt nerf bars on my lifted 86 Runner. They eventually rusted like crazy. We then named them " Shittybuilt ".

 

Thanks for the test results! No wonder I like them, given the price! A bit much for me right now.

 

lol well on that note, I think I will stray about from those..... dang, I don't know what to do , but I am afraid to park next to anyone with no protection at all (the "shittybuilts" that is...

 

Buy once, cry once! I bought some cheaper ones for the FJ Cruiser I had. Painted them, then painted them in bedliner, and the rust started after three months or so. With the RSG's I haven't even had to touch up the finish once in almost two years.

 

I did the same thing as @kmeeg is demonstrating in his picture out in some rocks and loaded down heavy. It got very close to the body, but I don't think it touched. We were trying to get traction boards under the tires as I was high-centered. Mine are the HREW version, I believe.

Are yours HREW or DOM? I'm very happy with mine and have used them a few times.


@littlemrnofear has the group swayed you into sliders yet? RSG (and other brands might also) has options for flat or angled, top plate, grip top plate, no top plate, kickout or no kickout.

Those step aren't necessarily bad, though. If you NEVER go off-road, they're probably fine.

Many here just prefer sliders for insurance, even if they don't intend to really use them. But, I bought mine for just in case, and I have needed them several times now.

 

Mine are HREW. I have only scratches and heven't drop hard on them. I just spray paint on the scratches. May be if I get lot of scratches I will get them powder-coated again. Don't know if that would cost more to re-apply powder-coating.
I don't think I need DOM as my useage is "Just in case.."

 

This was my same logic when I bought mine. I still don't use them often. But, there's a section of trail I hit on occasion that definitely requires them. I looked at it time after time and ended up taking the bypass. I finally went after it last November, and now I've done it 3 times. My sliders are definitely due for some touch-up.

 

After watching this video, I bought these. 4x Innovations. They are an hour and 15 min from my house, so no shipping.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R19gBw1pKQ4

 

I really like my Caliraised sliders. Can support the truck, have top plates that I can take off after my kid is old enough we are comfortable with him not falling through. They have done well for me.

 

I got you beat by 10 years. My mom turns 90! this summer.

She does occasionally ride in my truck and it interesting getting her in and out since its lifted. Wife is short so she relies on my Nfab steps too.

Another solution might be applying no slip coating or stick on no slip on the areas that would be used for entry rather than the plate.

I had one other thought about sliders. Have you guys considered the possibility if you had a side impact from another car that the slider could transfer that energy straight to the frame and bend it?

I'm just wondering if I had a side impact without the sliders, it would obviously damage the door(s) but maybe not tweak the frame.

Maybe I'm over thinking it, I'm good at that.

 

I've never worked as a structural engineer, but took the classes as required for my bachelors. I haven't seen any other bolt-on slider with a better connection to the frame than these. Holy hell! Any idea how much these weigh? They don't list it on their website.

 

Why do people get running boards that look like rock sliders but don’t work very well as running boards or rock sliders?

 

I was looking at some lightly used southern style off-road sliders. They look nice. Anyone have those??

 

I hate running boards, always got nerf bars with steps in them. The “rock slider” style running boards look more like the old school tubular nerf bars but have a nice platform all along the side for me stand on to load stuff on top. If you don’t get angled rock sliders they look like they would be fine as a platform to stand on. More so than a nerf bar that you can really only stand on the two drop down steps. I just prefer that look. I think traditional running boards are just plain ugly

 

This is what I had before the sliders. It was $230 or something from Walmart at the time. It wasn't ugly for the price..

https://youtu.be/pXGz3iWez1s

Just found the order from my email:

 

I went with 0 degree rsg with bump out. Make a great step for the wife and kids and getting into my cargo box