Door Edge Guards

My wife and I are looking at a new TRD Off Road Premium that has almost everything that I would want besides the roof rack cross bars, and especially, the door edge guards. How hard are both of them to install? Not so worried about the cross bars, but I do not know about tackling the door edge guards. Are the door edge guards that important to you all? Just trying to get some opinions. Thanks in advance.

 

I got aftermarket cross bars (Victory 4x4), low profile and solid.

I never had door edge guards. Never thought i needed them, plus not sure of the look. But curious what others think of them.

 

Mine came on the front doors (made out of metal). I bought some plastic ones at Autozone and used touch up paint to paint them the same color as the door. They just stick on. Pretty easy.

 

Or use the 3M PPF.

 

I have no idea how difficult they are to put on. I read somewhere they do it at the port not factory and use a rubber mallet.

I like having mine as my garage is tight. I ordered my 4R to ensure getting these. They are installed very nicely and super solid. I had some after market ones on an Explorer that had a glue to secure. They were good also but started to loosen after many years. In my opinion it’s the best $79 factory option. I also go the cross rails for appearance for me. Best wishes

 

I have dealer installed door edge protectors. They are nearly invisible.

 

It can be a little tricky, but doable. They are metal so you have to fight them a little to bend with the curvature of the door. If you aren’t careful you could scratch the door since the guards are metal. I think there are some YouTube videos on it

 

Both of the items that you listed are super easy to install.
The OEM painted door edge guards are pre molded and easy to put on. Just line them up and tap them on, either with your hand or a rubber mallet.
Precut PPF door edge guards will be less expensive and easy to install also.

 

Thanks for the help people. I had the dealer add them. They said it wasn’t too late.

 

You can add port installed options pretty much up until it hits port arrival. After it has been processed at the port, they will become dealer installed options which adds dealer labor to install.

 

That’s great news. I am sure you will like having them.

 

Are you limited to two roof rack bars, or could you add more?

More importantly, should you add more?

My ORP will have the roof rack bars, but there is a set for sale locally and wondered if having additional cross bars would be better for loading up the roof?

 

I would hope you don't need door edge guards. Just sayin'.

 

My concern with door edge guards is how tightly they fit. If any paint is scratched when installing, you won’t see it happen.

What will happen if water/road salt seeps in there (and it will)? Long term, seems like this could cause an issue. Without the guards, at least you could touch up paint any chips on the door edge if needed.

With the guards, by the time you see the problem, it will be a big problem.

I think PPF is a better solution than the OEM guards for this reason.

 

I got the factory edge guards. I thought they were color matched painted plastic, not metal. Dont like the idea of metal for a guard.

Took my car in for service at the dealer once, and they parked to close to a concrete wall. The wall was used as a backstop by whoever parked it.

Well, the edge guards still look brand new after that hit! Granted, it was because the edge guard never touched the wall. It stops short before the body line crease. Got my first door chip on the edge!

Might be worth getting aftermarket ones that you can apply to cover that crease, which is the spot that extends out the most.

 

I appreciate all the comments. Still on the fence about the trade though. I have a new Silverado Custom Trial Boss that I got a steal on that I would be trading in. I had a 5th Gen previously, and my wife loved it. I really liked it too. My only dilemma is that I do quite a bit of hunting (upland, turkey, and deer) and fishing and do not know how that is going to go with the 4Runner. I had an old truck previously to do the outdoor activities out of, but not really wanting to go the route of buying another vehicle (I already own six. LOL.) Can a 4Runner be a capable hunting rig, or will I miss my truck? What say ye?

 

I would think you would like the 4R for fishing and hunting. My buddy just uses the largest trailer cargo tote and flips a deer up on that. He did that with a truck to avoid the extras mess. He bought the largest one from Harbor Freight I think for his truck.

 

I put on some after market ones and they only survived 1 year before the summer heat turned them in to a gunk distribution center. Any time we bumped it they would leave a black stick contact point with us. I had to use half a bootleg of goo gone to clean them up after pealing the guards off.

 

Presuming you speak of the edge guards on the vertical edge of the door, I just got the self adhesive plastic ones from my local auto parts store. I park next to my table saw in the garage and have whacked it with the door plenty of times. My last truck had chipped paint because of that, so I headed this one off early. Quick note that the rear doors and hatch have too thick/round of door edges for the edge guards to fit. But I wasn’t too worried about them since they see less use or likelihood of hitting something in my daily use.

 

Just a few points to consider:

This is the condition of the edge guards on my 2022 MGM at one year in PA during a year when we've had no snow, but that didn't stop PennDOT from spraying their salt slurry on the roads.



And yes, that is me, and an underutilized snow plow on a JD there in the reflection. I park my 4Runner in my garage, and got a self applied ceramic on the whole vehicle as soon as the weather permitted last Spring.

For what it's worth, I paid full price ($79) for them as an OEM option (point of fact, this time last year I paid MSRP for the 4Runner and all accessories - but, I got $3k over what I paid in trade for my 3 year old Tacoma TRD Sport with 30k miles).



I think they are a good investment, there is plenty of opportunity less attentive wife and grandkids to swing a door into a bicycle, scooter, step ladder, neighboring car in a parking lot, . . .

 

Thank you,
over a year later...
your pic showed me the correct line up, and confirmed my choice to buy some while they last

I paid ~$55 for online toyota parts, and installed them myself...pretty easy if you got a rubber mallet and take your time

and I agree, cheap insurance for someone not paying attention

can barely notice them on the truck

 

BAM has the factory colored plastic edge guards on their site . Our 2010 TE came with the factory installed plastic version and they were still going strong when we sold it 12 1/2 years later.

 

Per the invoice above (and most Toyota parts sites) the oem door edge guards are "thermo-plastic coated stainless steel, precisely matched to the exterior finish."

Most sites sell them for around $52-$55.

 

They are an effective add-on for sure. They work well. I still worry about salty ice melt brine working its way in there and festering 5 years down the road. And then what...

 

I don't encounter any salty ice-melt brine here.

The other day it was pretty windy, and a gust flung my door open fully. The edge of the door managed to clip the mirror of the car next to me and nicked the door edge. That gave me all the justification needed to order a set of these, which will arrive next week.

 

So far I am please with the door edge guards (front doors only) on my 1 week old SR5. I will be looking into how to install the same on the back doors. The front door edge guards are nicely color coordinated and very unobtrusive

 

I've not seen any available for the rear doors, unless you go aftermarket and cut to fit.

 

very little salty ice mixture where I live, North Mexico, also little rain...

I was expecting 4 door protectors when I ordered them, and did a double take when there were only two in the box...
Figure each one cost me about $27, online dealer price is usually $69, but I got them at the Lewis Toyota online Memorial Day 20% sale

I don't think they look bad, and I do appreciate the protection provided...I would buy them again

Also, figured the Terra door protectors were only made for:
-One model
-One year
-And its a special color
So figured there would not be tons left in the future..

 

Also my thoughts, although my MGM color wouldn't be considered rare by any means. I still think they'd be useful.