sidesteps and sliders

I have a 2010 DC TRD Sport and I am looking at installing some type of side step or sliders on my truck, more for my g/f to get in and out of the truck (she is petite LOL). Searching on some past threads, it seems side steps are fine if you don't plan on doing any serious off-roading (e.g. they are stump catchers), and sliders are good to act as a "side step" and for offroading protection.

If I went with sliders, are the bars slippery? Can there be a material (ex. those stick on sand-paper like things you see stuck on stairs) added on the sliders where the doors are, to make it slip resistant?

My last thing would be slider/sidestep construction: I am interested in something that won't rust(including the brackets and bolts).

I don't do any serious offroading now but I do take my truck in fields to hunt and such. Down the road, I may take it serious offroading.

Thanks for any recommendations.

 

They are slippery but you can bedline them with herculiner and it has a traction additive. Or paint them and wrap them with skateboard tape.

 

You can always line-x sliders so they're gritty and are durable, or use some sort of grip tape, etc. In theory, if you maintain sliders they won't rust. This may require the occasional sanding down and repainting down the road, depending on how much abuse your truck sees and how much salt it sees. I'm in New England and hate rust so I went with stainless steel step bars so I never have to deal with painting. I also do not plan on doing any off roading where I'll require sliders in the near future.

 

I just picked up Avid weld on sliders for protection and steps. I am going to galvanize them and then line-x them. This will ensure they wont rust inside and out.

To keep from slipping, Line-x or bed liner paint should take care of this but if you want to you can add 3m non-slip tape to the sliders.

 

i perfer the sliders. i added some grip tape so the step area was not so slick

 

hrm?
no. my leg never touches the slider when i get in or out.

 

yup.

when i get in, i step on the slider with my left foot and lift my right leg over the slider and into the truck.

when i get out, i step down with my left foot past the slider to the ground and pull my right leg out over the slider.

the sliders on my truck only stick out about 2-3" which is just enough for you to step on.

 

i got these demello square tube sliders. they are the best of both worlds they offer
protection, and make great steps. i love mine. they came powder coated.

 

aren't they called nerf bars? I'm only 5'2 and I lifted my truck 6inches... so I bought some... then realized that it didn't make any difference in jumping in my truck hahaha..

when I have time I was going to weld the brackets an inch or 2 longer so the bars would hang down a lil lower... buuuuut that never happened.. and I'm still waiting on that "time" to come.

 

OH!! one time I saw these electronic ones on this wicked lifted ford truck.. that the steps would come out when you opened the door... .

you should get those!!!

 

Wow. Those make great protection. I just ordered a TRD CAI and I was going to buy OEM side steps. Those are totally worth my next investment. They look great btw

 

Beefedtaco makes sliders and he is making a separate step that can bolt on.

 

I've got Avid bolt-on sliders and had them powdercoated. I don't off-road so, mine are really for door ding protection and steps. They work really well for both purposes:

 

Demello bolt ons here- had them line-ex'd for grip. When the bottom gets scuffed I just clean the scratch off, primer then herculine it. The top that shows still has the smooth unscuffed original line-ex so it looks the same as when I had them done originally. If I ever need to I'll just unbolt them, have them sandblasted and re coated but I don't think I ever will have to.

 

why get sliders? give me more reasons to help ladies in my truck. gigity

 

lol... yah I have the Westin bars

 

Big diff is that most steps simply bolt up to the body mounts under the rocker panels (look up under there and you will see the plugs in the body) while most real sliders are either welded to the frame or bolt to the frame. Some sliders require a few additional holes be drilled in the frame to complete the install. Sliders can be used to jack the truck up while steps cannot (well you could but they will bend!). There are many links with install pics and they will show you the amount the steps and sliders extend from the cab.

 

they are very, very stout.

 

Question from my wife - Can a chick with heels on use these? Are they slippery? Line-x help with anti-slip?

 

Check out this link. I'm a vendor on here and I can build you any style you'd like.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/re...005-tacoma-rock-sliders-group-buy-feeler.html