Sliders...or step bars?

Hello everyone,

I'm preparing my "to do" list on the 2018 Tacoma and I'm a bit torn on a decision. Should I spring for real sliders, or just step bars? I don't really NEED sliders, but I like to have something there as a level of protection.

I hunt, and my club can get very muddy and rutted. Rarely do I need to take it off the main roads, but sometimes I have to go through a ditch and that puts me at a risk of the rockers touching the ground. I've usually relied on step bars to offer some protection here (and they have come in handy before). I don't need protection from rocks, just dirt.

The problem is most step bars come down and I lose a lot of clearance there. I came across these, and they seem well reviewed unless you want them to act like sliders. They seem awfully heavy for what they are, but the price tag is nice...opinions?

$364 Tyger Auto Star Armor Compatible with 2005-2023 Toyota Tacoma | Double Cab | TG-AM2T20048 | Side Step Rails Nerf Bars Running Boards

https://www.amazon.com/Tyger-Auto-T...514989755&sr=8-1&keywords=tacoma+sliders+2017

 

I have these on my truck and they've been on there for a year now. Have scrapped them a couple of times on rocks but never with any real weight on them and they do save the side of the truck from a lot of debris / splashing. And they have a wide enough platform to actually be useful as a step. Use them all the time primarily to easily load/unload gear from my Prinsu cabrac and helps the wife get in and out really well. I wasn't really sold on the "star" look but it has grown on me and gives a nice custom look. They are heavy, but well built and I see no signs of corrosion or anything after a year of heavy use. I do apply 303 to them ever week or 2 to protect the powdercoating though.

edit: and you technically don't lose any clearance with these as the lowest part of the step underneath is almost perfectly aligned with where the body height sits FWIW. Yes you are losing clearance from the sides by a couple of inches but no more than you lose underneath the truck if that helps.

 

Step bars for looks.

Sliders for functionality.

 

I agree - but do I really need the functionality? It would cost me a lot more to get bolt on sliders.

Thanks for the pictures, they look better than I expected

 

if you decide on SOS Concepts sliders, use code Jimbo for 10% off

 

Slider for long term

 

^^Sliders...because that gif though....

 

Depends on your "functionality" needed. I'm not rock crawling, and needed something to help w/ back spray and primarily as a functional step / platform to comfortably reach the roof. The opinion that anything other than sliders are purely cosmetic is bullshit. If you need sliders, that's what you need and should have but just making an assumption you're pissing away money otherwise is silly. Get what YOU need and based on your description of your driving habits you're clearly saying you don't need sliders IMO

 

Looks like you only need step bars.

 

Just depends on how much you off road. I don't do anything serious but I have pegged my sliders once or twice. They are weld on and I don't think if they were bolt on the hits I've done would of made a difference since I wasn't sliding on them.

I just went with weld on for the "just in case it happens" scenario. I will say they've been worth their weight in gold when it comes to keeping my doors free from door dings.

 

Sliders​

 

I also bought the ones you are looking at. Amazon had them on sale 4 weeks back for 238.00 and free shipping.

Surprisingly very solid and heavy. Installed them by myself using a box to hold one end up. If you do get them here's a tip. Loosely install all bolts and kick the bars towards the truck to "set" them. This way they are as high and as close as they can be before snugglng the bolts down.

Great quality for the price...

 

$850-$1000 plus shipping is a lot if I'm not getting a lot of additional value...that is where I get off track.

I am typically a function over form type, and I will never need "real" sliders...

 

I had steps. Sold them and installed sliders. Sliders are NOT steps. They are very close to the cab, level with the cab's floor and, more than anything, make getting in and out of the truck more annoying. Especially getting out. I kind of slide my leg over them and hop out now. Any dirt/dust on the slider is now on your leg.

That being said, they are semi-useful as a perch for getting onto the roof to mount and unmount stuff.

It sounds like you'd be better served by steps if you've had them in the past and not had problems. Actually, it really sounds like you'd be better off without steps or sliders. If you're hitting steps on the mud, that could just be because of the lost clearance and it won't hit the cab at all.

 

Sliders, you can get them straight instead of angled.

 

I want my own coupon code. Lol

 

Has anyone thought about buying these and them fabricating them to bolt or weld to the frame? they look like they would be pretty decent sliders if mounted to the proper place.

 

OP, it sounds like you're in the same situation I was a few weeks ago. I was debating whether or not I needed full on sliders. Most of my off roading is down trails to get to fishing holes or just cruising down forest service roads. No rock crawling or anything, but I wanted something to protect the rocker panels from stuff flying up or small logs popping up and hitting the truck. I also wanted something to protect against door dings. I finally decided on the Avid Offroad bolt to cab slider/steps. They're built like sliders, but bolt to the cab instead of the frame. Should be more than enough for my uses. I think a $900 set of sliders would have been overkill for me and it sounds like that might be case for you as well.

Check out the Avid slider/steps. You can add kickouts or top plates and get them powder coated or bare metal, so you have some additional options. I wanted the kickout and top plate, so I was glad to have that option. I'm hoping to get a ship notification soon. I'm ready to get them on the truck!

 

Odds are if they are marketed as steps, they aren't made of heavy enough material to act as true sliders.

There are slider options that don't cost $900 also

$349
https://kore-4x4.com/products/2nd-gen-05-15-toyota-tacoma-weld-on-rock-sliders