Predator Tubes as Sliders

Hi all-

I have a 2019 TRD Sport MT/AC. I’m planning a (mostly) off road trip in Utah this year and I’m trying to get my truck prepared.

Priorities right now are new tires (I’m going with Falken Wildpeaks 265/70/17s), a topper, and some basic recovery gear.

My truck came with predator tube steps and I took them off to gain a bit more clearance and I like the aesthetic of no steps.

I’ve considered using an angle grinder to cut the steps off of the tubes and put them back on as rock sliders- but I don’t really think it would work. The aluminum is too soft and I’m afraid it would torque the bolts in the frame.

Has anyone else tried this? Any other advice for a Utah trip? Can’t wait to get on the White Rim!

 

I did it...

 

You will likely just crush the tubes if you hit them on anything. They are not made to withstand the weight of the vehicle on them

 

Cutting the steps off them won't make them sliders. They're hollow aluminum and the bolt to the body of the truck. Sliders are steel and bolt to the frame. Having them on would cause more damage because instead of a rock hitting your body in one place, you now have a rock pushing an aluminum tube into your body multiplying the damage. Start with the new tires and add armor as you think you need it. I know most guys recommend sliders as the first armor, but I started with skid plates before sliders, and was going on trails that I would hit my skids before my sliders.

 

That’s what I thought as well. Thanks for the confirmation.

Any recommendations on skid plates? The TRD Sport comes with stock plates, but I haven’t heard great things about them.

 

If you're going to actually off road ditch that skid and get a steel set. RCI and Mobtown are good places to start looking.

 

The TRD front skid plate is an actual heavy duty 1/4" skid plate (this comes stock on the Pros). Don't confuse it with the stock one that comes with the OR which is more of a plate to dress up the underside. However, if you're going to buy aftermarket anyways, there's some great solutions from some of these companies for a full front to back skid system.

 

Check out bud built as well. Their design does not require re-routing the exhaust as many of them do. You do sacrifice some ground clearance in exhange for not having to reroute.

 

Not bolted to the frame, can't support the weight of the vehicle. Might protect you against light brushes against a rock, but barely. Any hard hit is going to transfer the energy to parts of the truck that you don't want receiving it.