Sliders vs side steps?

Can I lift off side steps? Is there a real difference? Is clearance better (noticed bracket is bent on side steps)?

 

If you hit something tough off road steps will collapse.

They may look substantial, but they aren't. Just like bull bars.

 

Side steps are horrible.
The only justification to run them is if you are handicapped. Which is 1% of people with them.

the vast majority of people are not and use them to:
-damage their truck
-worsen the value and appearance of their truck
-decrease off road clearance and never off road their truck

the brackets holding them on are literally thinner than ditch light brackets which see no force applied from the ground.

if you hit something off road, which you probably will:
-you will waste time removing them
-they will be trashed, turning $200 into $0 in the blink of an eye
-it will not protect and allow your truck to slide down a rock like you want them to

nor can you jack up on them with a hi-lift like you can a slider with the proper attachment.

I can’t tell you what to do with your money unless I’m buying them for you.
But sliders let you step on them just as much as a step bar if not more because they entire surface is steppable as opposed to a step bar which only has two steps per side.

I bought a pair of RCI bolt ons for $275 used IIRC and need to touch up some rust. I bought new mounting hardware from RCI because they were missing some and it was stripped/rusty.
I heard sliders can rattle if you install them close to the frame.
but with the logic of wanting close frame support and RCI install instructions stating to mount them close, I pushed them close with jacks before final tightening the bolts.

I went bolt on because I want them removable if there is ever any work that needs to be done such as damage, replace, paint
And bolt on seems to spread the load better than a couple of tubes welded to the frame.
It’s a weak c channel frame. Last thing I need is load in a narrow spot tweaking the frame

it’s understandable why many don’t get sliders when you see new ones for $1000 and used for $998
but most people never admit that’s the reason they fucked up their truck with step bars

Sliders also look badass. They can angle upward for clearance. They can kick out at the rear to pivot around trees and protect the back side of the truck. Their design can match the truck and bumpers.

step bars mount into tiny threaded body holes from the factory.
If you hit them with a rock it can bend them into the body of your truck, damaging it.
It can also rip the threads out of the holes.

my buddy with step bars said he won’t go sliders because he doesn’t off road often or hard enough to justify it. When there’s an obstacle on a trail he turns back or goes around. Another valid reason to not get them


Sliders can protect from door dings, shopping carts, and side impact collisions.
Westscott designs had a 4Runner with sliders that damn near got Tboned at 45mph and looked fine.

sliders also give you confidence and mental peace while driving on regular roads.
Whenever somebody fails to observe the rules of the road and tries to crash into you in a way that insurance will find them at fault, or doesn’t want to let you merge - with armor, you just smile
its kind of like driving a semi truck. If semi truck drivers do their job properly (slow in right non passing lane, signaling, etc) then they have nothing to worry about someone in a car tries merging into their trailer.

except for some reason people are willing to put up more of a fight against a Tacoma, even if it’s a heavy armored truck with thick steel that their car does not have. but usually eventually they get close enough to see the steel and realize it would not be good to rear end, not a fight they’re gonna win, etc

I used to drive a slow old car. I’d get paranoid about being rear ended and watch in the mirrors to merge.
Now I drive a slow old Tacoma. I still look in the mirrors. People still get on my ass mad expecting it to have Ferrari 0-60, and flabbergasted that as a manual it pauses for a second when shifting gears
but with armor, you don’t care.
They can go ahead and crash into me. Have their insurance pay me $1400. Buy a $3 black appliance epoxy from Home Depot to touch up the scratch and move on.

they say in a parking lot if you can, move into the center and go slow to avoid impacts with people backing out.
But there’s always gonna be that one person who crashed their car, now in an insurance rental, who is gonna slam that insurance rental into reverse with a blindfold on and hit the gas.
And people with a nice new car equipped with a backup camera that don’t look at the screen
Sliders protect the body from that
Actual body repair is hard, expensive, and time consuming

step bars are often weak thin lightweight flimsy aluminum barely strong enough to support the weight of an average person standing on them. They can’t be lifted off of

if you get hit in the rear, cool. Turn it into an upgrade. Buy a steel bumper.
If you get hit in the side there’s no way to flip that into something positive/upgrade as opposed to simply diminishing the value of the truck by repairing it to original condition but now with a collision on its records

only one con I can think of. I don’t know how much weight a slider adds in terms of making 0-60 and mpg worse
They are heavy to pick up by hand FWIW, more than a step bar
If you get used step bars cheap you can always sell them later provided you don’t ruin them on a trail

 

Thanks for thorough info. Step bars came with truck but noticed a bracket was bent, probably by me offroading which got me wondering about sliders.

Any suggestions on best bang for buck bolt ons?

 

The only reason I ever installed step bars was that I have family members with prosthetic legs and it drove me nuts hearing those things bounce off my rocker panels and leave scratches and dents.

I vote sliders, they look mean and I wish I could get a set but I just don't see the reason for someone like me to ever have them!

If you do decide on step bars, Facebook marketplace is the way. I got brand new third-gen takeoffs for $80.

 

I went with RCI because the set was like $275 used
And have since gone with them for more other stuff like a skid plate given it seems competitively priced and decent quality

on that note, sure there is another brand of gas tank skid with a different method of mounting.
And sure a stronger skid is heavier because they’re gusseted, which is rare. My RCI gas tank skid is not gusseted but if I ever bend a skid and the need arise, I can always bend it back straight and weld on gussets later.
WarFab might release gusseted skids - they also do serious wheeling.

For sliders I’d say find a brand you like, and look at the part.
Look to see if it offers what you want. Like whether you want tubular, or fill plate to keep tree branches out and have more of a stepping surface.
DOM material may be preferred over HREW and others
See if you want a kickout, and what degree up angle. Some have a rounded kickout, some don’t. Some are flat while others are 20deg up

look at the mounting system. The more coverage it has the better and stronger it is.
If the attachment plate looks small and weak the probably avoid it.

you may already have a preference for certain brands if you have other stuff from them and good experiences.

me for example I have good experiences with ATH, WarFab, and RCI; so I probably prefer them. But quality is quality no matter who makes it.

my experience with another brand I won’t name is hearing their leafs suck and that their bumpers are ugly so I never consider them for anything, for example
Sometimes when you want a part it’s a matter of making the list of all 8 companies that sell it and then crossing one by one off the list for valid reasons until there is only one good part remaining
Looking at the pictures back to back and removing from the choices which one is ugly

there is less to choose from given companies like Pelfreybilt and Mobtown have shut down

shipping cost and if they’re local to you might make a difference. Sales.
Plus if you go bolt on they can be resold for whatever reason later

 

The trail gear sliders are actually really well built and are maybe $450. They’re super simple and fit well. Sliders kind of suck as “steps” with the exception of climbing into the bed but they will do their job protecting a pretty expensive panel

 

I just bought some Body Armor 4x4 Revo step sliders and am pretty happy with them. Inexpensive as sliders go and available on Amazon with free shipping so no crazy wait time. They bolted on cleanly and while they may not be the strongest slider, they are supposed to be made from DOM tubing that you can use to jack up the truck. I think they're a good balance of price, weight, and strength if you aren't into serious off road use. I feel confident they could take a hit, just don't know how many.

 

Hi, I’m one of the non-disabled idiots @TacoTuesday1 mentioned who owns steps (nerf bars). For me they are incredibly functional, and even more so for my wife and kids. The honest truth is the truck looks better without them, but I’m old enough to have higher priorities than that.

When I off road I take them off. I don’t do the type of wheeling that requires sliders.

 

As long as you don't expect one to perform like the other you're good. Side steps have their place and are very useful as long as you aren't trying to land the truck on them.

I got some C4 sliders with step treads and they offer great protection, but take some getting used to as side steps since the tread is close to level with the cab floor.

 

Have you ever needed to lift off the side or have you ever scraped the side steps or even come close?

If no and no just enjoy your truck and have fun man. Peeps here sometimes like to prep for KOH and don’t have a single scratch on all their armor. If you’ve never come close to scraping, you good! Have fun!

 

I kept my eye out on the forums and scored some demello sliders for $150

 

I picked up some OEM side steps mostly to keep the truck from getting obliterated by door dings while parking in tight city lots. As a bonus they do make it easier for the kid to get in and I feel they improve the look of the regular cab. Slightly less weenie-ish.

 

I rocked steps for a few years. hit a rock wheeling and bent the whole step. Upgraded to sliders shortly after

 

Looking at 80" diy set with flare.....got a buddy that says he can do the welding....anyone gone that route?

http://shop-xo-fab-com.3dcartstores.com/DIY-Kits-with-Bump_c_276.html

 

Mine came with side-steps, and I find them real handy for tying down my kayak.

After redoing my suspension, I'll be swapping them for sliders.

 

Bull bars are for deterring cattle.

If they're on a train

With a million pounds of potential energy behind them.

 

Was interested to see what shipping was going to be, $144 puts it in the further diy model.

 

Do you have any pictures of these installed?

Thanks...

 

I have BAMF bolt on sliders and can lift the entire side of the truck with one Hi-Lift jack. I've also bounced them off a tree or two and other than fixing the scraped off paint, there's never been any damage to them or the truck.

Hardest part of install was drilling holes in the frame. Many of the holes you have to drill upside down and it's not easy keeping the bit lubed. I dulled two bits before I was done. (Drill Dr. to the rescue!)