Sliders vs side steps?

For me, if you are doing any offroading I think sliders are a no brainer. It was the first thing I bought and added on. I got Cali Raised bolt-ons Step sliders. I did not get the step covers for them so they are open - I like the look better and on my budget it helped costs. Inexpensive BEFORE you do the powder coating, etc! Can't remember the full final amount. Maybe $1k with installation?

I don't do serious offroading but last time I went out, I misjudged a turn while trying to stay away from a deep rut and I cut the turn too tight. Rock! Driver's side slider hit the rack and the kick-out pushed the rear away. Paid for itself after a year!

And they double as steps for my kids to get into back. I'm about to upgrade my suspension which will give me a 2" lift all around so I might need them for myself as steps. And they help to get stuff off the roof rack.

Only drawback to me is the weight at ~150 pounds for the pair (DCLB with kickout so more steel).

 

What was the lead time on these?

Thanks...

 

I don't have any great pictures of them installed, but they do have some decent photos on their website.
This is a little write up I did about them and there are a couple of pictures there.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/body-armor-4x4-revo-step-sliders.764205/

Now that I've had them a bit, as steps, I find them more of a hassle than useful.
I think if what you want are steps, just get steps. If you want sliders, get sliders.
They don't really work for me as steps on the tacoma. The cab height is too short and the sliders are too high. If you step on the sliders you have to bend down to get in the truck and when you step out of the truck you have to jump off the slider... Not particularly useful to me, or anyone else that has gotten in and out of my truck since I got them.
Fortunately they don't stick out too far as everyone seems to prefer to just step over them.
Maybe if you have really small children?..
If I could do it all over again, I would have gotten their other style that are angled up and have a kick out.
I can't use regular steps as I do enough off road that I would rip those off.

I would have this issue with any slider on this truck.
These still seem like decent sliders and might be a good choice if you need something to make it easier to access a roof rack.

Just my $0.02..

 

I’m hopefully going to be fabbing some up soon that I plan to mitigate that issue, as that’s what I worry about too.

It’ll be way more of a PITA, but what I plan to do is take some small sections of round bar, turn it down to fit inside the tubing, while leaving shoulders to butt against the tubing itself for weld up. Then drill and tap holes to make a tie in for bolt on steps to drop down below the sliders, that I’ll also fab.

That way, when it’s daily driver time, bolt the steps on for the kids and wifey. When it’s time to have fun, take them off and leave the bolts in tight to prevent mud build up.

The fun part will be turning the round bar down on the mill since I still don’t have a lathe lol.

 

I enjoy my sliders a lot. Gives me more peace of mind when I'm crawling around off-road and feel pretty comfortable parking next to cars and not worrying about doors opening into me. I've seen people try only to get a hard hit on their door corner.
Otherwise, it's like adding another person as static load. My Mobtowns are 140 lbs.

Side steps have their place and I don't necessarily see anything wrong with them, unless you know you're going to hit them, which it sounds like you might have done.

 

Thanks for your info. You helped convince me that I do not want anything with a step. Now leaning towards something different.

Thanks again...

 

I have a set of relentless fab bolt on sliders that didn't require any drilling to install. I had them built flat with fill plates so the work great as steps too. They are strong enough to use with a hi-lift and have saved my rockers in the rocks.

They are great for the kids to climb into the truck with and I use them every time I get in the truck. Instead of bending over to get in from the slider, stand tall on them and then sit down on the seat from standing. This keeps your ass off the bolster so the last longer too.

These are not the best pics of them but....