Trail Rail

Hey guys - getting a TRD PRO in a couple weeks.. it comes with a “trail rail” and was thinking to replace if with the tube step but the salesperson says it can support the weight of the truck… is this true? Is it bolted to the frame ?

 

Seems legit. Made by n fab

 

Pretty sure it mounts just like the running boards do to the bottom of the cab if I remember correctly

 

I hear it’s legit and made by nfab. It doesn’t say nfab so I wonder how people know that.

 

Any opinions on trail rail vs the tube step

 

Also - anyone know if steps can be attached to this particular trail rail?

 

Sliders are one thing.
Side steps are another thing.
Both are different.
You choose.

 

I saw one this morning on a 4Runner stopped just in front of me at a traffic light. Looked like a pretty typical slider, but without a kickout close to the rear wheel.

Are you going in rocks?

 

I will do some off-roading and I want as much body protection as possible from brush and everything. Not sure what does that better - a trail rail or steps. Sorry I’m kind of dumb on this subject. Any help appreciated. Any pictures also appreciated.

 

If you want protection you want frame mounted sliders, not steps or the trail rails. There are multiple companies that off sliders that are big enough to work as steps as well.

 

They aren’t really sliders. Mostly just for looks.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ails”-anybody-have-them.748921/#post-26673776

https://www.4runners.com/threads/oem-trail-rails.21903/#post-275065

 

Got it. They seem to be a double tube that is under the rockers and that will offer some light protection but wondering if any more protection than a textured tube step also offered by Toyota — when I say protection I mean from like branches and shit like that

 

Sliders protect from rocks. Anything else protects from door dings in parking lot.

 

You probably want some real sliders for rock. Trail scratches are pretty hard to prevent.

 

yeah - somehow these seem less protective and useful than tube steps

 

Tube steps are primary to help people get in and out. A side benefit is helping block road debris from hitting the truck. The OEM tube steps are not heavy duty steel.

You can buy heavy duty sliders that also can be used as step. Do some searches here and you’ll see tons of examples.

Keep in mind they are pretty high demand and pretty low supply. Therefore expect lead times on an order.

 

Ah, ok, so the n-fab trail rails are heavy duty but oem tube steps likely are not? Sorry I’m slow.

 

I would not consider those trail rails as heavy duty. Anything that bolts to the rocker panel is only as strong as the rocker panel sheet metal. If your looking for strength you want a set of frame mounted rock sliders. They are made from a high strength steel tubing and plate and are bolted or welded directly to the frame of the truck as it is much stronger than the sheet metal cab. Here is an example:

 

i wish that’s what I was getting. Surprised the sheet metal can even hold anything at all and tolerate people stepping on it etc

 

In any event, on a new tacoma where I live you get 3 options - tube step, predator tube step, and trail rail. Although the least “functional” the trail rail by n-fab seems the best in terms of quality .. but I’m guessing here