Running Boards and Protection of Lower Body Panels

We just purchased 2015 TRD Off Road to replace our 2011 TRD Sport. I need a quick response to this question as I have ordered OEM flat running boards and maybe should have ordered the chrome plated step tubes instead . The boards have not been installed yet.

Do the flat OEM boards deflect rock, gravel and other road debris as well as the step tubes? We plan to leave the mud flaps in place.

We had the step tubes on our both our 2011 Tacoma and 2005 Tacoma. They were very effective at preventing "road rash".

Will the black OEM flat boards do just as well? Black OEM step tubes are no longer available and I think that the black boards might look a little better than the chrome step tubes on a white TRD Off Road.

We are both tall enough that we don't need the boards to get in and out of the truck. Again...I am most concerned about "road rash". We live on a gravel road.

 

from what I have read, they do definitely protect your truck from rocks and stuff.

 

Mine is a 2015 TRD Sport 4x4 DCSB that came with the black TRD sliders (bolt on). So far they've kept morons that want to open their door and leave dings at bay. I get paint marks from doors on the sliders, but nothing on the body or doors. Thank goodness. I haven't been off road yet, but I'm guessing they'll suffice on trails that aren't a rock crawl. I've seen others on here with a basic setup like mine that go out in the dirt a lot, with the stock length of their mud flaps as well, and fair well provided they don't traverse huge rocks. So for light off roading, the TRD black sliders/ side steps should be enough.

 

I picked up a set of the black OEM flat step bars locally off Craigslist. They aren't the best functioning step bars as they are too high, but the do a nice job of protecting your truck from shopping carts and car doors. They also do a great job of protecting your truck from rocks and debris as well.

 

Too high is my complaint as well. When I do a lift on my truck, that's the next thing that gets done is to adjust the height of the tube step/slider.

 

I have a 2015 limited with the oem running boards they are a bit too high to be of a lot of help getting in. But they are excellent for protection of paint and idiots hitting your door with theirs

 

As the OP, thanks for your suggestions. One thing about both the step tubes and the high running boards. A person has to get use to stretching over them to avoid getting muddy pants legs. I learned that on our 2002 regular cab Tacoma that had very "pretty" stainless step tubes. Guess I'll stick with the boards.