Off Roading and Tube Steps

Is it correct to assume that tube steps would lower the ground clearance on the tacoma. I am in the market for a 2015 and like the tube steps but will do some off roading. Is it suggested not to get the tube steps? Or, if I do, to lift the truck?

 

I think most on this forum - including myself - would say that you'd be better off with a good set of rock sliders instead of nerfs. Lots of options available, bolt on and welded. It's armor protection which can also help as a step. I personally started w/ nerfs, and have switched to sliders.

 

OEM running boards don't lower vertical ground clearance (even though they may appear to). They would, however, affect angular clearance if one was rock crawling or driving at a steep angle. I don't do that, so I'm not concerned.

I originally had the OEM Step Tubes....and I think they were also above the lowest point on the frame.

 

With tube steps, you have a chance of crushing them, as the metal that's used in there isn't very thick. Or worse yet, ripping off of the truck. I believe most of them do not mount to the frame, so you could get some body damage from that. If you crawl with those, watch out what you're going over, or next to.

Many slider companies will change up the length of the bar, or angle.

 

Sliders at 0 degrees; best of both worlds. You get a more practical step and you get the protection offroad.

 

IMHO, OEM tube steps are not worth the trouble or cost. I put a pair on my 2014 a couple months after I bought it. Then I took them off. And then I put them back on just to confirm they're worthless. Now they're back off for good.

I dislike then because they're not low enough to use as a step without whacking your head on the way into the cab. After all, our trucks in stock form aren't that tall. If you just slide your butt into the seat with left foot on the ground, it's just a longer stretch with the steps in place. In bad weather, the back of your pants leg wipes the mud off the step - partially clean step, dirty pants.

In short, I found them more annoying than useful. They do help reject door dings, and they can be used to stand on when washing the top of the truck. For me, it's better to just park in the back 40 and walk; and use a step stool when washing the truck.

just my 20 m$ . . . .