Corrosion? Damage

Went wheeling today and took a rock pretty hard that ended up bending my nerf bar pretty good. Ive heard they are hard as hell to bend back and wouldn't mind taking them off. But could that leave my lower cab more vulnerable to rusting or getting ripped up? I know taking them off would leave me weak to damaging the cab wheeling again. Just want to see what you all think you would do in my situation.

 

Install rock sliders.

 

how much do those run?

 

Taking off your steps doesn't make the lower cab any more vulnerable to rust or corrosion than it already was. However, when wheeling, it is exposed.

Solution: Rock Sliders.

 

A lot. Look at AllPro and Relentless.
They are welded on to the frame but give the best protection to the lower cab. They run from $300-$700 not including shipping.

 

Trail Gear makes rock sliders for the first gen (weld on) that are affordable ($200, seen them for $175 before) and from what I've heard they are good quality. Google 'trail gear rock sliders 1st gen Tacoma' and I'm sure they'll pop up. Thing with ordering sliders though is that they are heavy (shipping $$$) and you have to pay someone to install them, unless you know how to weld or have a buddy that accepts beer as payment.

If you're off-roading in conditions that require sliders, those should be the very first investment you make. That and a rear diff lock if you don't already have one (IMO). Then maybe a lift. Bumpers. Skids. The list goes on, lol.

 

I bought a set of trail gear rock sliders from 4wheelparts.com and they qualified for free shipping. Great price too! They had the weld on or bolt on types. I bought the bolt on and had them welded on since the gussets are already there on the bolt on type. On the weld on type you have to by each pipe/gusset separately. And the bolt ons welded right onto my truck just fine.