Torque on Ionic nerf bars

I just got my 3" Ionic nerf bars (delivered 2 days early!). As I was installing them I started wondering about how much torque to use. The bolts are 8.8 class. I've read elsewhere that that generally means about 16lbs or torque. Can anyone verify that?

 

I don't know the specific torque but please be very gentle and very careful. If you have the same ones that I do, they have the nut inserted into the step bar and you simply screw the bolt through the bracket into that nut. I will tell you this -- that nut is not well fastened. If you over tighten it it will immediately come loose and spin -- essentially rendering it useless. I was being extremely gentle with it and that happened to me.

I believe the instructions caution you to not over tighten. They are not kidding.

I was lucky though (for once!). I bought them from the good folks at Runningboard Warehouse. They knew it was my fault -- I didn't lie to them about the install -- and they replaced the entire set for free under a repair warranty. Really good people -- and a very good business.

Just wanted to caution you so that you don't make the same mistake that I did.

Love the product by the way. Slowly looking at bolt on sliders as an upgrade.

 

I appreciate the heads up! This makes me even more glad that I stopped to question what I was doing.

 

Upon conducting more research I found this. Apparently torque rating is a combination of class and size. However, that just tells me how much torque the bolt can take, not the threaded part the bolt is going into. According to that chart the torque is closer to 30. Based on what averagejp said I'm wondering if I can go with 30 or if I should go less.

 

My pleasure. It was a bummer for me because two of the nuts stripped -- I mean really easily. So I had to package them up, head over to UPS, return them and then wait quite awhile for the replacement because, of course, they were on backorder. No complaints though. They took care of me and it was only about 10 extra days.

The bolts that go into the truck (not the frame) are fine. Keep in mind that the bolts that go into the steps are really to keep them from moving side to side -- the bracket to the truck holds most of the weight. You also have two bolts per bracket so if one is loose you still have the other. Not the worse but my OCD wanted all of them to be set in there snugly.

Best of luck to you. As far as steps they are really good. Yes, they are not rock sliders but they look good and provide really good functionality for short people getting into the cap and also for standing on while reaching the top of the truck.

 

Honestly, much less. I may not have the same ones that you do but here are two quick snapshots from my instructions. First, do not over tighten. Second, the torque specs.

Hope that helps ... Just want to save you the frustration I had.

 

Are yours Ionic? Strangely, my instructions have no torque specs.

 

Yes. I've attached the instructions for your convenience. I got these for $149 on sale because I need the step. They also came in handy getting all the snow off the roof. When I get back to doing what I call light off-roading I will looking into some basic rock sliders. But these have been great for me.

Hope this helps. Might not be the same model but it goes to show you the torque on those threaded nuts is really low. The instructions actually say "tighten only till the washer flattens" which is pretty easy. Gentle firm but not tight. I am assuming that all of the Ionics have the same approach to the threaded nuts.

 

Ugh. I just discovered that the passenger side middle bracket is bent - specifically the part that attaches to the rail. I'm on the phone with Realtruck. When they answer I'll ask them for specifics on torque specs and then post them here in case other people wonder in the future.

 

Real Truck is the same as Runningboard Warehouse. So, you should be in good hands. It is always something. That's the kind of luck I would have!

 

So - the official word from Realtruck on the torque for the 3" gloss black nerf bars for double cab 2021 Tacomas is 15-18 lbs.

Realtruck seems to be a good company. They're overnighting me a new bracket. They said I could mount the bar with just the front and rear bracket so long as I don't actually stand on it. With this being the passenger side bar, and a new bracket arriving in the next day or so, I'm going for it.

 

Mine just got delivered and I hope to install it ASAP. I assume that is 15-18 ft-lbs?