Tube Steps Affecting Off-Road Performance?

Hi folks,

Looking for a little advice here. The 2016 TRD OR I've ordered is being built today and is slated to have the Predator Tube Steps added to it. I specifically requested the dealer try to remove these prior to production, but it looks like that just isn't possible at this point. Toyo is a nice position where, regardless of what accessories they throw on these trucks, people are going to buy them.

My question is, should I be worried about how the tube steps might affect the trucks performance off-road? It seems to me that having anything in-line with the front tires below the truck would affect clearance. Perhaps I'm wrong. Thoughts?

This is what they look like.

 

I'm far from a off road expert yet simple physics would say those will limit you and there's been a few pics of torn off Predator steps to support this theory. Sell em and toss the gold card at something more capable such as sliders. There seems to be a plethora of solid choices around here. That's the direction I'm going eventually.

 

They definitely will not affect your performance, but your off-roading may affect theirs

You will want to take them off if you're going to be wheeling, they will get irreparably damaged.

 

It's only like 3 or 4 "screws" that hold em on so either take em off and weld on some sliders or leave it naked but if u land on them on a rock they will do damage to the rocker panel

 

Those Predator steps will definitely get in the way off-road. If you plan on taking the truck on trails, remove them before your truck gets damaged. It has been well documented that any kind of step has very little structural integrity. When they hit a rock or tree, often times they bend into the cab and damage the truck. If you need a step but want the off-road strength, get rock sliders. I got a set from @Mobtown Offroad and they work very well.

 

Pretty sure that if you take them off, you can go on the 3rd Gen. marketplace on here and sell them.

 

Nice. I would love to see them!
Where in WMass are you?

 

Rip those things off before you go off road in the rocks.

 

Here's the pick of mine when I went down to Maryland to pick up my sliders from Mobtown. We test fit them only so I could get them painted up. Don't have any pictures of the finished product yet.
Edit: I asked for them to be built flat to be easier to use as steps. They typically come angled up towards the body to provide more ground clearance.
@DrFunker I'm in Granby. I've never seen anyone refer to western MA as the wild west haha. Where are you from?

 

Good news is those steps are worth a pretty penny, as people love them. They come off with 6 bolts on each side. All you'll need then is the plastic caps to keep dirt and moisture out of the exposed threaded holes.

 

They look good. Joe does great work. I have one of his recovery bars.
Ah, Granby. Know the area well.
I am in Pittsfield.
Yes, the wild west. Some Boston folk don't even know we exist out here.

 

well as a consolation, the oem predator steps snap off pretty easy if you hit a decent rock off roading. someone already posted a pic a while back of that exact situation.

haven't heard anything about the nfab steps since they are a bit more stout.

 

As far as I know those steps are put on at the port, so your dealer has that selected as an option. I specifically told my dealer no steps, or mats.

 

Thanks for the responses here, guys. Sounds like I'll be selling these soon.

 

My TRD OR came with these steps. 2nd time off road I hit a step on a rock and it completely broke off.....I guess I was lucky as it broke on weld.
Had it welded back together....they look good but definitely not for offroading.......