Which Rock Sliders?

Hi there. I am buying a 2017 Off Road Double Cab Longbed(in quicksand) today. I have been looking around, and I believe I want to go with some rock sliders on the side of the truck rather than tube steps like I always have.

My questions are, what brands do you guys recommend? And what angle should I get? I've seen flat, 10 degrees, and 20 degrees available. Rock sliders are a new avenue for me, please feel free to give me any and all advice.

Thanks very much!

 

Pelfreybilt FTMFW

 

You're on the right track with opting for true sliders, rather than getting steps. Steps are stupid, IMO, especially since you can get pretty much any slider set (even the redonk expensive ones) for less than a factory set of steps.

Just ordered myself some 4xInnovations ones for my 1st gen. I think they have a set for your '17, too, starting at ~$300 for the set. Even if you get a welding shop to install them for you, it's still markedly less than many other brands. Just watch their drop test video and you'll be sold. Since they come as a "kit", you get to set the angle to whatever you want.

As for what angle, that really depends. If you don't do a ton of wheelin', just go flat: you now have a "step" that can support a really really fat guy, or the weight of the truck if need be. I don't think I'd entertain going much above 10, though. The higher you go, the closer the outside edge is to your body work, and therefore the less protection you have. Angling up does give a little more ground clearance, though.

 

Hey thanks for the recommendation, I'm going to take a look into them. One thing I noticed is that with a lot of companies I'm looking at 12+ weeks before I'll even see them.

As of right now I won't be doing a lot of off roading where they'd be necessary, however in the next couple of years I plan to change that. Everything I have done in the past, I have managed without. Now I want to step up to some tougher trails, and more remote areas.

 

Yeah, I've had my truck since it was nearly new (since '05) and haven't really sliders yet (mostly been a daily driver). I got mine because I was out with a friend on some mild fire roads recently, and flipped up a log and it tagged my rocker panel under my pass side rear door. Sliders were suddenly on my christmas list (to myself, lol).

I think 4xI claims a 4-6 week delivery for your application.

I'm still running stock bumpers, and my thought is I'll keep them until I tag them on rocks and bend them up or I start wanting a winch, and which point there's a few DIY bumper kits out there I'm eyeing...

I have a '17 SR5 4Runner, too, and when I was at the dealer, there was an identical one to the one I ended up buying, but it had steps on it (mine has nothing). An $800+ option. I was like WTF?! I'm no fat guy, and those factory steps bend under my weight. If you can get "steps" that happen to withstand the weight of the entire vehicle *and* function as a step *and* cost less, I see no reason for steps!

 

Wow, do you recall which steps they were? I work for a Toyota Dealer and haven't heard of that issue. I do agree with you though, I would rather pay less money for something with more function

 

Check out SOS Concepts bolt ons. std is 15 degree, some people opt for 0 degree (flat) Hit me up for 10% off code if you decide to go this way. fill plates available as well if you want more of a "step" look

 

I’d go with the guy who has the least amount of lead time. I waited 12 weeks for relentless fab. (worth it)... but do I think a multitude of other fabricators sliders are just as good and will get the job done.. yes

Also from what I’ve gathered the kick out is essential but I don’t feel that it’s 100% necessary

 

Agree on the kick out. I dont have a kick, but kind of wish I had. however, mine perform fine without the kick so

 

Tons of good sliders out there. You are in Michigan so the shipping shouldn't kill you like it does for us on the east coast.

 

Same no kick on mine.

 

I went with avid because they were inexpensive and running a black Friday deal at the time. I did not realize they bolted to the cab mounts and not the frame. Luckily I have a fabricator Loca to me and we converted them to weld on. If I could do it over I would go with BAMF bolt ons.

+1 for kickout sliders. Love mine as a step up to the roof rack and they provide a pivot point on rocks and trees. Be sure to get a kickout especially for LB's

 

Doesn’t drilling or welding into the frame void some warranties out there?

 

I have CBI sliders with the kickout and love them. Glad I got the kickout to help with my RTT. Easy install and everything fit perfect.

 

They were just one of the listed options on the window sticker. Likely dealer installed. No idea what brand they were.

When I say they "bent" under my weight, I didn't mean that they were of crappy quality, at least relative to any other step I've seen. This is true of ANY step I've ever put my less-than-skinny ass on. It's not like they permanently deformed or anything, just that they deflect slightly as I step on them.

It's just the nature of the material/design used for all steps. I don't fear them collapsing or anything, it's just that with that kind of deflection from my weight, it's pretty obvious what would happen to them if you even *slightly* hit them on something. They'd be destroyed, and because they are mounted to the body, your body would probably get pretty heavily damaged too.

 

Everybody is just going to post the sliders that they own and say they're the best.

First thing you should do is see if there's a manufacturer near you that you can pick up from so you don't have to pay shipping.

 

Not sure. Maybe. But so does taking it off road, if we're being honest. Seriously, read up on your warranty, there's a lot of language about "adverse conditions" and "normal use" etc... It's CYA for Toyota (or any other brand) where you can't go mobbing it off road, break a lower control arm, and claim it was a warranty issue.

But really, that's another reason why I don't intend to wheel with my brand-new truck. My 2004 DC is my play truck now, and that will get welded and hacked to pieces I'm sure. It's long out of warranty now, so I don't have to worry about that.

 

I don't own any sliders, but I'm a big fan of Rago Fabrication, I think they just came out with sliders.

 

It also depends on your fabrication skills. If you can weld or have a friends who works for cheap (beer), that opens up more options, or possibly even building your own.

I really wanted to support some of the local fab shops here. I shopped around and found some well recommended shops, but in the end, their prices were nearly twice what I ended up getting from 4x, even with "free" installs.

I also looked at the Trail Gear DIY slider "kit" from 4wheelparts. I could get them shipped to the local store for free (probably just because they were in stock there). However, I still needed to buy a plate/gusset kit separately (or make my own). I ended up going with 4xInnovations ones because of the kickout and it included all the necessary hardware/gussets, and Adam really is a stand up guy, even added to my order after the fact, and still got my order out the same day. So I paid a bit more for shipping (~$80), but the overall cost was still nearly the same as what the TG sliders + gusset/plate "kit" would have cost.

It really is amazing what some companies are charging for sliders. $800-$1000 sliders aren't all that uncommon. And I guess people pay that...

 

I do have a local company that is starting to make sliders. Victory 4X4. I'm already planning on buying their rear bumper. Talked with them the other day and it sounds like the Double Cab Short Bed Sliders are almost ready for production. However they haven't ever measured out a double cab long bed, so I'm hopefully taking the truck to their factory soon so they can measure it.