Are side steps good rocksliders?

I currently have chrome side steps/ running boards on my 03 tacoma. Do they make for a good budget rock slider, or would I be better off just removing them? For the time being I cannot afford rock sliders which is why I ask

 

Don't go in thinking you can use them as a rock slider... they only mount in 2 points using some washers/spacers and nuts. They will give or damage the mounting points more than actually protect your truck...

Took mine off and washed out tons of rust flakes... truck didn't even live in salt most its lift.

 

No. If you cant afford them dont rock crawl. I think you should just go on easy trails.

 

Okay Thanks, I was on the fence about it. I will most likely remove them sometime here shortly.

 

You already have the answer to your q but I wanted to add... Nice stock CLEAN ride! Limited too!

 

Step sides would make VERY poor rock sliders. I believe the DonutMedia High-Low address that directly... But in short- the steps are designed to be light weight, and take load from the top down (a person stepping on them) to get in the truck. They are not in any way engineered to support the weight of the truck from the bottom. Aside from mounting technique- (steps are bolted to the body, or frame at two or three points, while sliders are through bolted or welded to the frame at (usually) 4 points) steps are usually larger diameter thinner wall, while sliders are smaller diameter thick wall.

Steps will simply deform/collapse when used as a slider. That might prevent body damage for small bumps/slides, but they are by no means a good solution for an actual rock slider.

 

Sliders are also really good for jacking the truck with a high lift on the trail, right? I have the Toyota jack with a few 2x6 wood blocks but I'm not sure even that would work in the dirt with a 2.5" lift and 32's.

Also, when I bought the truck new I had a tire go flat while under warranty. I tried the Toyota jack but ended up going home and getting my floor jack. When I retracted the Toyota jack, it came apart (the top popped off) and I could not get it back together. I think the Toyota jack can only be retracted under load.

Dealer gave me a new one no questions asked though.

 

No. Side steps are not sliders. Sliders are rocker protection and so so steps.

 

If you're going to go on any kind of moderate trails I would take them off. If you smash them they can and will fold up into the rocker panels and cause more damage than if you didn't have anything there at all.

Rock sliders attach to the frame, either via weld or by bolts (usually welded on with 1st gens). Side steps are not

 

Yeah you can use sliders as a jacking point for a high lift. As long as the sliders are quality and attached well to the frame. I still prefer to just put a jack under the rear diff or front crossmember though. But if out on the trail the hi-lift on the sliders works

 

What you have will prevent most car doors from dinging your truck. Larger vehicles with higher doors might not be stopped by those steps. I say that because if you take them off, you won't even have that protection - they are useful for that.

 

For sure, my 98 does not have 1 ding on it, never had any body work done despite using it as intended. I was hit in the back twice at low speed by cars, hitch put a nice crease in their hood. Car vs. Truck or shopping cart vs truck and truck always wins with steps or sliders.

Big tires help also, a guy sideswiped me and you should have seen his car - all black down the entire side of his car. I almost couldn't help laughing. I did not even need an alignment!

 

It says this was posted on Wednesday...

 

I agree, I'm old enough to remember the old bumper jacks. In hindsight those things are so fricken dangerous. If used with any sand on the road surface the rear wheel was very likely to slip. In the dirt - forget about it...

At least jacking on the side of truck with hi lift actually increases the force on the planted tires.

 

Will just add a personal story:

My 2000 had nerf bars like that. I rolled over a piece of firewood on someone's property and it flipped up, crumpling the driver's step like folded cardboard.

Fortunately that's all it did, my doors weren't in the line of fire. But yes, nerf bars are as flimsy as they say. Great for stepping on and looks, bad for off roading.

... Then again, everything risks getting thrashed when off roading.

 

Yeah I've had to use my Hi-lift a few times on the trail to change flat tires or replace broken CV axles, once in the snow...using one of those Hi-Lift/farm jacks in the snow is not a good feeling lol. They feel sketchy no matter what, and I've learned to always lubricate them before use

they make a more stable/wider base for them to attach when you're on a trail or somewhere without a completely flat solid surface, good thing to invest in I think