Customized my Predator Steps

I didn't care much for the factory Predator running boards with the drop steps. Every time I got out of my truck a rubbed my calf or brushed my pants. When I would walk up to the truck with the door open the steps would hit my shins. My truck isn't high enough to even require me stepping on them. I also felt that they hung too low and would possibly rub on terrain if I found myself off road.

I decided to take them off and drive around for a while. I liked the way it looked without them however I didn't care for the look of seeing the frame rail hanging down under the truck. I considered purchasing rock sliders but couldn't and still can't decide which ones look the best that don't cost a fortune. I honestly will probably never go rock crawling or hopefully won't put myself into a position that could damage the underside of the truck but there is always that possibility.

Temporary solution:
I had a friend of mine, that is very handy at fabricating and has access to several tools, cut the steps off, then grind and sand down the tubes. I purchased a few cans of RUST-OLEUM truck bed coating and painted them up. I bolted them back up I got the look I was going for. Only time will tell how them hold up and how they are to live with. Let me know what you guys think.

 

I was actually going to suggest sliders until I reread your comment. This works perfect, nice work. Looks super clean. I like it a lot, its like a faux slider.

 

Thanks, that is exactly the look I was going for. I know I will pull the trigger for some real sliders soon enough.

 

Looks great. I highly recommend mobtown rock sliders. Work well as a step especially if you get them with the fill plate.

 

Thats perfect! Now I'm gonna look for a used set to modify!

 

Thanks, my buddy that did the fab work said there wasn't much to it and and they came out better than I though they would. They are very lightweight rails so I am not really sure how much punishment they can handle. I just hope the Truck Bed Coating from the spray can holds up. Worse case scenario I could always have them professionally sprayed with LINE-X or something similar. The color and texture is similar to the factory coating so it looks very stock.

 

I have the same running boards, your mod looks great! Something I'll keep in mind for a future mod myself.

 

Yeah looks like faux sliders. Will be better if offroading than the steps. The steps just get caught on crap

 

If the rail area still bothers you, you can also paint that black for a cleaner look

 

Looks good, I wish the protruding steps were shorter, that would have been perfect.

 

Good idea! Found those to be too much anyways, if they came on mine I'd do the same.

 

Looks good.
I actually don't like the look of a lot of sliders as well, and sold my predator steps because, like you said, the truck isn't high enough to require steps, and they were annoying.

In regards to new sliders:
I believe I will be going with these, as they are the lowest profile rock sliders I have found, and look clean, while still being just as effective as anything else.
http://demello-offroad.com/tacoma-2016-2017-dominator-bolt-on-sliders

 

Looks great! Inb4 chastising about getting a pro and not going wheeling

 

Well done!

 

Plenty of people get track cars and don't track them.
Plenty of people own cars that go over 100MPH, and most of them never see triple digits.
People need to get over it.

 

Exactly. People here love to bitch about it though, hence in before the chastising.

 

Thanks for the positive feedback on the "Faux Sliders"! lol Like I said this mod is probably temporary until I decide what route to take. I bought the Pro for the look and hasn't gotten old yet. I have to drive into the city almost every day for work and the pothole covered streets are horrible on sports cars and their suspension and wheels. I have owned a Shelby Cobra convertible and BMW M3 just to name a couple that have low profile tires. They were fun cars but they don't take a beating like these Toyota Trucks can. I am looking forward to getting this baby covered in mud one day when I go on an off road adventure with some of my buddies. I want to see if this Tacoma can hang with their lifted jeep wranglers w/35" tires and wenches. I definitely plan to drive it on the beach this summer and test out the crawl control.

 

Thanks, It would be very tight for my foot, however there is enough of a ledge that my daughter can still step on it if she needs to with the door open.

 

Nice. Would these protect from door dings or are they tucked in too much?

 

It's possible that they would stop a door ding if the car low enough. Definitely with the stick steps hanging it was like having extra protection in the parking lot from idiots letting their doors fly open. Only time will tell.