Keep Sport Tube Steps or Not?

[ieatfish]

I have a 2006 Sport and I like the look of the tube side steps . However, I know they are body mounted and not frame mounted so I don't expect them to take any major bumps. I do some minor offroading and exploring but nothing too crazy, no major technical trails yet.

I'm wondering if it is worth it to keep them for a bit of protection or is it too big of a risk of bending the body if I did drop onto them. I'd love to get some proper sliders down the road but that wouldn't happen right now.

 

[Boort]

I have a 2006 Sport and I like the look of the tube side steps . However, I know they are body mounted and not frame mounted so I don't expect them to take any major bumps. I do some minor offroading and exploring but nothing too crazy, no major technical trails yet.

I'm wondering if it is worth it to keep them for a bit of protection or is it too big of a risk of bending the body if I did drop onto them. I'd love to get some proper sliders down the road but that wouldn't happen right now.

There is a middle ground. You can pull the steps off and run w/o them. IIRC they are only 6 bolts per side and the pair weighs less than 40 lbs. I think I took mine off in about 30 mins.

I've run my 97 Tacoma w/o steps for over 20 years. No damage, but with the 4 Runner I'm going over rougher terrain and decided to switch to bolt on sliders. They have already saved my Passenger side.


Boort

 

[Silver Stallion]

The first thing I did when I got my 4Runner was remove the sidesteps so they don't crunch into the side panels offroad. If you do anything on rocks or in the mountains they could do damage. I got stuck in a mud hole on a mild trail in the spring and it was so deep sideways that the mud would have pushed the steps into the body. I'll eventually get sliders so I won't have to worry as much about damage offroad. If you're just doing forest service roads and highway you'll be fine.

 

[EHNWI]

If you aren't doing any crazy trails with big rocks, you will be fine keeping the tubes. I have an 07 Sport and replaced the tubes with DO hybrid sliders bolt mounted to the frame, but I have yet to actually "use" them. Only as steps. RCI skid plates on the other hand. Those I would buy.

 

[ieatfish]

Awesome, thanks guys! I'll leave them on a bit longer but start saving up for some armor and proper sliders.