Stock nerf bar/sliders/running boards on Sport Edition

[sdevine42]

Despite the extensive information on adding sliders, step bars, etc. on this forum and elsewhere, I'm having a hard time finding any info on the durability of the step bars that come stock on the 4th gen Sport Editions.

I have a 07 SE that was hit by a little Mazda on the drivers side and is in the shop. The accident was only at ~ 20mph but she hit me at close to a 90 degree angle so I absorbed a lot of it. To my surprise, there was very little damage and it appears this step bar took most of the impact and didn't so much as dent....

I always assumed that these were more cosmetic and basically just a nerf bar that would crumble if it ever hit a rock offroading, but now I'm wondering if I underestimated them. Anyone have any insight into these?

Below is a pic of an SE with the bars I'm referring to:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachments/sale-vehicles/86317d1366066704-2007-toyota-4runner-sport-edition-harrodsburg-ky-$16000-image.jpg

 

[Darwalk]

I left the steps on mine for the first offroad trip I took it on. Definitely better than the plastic steps found on the Limiteds, but still not as strong as sliders would be. I scratched them up but they are still fine. They won't take a fall, or hold the weight of the truck for too long. 2 things you should think of is that the steps sit much lower than most sliders, and the steps attach to the body, and not to the frame. If you put the weight on the steps, you risk bending the body up at those connection points.

 

[sdevine42]

Thanks for the info. That's about the durability I would expect. I didn't realize they were attached to the body and not the frame.

 

[Soggybottomboy]

Good to know. I too have a sport edition and was off roading recently and my sport edition running boards took a hit sliding into a boulder. All it did was scratch it a little but to my surprise it did not bend and seemed very tough but not sure it could hold the weight of the truck.