Which first, skids or sliders?

[patkelly4370]

Live in Arizona. Been sticking to easy trails because I have the stock skid plate and Nfab nerf bars/step.
Now i have a little money to spend.
Skid or sliders?
Having been careful, I haven't damaged either. But watching videos of other 4runners on the local trails that I want to drive, I will want something more substantial.
I'm thinking of sliders first then hopefully selling the nerfs to buy the skid(s).
What do you think?
Avid sliders (localish) and RCI skids.

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[mustangr2]

I think you can go either way. If you doing any heavy wheeling probably going to want both anyways.

 

[Thai]

Which don’t you have already from factory?

Sliders always before skids especially when factory skids are pretty good at least for the first few hits.

 

[SpeedyKevin]

Factory skids are actually decent and can take a few hits. I'd say sliders first

 

[euser]

Sliders. The nerf bars got destroyed quick on a moderateish Jeep trail. I was afraid of damaging the body and went home. The skid still hasn’t taken a direct hit. Love my RCI sliders.

 

[AZ Craig]

Generally order I'd say should be:

1. Sliders (you're probably better off without nerf bars on trails honestly as you risk bending the crap out of them and lose a lot of clearance).
2. Engine/Transfer Case/Transmission skids.
3. Gas Tank Skid.
4. Any other skids you want (like differential for instance).

I hope you are not running the stock highway tires any longer either? That's probably a more critical move for trails than any armor.

 

[JSparky]

Most emphatically rock sliders. Stock skids will go a long way if you’re at this stage, and sliders will help protect against body damage not only from missteps on the trail, but from necessary lines on the trail as well.

 

[patkelly4370]

Truck came with the nerfs.
Also has 285 Toyo Open Country A/T on Mickey Thompson "Deegan 38" wheels (they don't rub)

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[Thai]

Now another thing to consider....... aftermarket skids are heavy!! The more bulletproof they are, the more weight it adds to your 4runner. Even aluminum ones are heavier than stock skids.

So... consider that in terms of fuel economy and power loss. I would get sliders. Wheel it. Replace skids as you go along and only after you destroy the factory skids. No need to take out perfectly functional factory skids unless they are destroyed or unless you want to do Rubicon trail this weekend.

 

[patkelly4370]

I didn't buy the 4runner for economy. I commute to/from work one day a week, 40 miles total. The rest is fun.
I will replace the front skid at minimum before, or during, my next PITA oil change, lol.
I am considering aluminum skids. Not as stout as steel, but better than stock and (eventually) more coverage. Transmission & transfer case.
Thanks for all the ideas. Keep em coming.

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[MooseT4R]

We were in a similar boat when starting with mods. We decided RSG angled sliders with top plates for the protection and the utility of having full length roof access (unlike the NFAB steps we had before). No regrets.

 

[Thai]

My view is this...sliders are more important than skid plates and bumpers...it should be your first modification (after tires) if you plan to off-road.

Tupperware (plastic) factory bumpers can be replaced fairly easily. And most of the time, the damage is from scraping the bottom of the tupperware, which aesthetically not a big deal. And hey, it's a "battle scar"....

Rocker panels (lower panels b/w front and rear axles) are made of metal. You bend that and it is $$$$$$$ to repair and may affect how your doors function.

And make sure that your skid plates and sliders are compatible......because they may share the same frame hole(s).

 

[patkelly4370]

Well shucks.
Looks like I'm getting neither for a while.
Wife pickup needs tires. So my slider money is going to her pickup.
I'll stick to bunny trails for awhile longer.

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[patkelly4370]

Well shucks.
Looks like I'm getting neither for a while.
Wife pickup needs tires. So my slider money is going to her pickup.
I'll stick to bunny trails for awhile longer.

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Paid twice as much for her tires as the sliders would have cost.
Her pickup is safe to drive now.

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[ryguytheman]

Stock skids hold up pretty well. Mine are warped to hell, but I still manage to bolt them on. I have re-painted them a couple of times to keep the rust at bay.

 

[Bumbo]

Truck came with the nerfs.
Also has 285 Toyo Open Country A/T on Mickey Thompson "Deegan 38" wheels (they don't rub)

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Unfortunately those Nerf bars don't provide any protection... they mount to the same brackets as the OEM sidesteps.

When funds come around, I have another vote for sliders... I found them to be very useful. Already paid for themselves by preventing body damage.