Do you have a short wife or girlfriend, or need a dedicated trail rig? The answer could mean the difference between rock sliders or nerf bars.
Are rock sliders or nerf bars better for your Toyota 4Runner? The answer lies in your needs. 99% of people that own a 4Runner will probably never take it off road. In that case go ahead and get the steps. They will add a good rugged look to your vehicle, while giving you that lower step for the kids to climb in after soccer practice. If you take your truck off-road at all I do suggest you look into rock sliders.
In this post I will go over the advantages of both steps and rock sliders. I recently switched from Nfab steps to rock sliders and I’ll talk you through my experience.We will also cover a few different options for both. Some people need steps and others need sliders, and those needs will almost definitely change over time.
Table of Contents
Nerf Bars or Steps
When I got my 4Runner I really wanted something to add to the side of the truck. My wife was pregnant at the time so I talked her into getting some Nfab steps or nerf bars. She was actually pretty thankful we had them the closer we got to our due date. Even before I lifted the 4Runner she was using these to get in and out. With my wife being 5’8″ tall she probably wouldn’t use these on a regular basis, but she had a bun cooking so they helped immensely.
NFab Steps
I went with the Nfab ones mostly because I thought they were the best looking. They looked like a rugged slider, but had the lower hanging step. These steps served our family very well for several years. With two kids in tow, the youngest being 2, they were used almost daily. They made it easy for the kids to climb in and out of the 4Runner even after I was overly selfish and lifted it. After five years on the 4Runner they still looked and performed just like new. There were a couple rust spots underneath at the mounting points, but not noticeable. This style of step runs about $369.
Toyota Predator Steps
There are a few other styles or brands of steps out there these days. One that comes to mind, believe it or not, are from Toyota. Aside from the factory running boards (let’s be honest look lame), Toyota now offers the Predator steps. These look rugged and beefy. Almost like a rock slider with a step welded on. Don’t get me wrong I have seen these steps catch on some rocks fairly easily and bend. I think the Nfab steps would be less prone to bending than the Predator steps just by design. The predator steps sell online for $540.
NFab Rock Sliders with Bolt on Steps
The Other style that is out there I actually had on my Jeep, and is now offered from Toyota. Ironically they are also an Nfab product. They make a rock slider that has bolt on steps. I went with these on my Jeep mostly for my parents at the time. My mom is 5’3″ so the drop down steps was perfect for her. The great thing about this option is if you are going off-road, you can take the low hanging steps off and you have a legitimate rock slider. These won’t have the rear kickouts that most Toyota rocks sliders have, but they will keep you from folding the bottom of your doors in when you come down on an obstacle. This option of slider steps will run you about $560 with the steps. If you happen to mess up a step, you can buy a new one for about $90.
Rock Sliders
There are a ton of manufacturers out there that make rock sliders for off-road trucks. In the Toyota world I can think of about a half dozen. If you drive a Jeep, I’m sure there are even more. To name a few for Toyota: RCI, RSG Metalworks, C4, CBI, Apex, and Hefty Fabworks.
Different Options
- Flat or angled
- Tread plates or none
- You can also get upgraded DOM tubing
My Set Up
I personally went for the C4 sliders because of the angled design, but still having a flat tread plate for a step. (See I still have small kids that need to climb in and out of my lifter 4Runner). I opted for the upgraded DOM (drawn over mandrel) tubing, but since I have ordered that is the only option they have. These sit high and tight off the ground offering a lot of clearance. They also have the rear kickout incase you cut it a little too close to that rock. The kickout keeps you from caving in the rear quarter panel.
It was fairly difficult for me to not go with one of the other brands like RCI (Loveland CO), RSG metalworks (Lakewood CO), or Hefty FabWorks (Colorado Springs CO), that were more local to me, but I just thought the look and function of the C4 (Black Hawk SD) sliders fit my need a little better. Almost all of the brands out there will come powder coated from the manufacturer, but C4 does not. You will need to account for a couple hundred dollars to get that done if you go the C4 route.
Cost of Rock Sliders
- C4-$774 plus $125 for the step plates with the C4 logo. $150 for the step plates without the logo. These now only come as DOM tubing.
- RCI-$695-$995 depending on if you want powder coat and top tread plates. You also have the option of slider angles
- RSG-$699-$849. RSG offers the most options I have seen. Angled or flat, tread plate or none, kickout or no. You could really find the look you want. If you go to RSG’s site take a minute to took at the T40R, a 4Runner sitting on 40″ tires
- Hefty Fabworks-$870-$995. $870 will get you bare metal, while $995 will get you powder coated. Hefty only offers one style, Flat with tread plates on top.
- CBI-$650-$1100. CBI offers 3 different lines of sliders, The Overland (highest priced) The Trail (middle) and The Classic (lowest price). In each level you can choose DOM tubing upgrade and powder coat. Obviously each upgrade you choose adds to the price.
- Apex-$699-$829. The only options offered in the apex sliders are bare or powder coated.
Final Thoughts
Damage Prevention
Rock sliders are insurance. They can prevent major damage from happening in the event you come down unexpectedly on a rock. If you choose the right sliders, you will also be able to use them as a step. In fact you can use them all as a step, but without a top tread plate they will just be bars. With rock sliders you can also use them as a jacking point if you have a hi-lift jack in the event you have an emergency on the trail. We can talk about how safe or not safe a hi-lift jack is in a different post.
Strength
Don’t expect nerf bars to protect your vehicle from damage. These products may look similar being tube style, but believe me when I tell you they are not nearly as strong. My Nfab steps were about 20 lbs each, while my C4 DOM sliders with top plates weigh in about 70 lbs each. The nerf bars will bot on with 4 bolts on each side while sliders will bolt on with about 15 grade 8 bolts on each side. Just remember, if you need steps now, you can always change them down the road like I did if you find you want sliders.