I have recently bought a 2002 4runner sport edition in red. I have also recently found out that they no longer make the factory color matched running boards nor the optional silver colored tube step.

So, I decided to look at aftermarket side tube step and I hjave found 2 options...
1 is made by Dee Zee
http://www.autopartsauthority.com/pe...o.x=19&go.y=10

the other is made by Westin
http://www.autopartsauthority.com/pe...go.x=9&go.y=12

Are either of these superior to the other and is the $400+ price tag justified, Thanks very much for any input
Brian

 

What a shame, I just sold some factory limited bars for $100. To be honest, either one will work but for the price, I think sliders would be much better.

If you don't know, sliders are side protection when people go offroad and mostly for protecting your truck against rock damage. But, even if you don't go offroad, these are great protection for your rocker panel area and IMHO, they look better. They cost about the same as what you're looking for but provide better functionality.

Others have posted that cars in parking lots would slam into their sliders and bend the doors of those idiots. There was another post where a truck with sliders was hit on the side and had very little body damage. Just these reasons alone make sliders a better option. Good luck.

 

I just tossed my green set of running boards in the dumpster. I'd look at the sonoran steel sliders with the friendly step in cant angle. They will be 100 times better than any nerf bar. I just got those and they are great.

 

Or just spend the moeny on something else unless you have women complaining that your truck is hard to get into.

 

Before you waste your money on nerf bars, have a look at these....

1 http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/RockSliderZ.shtml
2 http://www.stubbswelding.com/
3 http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_stubbs_sliders.html
4 http://www.bentup.com/rockerskids.html
5 http://www.allprooffroad.com/index.p...ask=view&id=69

 

You forgot sleeoffroad.com. I think they have the sickest lookin' sliders.

 

yep i did forget Slee...i just saw his sliders in person a few weeks ago and i couldn't stop staring.

6 http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/4runner_sliders.htm

 

I have nothing to add here except that the folks that chimed in above are absolutely right. A slider option offers SO MUCH MORE in looks and functionality over a step tube, and for basically the same price.

 

7 http://sonoransteel.com/store_double_kick_sliders.html

 

Six in one, half a dozen in the other.

 

One more vote for sliders. Even if you don't offroad your Runner they make more sense. I have the friendly step in/on version of StubbsWelding Delux and have used them on the trail as well as in the parking lots. I think it makes people even more mad when they slam their door into them and then look to see no damage to the sliders. I usually repaint mine after each off roading trip but that is one of the bonus' of having them.




They are now black since the other silver color showed marks too easy and I also put a 1" 3M non-skid tape along the top of the step round tube after busting my butt while washing the roof. I'm a clutz!

 

I got the Westin Nerf Bars but got black so I paid around $250. I like em, they serve their purpose. I opted not for the custom rock sliders cause I'd have to ship em myself and pay an arm and a leg here in Hawaii. The Nerf bars were ordered through a company so I didn't pay shipping.

Oh and my GF is soo much happier with the bars.

 

I have sold both and I like the westin better. I will also beat those prices. Feel free to email me.

 

i was in a similar spot a while back and considering nerf bars. but i agree with everyone above: go with the sliders...they're about the same cost-wise, offer added functionality (protection) and will save you the trouble of ripping off the nerfs and buying sliders in a year or so...

 

If you are looking for black tube steps, I've got a set of Manik tube steps for sale that I had for about a year. The one thing I really like about their design is that they mount more in the middle of the tube, where as westin and some other brands have a U-shaped design that mounts at the very end of the tube, which is not as sporty in my opinion. Just a thought, let me know if you are interested.

 

Thanks so much for all the response, very helpful forum. I wlll take all of the offers and advice into consideration.

 

You must know my wife! She hated getting into my truck after the lift and tires.

 

BTW, I was quoted almost $400 for Westin bars. Someone was going to charge me $115 to install them. I went on eBay, found some Westin nerfs for under $200 SHIPPED! I spent 30 minutes installing them and that's that! All you need is a wrench, socket set and a hex/allen key set. Oh, and maybe a beer while you're at it. Here is where I got mine... give them a call and see if they still have them in stock. John Walls

 

marlincrawler.com $138 buck for some nice solid sliders.........

 

True, however, those are the most expensive to get installed (unless you now how to cut metal and weld). The arms have to all be cut to length, then welded onto the sliders. Then the sliders have to be welded onto the frame. When all is said and done, you're looking at $300+ for those $138 sliders.