Going from sliders to steps…?

I’ll be honest with y’all - I feel a little sheepish asking this question but I’d like to know what my options are for removing welded on sliders and / or whether or not there’s the option to add steps to the sliders? We purchased the rig used and the sliders were already on it. Of course they add to the “off road cool factor” but the runner is my wife’s DD and the sliders are not helpful as steps; in fact, they’re more of hindrance. Do any of you know if there are steps that I could bolt onto the sliders, even if that means compromising their structural integrity? If there’s no such animal, would a sawzall be ok to cut the sliders off, or probably best to have a shop do it? If I remove the sliders altogether it’d be nice to be able to sell them.
Any insight is appreciated.

 

Ouch. Having cut welded-on sliders off a Tacoma once, I would recommend trying some bolt on steps first. It is a lot of work grinding the junk off the frame after the sliders are cut off and the sliders will be buggered up and thus may be hard to sell. I don’t have the link, but there is a thread about this somewhere on here. I think N-Fab makes bolt ons for sliders.

 

Honestly I’d keep them. It’s a pain in the ass because you’ll have to have a shop do it if you want to put steps on. It needs to be removed correctly. Then the frame will need some TLC & anti rust paint before your able to bolt to the frame again. Good Luck!

 

As mentioned, you probably wont be able to sell them…too much extra work to re-fabricate them to be able to mount them up again.

The expanded metal welded onto the stepping area looks like a good idea, but in reality they turn out to be cheese graters for your pants/legs when you are getting out. If that is what is bothering you, you could have someone remove them by carefully grinding off the welds on the expanded metal pieces. You could have some flat plates welded on top as steps after, then repaint the sliders. It sucks, you'll have to repaint them while on the vehicle since they’re welded on.

For the life of me, I don’t understand why anyone would weld these to the frame on a 4runner. There are so many threaded bolt holes that work perfect for bolt ons. In this case, seeing how tubes ends are directly welded onto the side of the frame rail, I bet bolt on sliders with plenty of backing plates area would be stronger. Those tube ends look like they would deform the sides of frame of they took on too much weight.

 

Thanks BR, I appreciate hearing this. I’ll try looking for those N-Fab steps and thread

 

The truck is my wife’s DD and the sliders are too high to practically use as steps so she has to go over them. I’m a tall guy at 6’6” and it’s a bit of a hassle for me, so I can imagine what a PITA it is for her at 5’6”.
The truck is a 2018 Pro that we bought used. The previous owner installed a CBI bumper, winch and the sliders and to be quite honest with you it was an impulse buy on my part. She was very content with her Hyundai Tucson, but I’d become obsessed with getting a 4Runner. Of course, welded on sliders just added more “cool” factor and I felt they added value but didn’t take into consideration her being the one having to get in and out 4-6 times a day. We both love the rig but are now willing to sacrifice my dreams of fearlessly bombing through rock gardens for my wife’s convenience.

 

It’s hard to tell from the pictures and I’m totally not an expert in this area. But would it be possible for a fabricator to weld a top plate on these without removing them? Making them more functional as a step? Maybe someone else can chime in. (Don’t beat me up)

 

If anything, steps would need to be welded on under the sliders. The problem is the sliders are too tall. The truck has a slight lift and is on 33s. It’d be easier to get in and out without the sliders because as it is now you have step over the sliders to get in (it may sound weird but that’s easier than stepping on them to get in and out). Thanks for spitballing though, that’s why I posted here looking for ideas.

 

maybe if nfab makes a bolt on step, you could take them off for rock gardens

Real sliders (as opposed to those designed for stepping) can be a pain in the butt for getting in and out, so I get it.

It took me a good few months to figure out my preferred ingress/egress routine
But at 5-11, it’s probably a bit easier for me than someone of your wife’s height.

Thankfully, my wife only occasionally uses the 4runner. It’s my DD, so I still hold on tight to my rock garden bombing dreams.

 

Just an idea: take a piece of 2” wide 3/16” strap and weld a little stirrup underneath that she can step on. It just needs to be wide and deep enough for the ball of her foot. Stick it on with some self tappers so you can move it until you determine the best spot for it, then make it permanent. If it gets bent up bombing rock gardens you can just bend it back down.

 

I thought of that - I’m glad you mentioned it. I wasn’t sure if it would work but now I’ve got a second opinion. And if it doesn’t work I can blame someone else
Seriously though, thanks BR

 

Got you, that makes it more clear. My truck isn’t lifted but I just removed my factory steps because I kept scraping the back of my leg getting out of the truck and I really didn’t need them. I installed the Toyota sliders instead because they they are tucked up close to the body. No issues getting in and out. Good luck, post up your solution when you get there.

 

$130 N-Fab Rock Rail Detachable Steps - JPTS32

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/n-fab-rock-rail-detachable-steps-jpts32/_/R-BKES-JPTS32?ppcfon=1&gp=1

Maybe you saw these already. BionicRandy mentioned them.

 

Thank you very much, NOS! There a 4wheelparts not far from me. Your link just takes me to their main page and doesn’t show the product itself, but now that I know something exists it’ll be easy to find. Thanks again, buddy!

 

If you're handy/capable with a grinder I'd just cut them off and resell them online. Anyone with some fab experience (or a shop) could easily re-use those sliders. Then I would buy some steps for the 4Runner.

>weight reduction
>makes it easier to get in/out
>less dirty pant legs

I would think any shop would be able to remove those for you too, doesn't look hard at all.

 

It can be done. It is not fun unless you like running a grinder for hours. Grinding welds and the remaining dom tubing off the frame is hard. It will take several hours and probably four or five grinder wheels and flap discs to accomplish. The labor cost for a shop to do it will be very expensive. I only had to grind the welds off of 4 locations on my truck and it was a ton of work. lol His are welded on in 10 locations (those are REAL sliders!), so you can do the math.

 

Nope. You're assuming there's a leg going to the frame at each of the outer horizontal tubes, but those are just attachment points for the outer portion to the square rail. I only see two welded tubes - there may be three. 'REAL' sliders have four legs attached to the frame.

 

How about just cutting/grinding off the sliders, you don’t have to make it real pretty and flush.
Then install OEM running boards to use as steps.

 

My thoughts exactly. Once the steps are on, you'd never see the frame. As long as it is painted & rust proofed. I don't see the OP ever wanting to attach anything to a flat frame down the road.

 

Yeah I assumed they’re all welded on. If I was welding sliders on I would weld all of them! lol The plastic factory steps are very functional. As long as you get factory ones that bolt to the body and don’t mind some yuck stuck on the frame.

 

There are some bolt on side steps but I'm not sure if they would extend far enough out and down from the sliders to actually work. You could order them from Amazon and if they didn't work just send them back.