Does anyone make frame mounted sliders/steps for less than $1000

[Virtual-Chris]

I don’t need Rubicon-level protection with kick outs but I want something that could take a bit of impact or scraping without damaging the body while allowing my wife to easy step aboard. I basically want more of a running board that mounts to the frame - that’s cheap. Does anything like this exist for a reasonable price?

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[BonRunner]

I got these Ironbison side steps that have been excellent for the wife & passengers. They look tough & grippy. Powdercoated carbon steel tubing. Not mount on frame, just the underbody but I took the car on many trails with no issue, still look brand new. For less than $300, I couldn't find anything else better.

 

[js_panda_rnr]

I don't think they exist, at least not from the usual name brands that sell online. The cheapest I could find is Cali Raised at $926 for raw finish, no kickout + raw filler plate (assuming necessary for wife's safety when stepping). Shipping is free but after tax and coating it's going to be over $1k. They're running a Black November sale so it's 15% off all CR branded stuff. Otherwise it's ~$1100 to start.

Maybe try a local fabricator?

 

[josiahg52]

ZR Overland makes a bolt on step for the Trailhunter rails. Maybe they fit others. They don't seem very large, maybe just better than nothing.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

I got these Ironbison side steps that have been excellent for the wife & passengers. They look tough & grippy. Powdercoated carbon steel tubing. Not mount on frame, just the underbody but I took the car on many trails with no issue, still look brand new. For less than $300, I couldn't find anything else better.

Thanks but body mounted steps are increasing the risk of damage not decreasing it… they act as a lever multiplying any torque from impact onto those thin body sheet metal mounts and adding to the risk of thousands of dollars in auto body work from hitting a rock or a log. Too risky.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

I don't think they exist, at least not from the usual name brands that sell online. The cheapest I could find is Cali Raised at $926 for raw finish, no kickout + raw filler plate (assuming necessary for wife's safety when stepping). Shipping is free but after tax and coating it's going to be over $1k. They're running a Black November sale so it's 15% off all CR branded stuff. Otherwise it's ~$1100 to start.

Maybe try a local fabricator?

I think you’re right. Sadly nothing exists. I’m in Canada and the pricing here is ridiculous. Cali Raised reseller here wants $1450 for the basic raw slider and $1850 for the plates and powder coating. It’s hard to justify.

 

[BonRunner]

Thanks but body mounted steps are increasing the risk of damage not decreasing it… they act as a lever multiplying any torque from impact onto those thin body sheet metal mounts and adding to the risk of thousands of dollars in auto body work from hitting a rock or a log. Too risky.

Nobody said I'm sliding across boulder fields in Moab, man. I clearly said they're steps for the wife and passengers to actually get into the rig comfortably.

They protect against road debris, gravel, and trail brush just fine for 90% of actual trail driving. If you're planning on dropping the full weight of a 5,000 lb truck onto rocks, by all means drop $1,800 on heavy frame-mounted sliders.

For under $300, these do exactly what they're built to do without adding 150 lbs of dead weight for a mall run.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

Nobody said I'm sliding across boulder fields in Moab, man. I clearly said they're steps for the wife and passengers to actually get into the rig comfortably.

They protect against road debris, gravel, and trail brush just fine for 90% of actual trail driving. If you're planning on dropping the full weight of a 5,000 lb truck onto rocks, by all means drop $1,800 on heavy frame-mounted sliders.

For under $300, these do exactly what they're built to do without adding 150 lbs of dead weight for a mall run.

Sorry if I came across the wrong way. I recognize the value of these and other good body mounted steps but they also add some risk I’d like to avoid.

 

[Bryce0291]

I don’t need Rubicon-level protection with kick outs but I want something that could take a bit of impact or scraping without damaging the body while allowing my wife to easy step aboard. I basically want more of a running board that mounts to the frame - that’s cheap. Does anything like this exist for a reasonable price?

I have CBI rock sliders that bolt to the frame and act a step for my kids and wife. I'll probably be selling for around $800-$900 once I get the other steps I want.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

I have CBI rock sliders that bolt to the frame and act a step for my kids and wife. I'll probably be selling for around $800-$900 once I get the other steps I want.

I‘d snap them up from you if we lived across town but the shipping would kill it.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

I got these Ironbison side steps that have been excellent for the wife & passengers. They look tough & grippy. Powdercoated carbon steel tubing. Not mount on frame, just the underbody but I took the car on many trails with no issue, still look brand new. For less than $300, I couldn't find anything else better.

Hey BTW, I love the white and black heritage lettering on the grill of your rig… how did you do that? Is that a Trailhunter grill piece with some custom painting? Or how did you do that?

 

[Nodak]

Sorry if I came across the wrong way. I recognize the value of these and other good body mounted steps but they also add some risk I’d like to avoid.

for what bonrunner was referring to vs your requirements, what you want is above the cost range you are looking for vs ruggedness.

and no body mount steps are going to be able to handle the requirements that you want above just minor protection.

there is just not enough mount points to take on that kind of abuse above what bonrunner is using his for.

4 mount points using basic bolts is not designed to take on above normal abuse from what i have seen. when you compare to high quality frame mounted steps/boards, they usually use around 11 mounting points per side with beefier bolts.

even hitting a curb or a rock on basic mounted running steps/boards will bend body mounted stuff.

they are built with thin and un reinforced plates. thats why good stuff cost close to 1k or more to be able to take the occasional random hits.

TLDR;

you have to look at the project management triangle ... you can pick 2 but the 3rd between is the trade off

you can never reach utopia

Fast + Cheap: Quality suffers (e.g., rushed work, buggy software, or cut corners).

Fast + Good (High Quality): Cost increases significantly because you must add resources, overtime, or intensive parallel tracking.

Cheap + Good (High Quality): Time expands because you need a longer, slower schedule to optimize budgets and carefully execute work.

 

[Nodak]

and to add to the triangle, you can apply that to anything. buying stuff, building stuff, selling stuff no matter the item.

this was learned when i use to build and but hardware for computer stuff and it still applies to this day.

TLDR; you get what you pay for

 

[HVLA]

I don’t need Rubicon-level protection with kick outs but I want something that could take a bit of impact or scraping without damaging the body while allowing my wife to easy step aboard. I basically want more of a running board that mounts to the frame - that’s cheap. Does anything like this exist for a reasonable price?

Do you want to pay $1k - $1,500 to protect the body or $10k to get it fixed? That is how you should look at it in my opinion. Good sliders are like a 1 time insurance policy.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

for what bonrunner was referring to vs your requirements, what you want is above the cost range you are looking for vs ruggedness.

and no body mount steps are going to be able to handle the requirements that you want above just minor protection.

there is just not enough mount points to take on that kind of abuse above what bonrunner is using his for.

4 mount points using basic bolts is not designed to take on above normal abuse from what i have seen. when you compare to high quality frame mounted steps/boards, they usually use around 11 mounting points per side with beefier bolts.

even hitting a curb or a rock on basic mounted running steps/boards will bend body mounted stuff.

they are built with thin and un reinforced plates. thats why good stuff cost close to 1k or more to be able to take the occasional random hits.

TLDR;

you have to look at the project management triangle ... you can pick 2 but the 3rd between is the trade off

you can never reach utopia





Fast + Cheap: Quality suffers (e.g., rushed work, buggy software, or cut corners).

Fast + Good (High Quality): Cost increases significantly because you must add resources, overtime, or intensive parallel tracking.

Cheap + Good (High Quality): Time expands because you need a longer, slower schedule to optimize budgets and carefully execute work.

I think there’s a gap in the market for a product that has the quality of a running board like bonrunner’s, that mounts to the frame. The value prop of such a product is that for off road enthusiasts, it provides a step for the wifu, while not creating a liability for body damage. If it takes an impact off road, it can crumple, or bend, or break and that’s fine. It’s relatively cheap to replace. But most importantly, it didnt crumple your body work. It’s not for the off-roader who needs a legit slider, but for the one who wants a bit of protection or insurance against an occasional misstep.

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