If you're never on muddy roads or dirty streets, you'll be fine. If you do any off roading, your paint will take a beating. I even put mud guards on to keep the dirt off the side of the car.I took the chin and steps off this evening. This just takes a few minutes. On the chin (I think its called an air damn), there are nine 10mm bolts holding the chin on, and then two plastic clips you can release with your fingers after removing the bolts. The steps (running boards) have six 12mm bolts each. I'm going to keep the 9mm bolts with the chin in case I ever put it back on. I reinserted the 12mm bolts on the side so I don't lose them. I thought it was interesting that the steps are mounted to the body and not the frame. I'm now curious how the Toyota rock rails are mounted (as well as aftermarket rock rails/sliders).
I mainly just wanted to see what this looks like. I don't plan on buying rock sliders quite yet. But I think I'll just leave the chin and steps off. I think it looks better, I don't need the steps, and the I would eventually remove the chin or damage it on the trail. Here's what it looks like...
I'm installing rock rails, which will help a little. But TBH I've done a lot of off-roading in this thing (and road trips) without the running boards (or rock rails yet) and haven't noticed any issues that bother me. I'm also a less concerned than most folks about keeping my 4Runner in perfect condition. I have caked my 4Runner in both mud and road grime many times. I've got a monthly subscription to a local car wash where I can pull it into one of the bays and get it cleaned right up after each trip. If I left those running boards on, I would have smashed them on rocks by now and had to remove them anyway, which I learned the hard way with my previous truck!
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate with the Jeep. Itās obvious to me that we use our 4Runners differently. We travel off pavement and on narrow trails when we explore and camp in the wilds of western Montana mountains. But we don't copy the TV ads of blowing through mud puddles. I like to keep my rig nice and it gets dirty but I don't like paint chips and mud up the sides. If you don't mind that stuff, well, have fun!
I get what you mean, and youāre probably right, we just use our rigs a little differently. Iām not out there trying to recreate TV ads or beat on the truck for no reason, but I do use mine on trails where scratches and the occasional rock rash are just part of the deal.
I have owned a used 2nd, 3rd, and a new 5th gen 4Runners before I bought this 6th gen and like you, took great care of them all mechanically I was pretty rough on the 2nd gen. I was a bit kinder on my 3rd gen and even though it had over 170K miles on her, I still got a great price for it when I sold it on Craigslist. I decided to be even more careful with my 5th gen 4Runner That's not to say she stayed on the pavement her whole life. That rig took us to some amazing places but I was more cautious about tree branches scratching the sides. Someone backed into the front of it and pushed the plastic surround down crooked. I had that replaced and repainted and they did a great job of matching the Blizzard Pearl paint. I sold it to a very happy buyer with 183K miles. This new one, maybe because it's still new, I'm being even more careful about the exterior, still going remote places, just.being more cautious. They are so fun and last for so long, who knows, I might meet a dirty gray? 4Runner on the trail and it could be you! I'll buy the first round!
