Individual Steps vs Full Length Step Bar

[Bigcatfish]

I have a Gladiator Rubicon Stock. I do not trail ride or go Jeeping. I only hunt out of it. I was talking to an avid Jeeper and he suggested the full bar rather than 4 individual steps. His rationale was he thinks they would be more likely to get damaged than if you have a full length bar. Your thoughts? How much does it impact clearance?

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[Splenda]

Have you looked at the Rock Hard 4x4 RHX full length steps? I have them and love them.

(And I honestly don't understand what your friend is trying to say.)

 

[Gvsukids]

I have a Gladiator Rubicon Stock. I do not trail ride or go Jeeping. I only hunt out of it. I was talking to an avid Jeeper and he suggested the full bar rather than 4 individual steps. His rationale was he thinks they would be more likely to get damaged than if you have a full length bar. Your thoughts? How much does it impact clearance?

The steps will catch on everything and catch mud.

 

[Lost1wing]

I have a Gladiator Rubicon Stock. I do not trail ride or go Jeeping. I only hunt out of it. I was talking to an avid Jeeper and he suggested the full bar rather than 4 individual steps. His rationale was he thinks they would be more likely to get damaged than if you have a full length bar. Your thoughts? How much does it impact clearance?

I have NFab steps on my Rubicon. I'll go off road and I have hit several logs and stumps with them. They mount where the rock rails had mounted.

 

[Splenda]

You can see that these do not decrease ground clearance at all, completely hide the pinch weld, and curve with the shape of the side of the vehicle.

 

[Janster]

Full length…….
#1) I use them to step on when washing the roof.
#2) They protect my door when dipshits open their car doors parked next to me.
#3) They offer a little protection from road debris off your wheels (snow, salt, etc).
#4) You never know …..If you’re out in the woods and fall into a ravine….

 

[Splenda]

Full length…….
#1) I use them to step on when washing the roof.
#2) They protect my door when dipshits open their car doors parked next to me.
#3) They offer a little protection from road debris off your wheels (snow, salt, etc).
#4) You never know …..If you’re out in the woods and fall into a ravine….

Amen to the parking lot protection. The combination of my 37x13.5x17 tires with -38 offset sticking out and these steps, people avoid parking near me like the plague. The only downside is that they are HEAVY.

 

[Lost1wing]

I have a Gladiator Rubicon Stock. I do not trail ride or go Jeeping. I only hunt out of it. I was talking to an avid Jeeper and he suggested the full bar rather than 4 individual steps. His rationale was he thinks they would be more likely to get damaged than if you have a full length bar. Your thoughts? How much does it impact clearance?

You said it yourself, you don't take it on trail rides. You can do either one without worrying. I would have chosen a full length step but my wife wanted a stem just a little lower. I was concerned about hanging up on rocks or logs. NFab has proven to hold up well, all of the powdercoating is still there, even after dragging on a few logs. I didn't get hung up on the logs, but a rock may be a different story. It sounds like that type of obstacle is not your problem.

 

[WambliSka]

Full length. They stick out JUST far enough to help my vertically challenged spouse (and my dog) get in an out, they protect the whole side of the cab of my Gladiator when off-road by keeping all the nasty scratchy stuff away from it, and they keep my doors from getting dinged by stupid folks in parking lots.

You have to make sure they do NOT eat into your ground clearance! Got these from Amazon for about $300 (IIRC) and so far they have taken a beating to no damage to the steps or even the powder coating. As a matter of fact I hit a concrete column getting into a parking spot under a building that was WAY undersized and the step took a chunk of paint OFF the column as opposed to the other way around.

Built in Rock slider underneath, built solid enough for two people to stand (jump) on with zero flex

My son-in-law helped me take off the factory plastic stuff and replace with these (direct bolt on same holes) and it only took us about 1/2 hour to do. You'll need extra hands, they are heavy duty built.

 

[HorsesRear]

Have you looked at the Rock Hard 4x4 RHX full length steps? I have them and love them.

(And I honestly don't understand what your friend is trying to say.)

You must really love them to advertise for them

 

[Splenda]

You must really love them to advertise for them

I do like them a lot. They don't move a millimeter with my 300 pound ass standing on them.

 

[Mr Miami]

I agree with many (or most) that the full length bars or steps or whatever you wish to call them are preferable, at least in my case. I brought my JTR home late at night from the dealer and the next morning I was on the phone with several dealers and by day's end had the rock rails taken off and the Mopar full side bar thing ready to install (the rock rails are still collecting dust in the back yard).

As was mentioned, you don't have to worry about hitting stumps or rocks and having them twist or get bent from the sides. The OEM full-length ones I have tend to float better in muddier areas and are definitely easier for people (including my height-challenged wife) to get into the front or back seats. The dealer I purchased them from gave me the best price of any others locally at about $700 which I know is quite a bit more than stuff from Amazon but overall I am very pleased.

 

[Mystsoftyme]

View attachment 449757 OEDRO 6 inch running boards with step in the middle for cleaning top of jeep!

 

[BSW520!]

I went with LOD Destroyer sliders with step in them. They make an Aluminum version as well. Maybe not for everyone but they offer a step and are heavy duty and frame mounted. And yes I know my JT needs larger tires…lol

 

[cb4017]

I just removed the rock rails from my Mojave and installed the Mopar full length side steps. I also had them on my 21 Sport that was lifted. Here are the reasons.

First was the wife asked for them. She has a little struggle getting into the Mojave.

Other reasons, they protect the sides of the truck. Not unusual for me to do 100 miles or more a day on gravel/dirt roads. The steps help protect the door hinges and rear fenders from getting rock dinged and sand blasted. Also help from getting crap or mud (literally, open range here) from getting thrown all over the side of the truck.

Protection from door dings in a parking lot. Doors will hit the steps before they hit the side of the truck.

I don't rock crawl, but if I do happen to break one they are available individually.

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