Side steps and off roading

[surge101]

Hello all, so I’m new to the whole off-roading world. Not exactly sure what the do’s and donts are yet. I was looking for rock rails and my family purchased me some side steps for Xmas. Now, my question is, can I still go off roading if I put these on? Or are they going to just snap off? Is their any functionality to them. Wondering if I should be planning on replacing these fairly soon, or if I can utilize them at all... also, we don’t really have a lot of rock crawling here, it’s mostly swamp, mud and small rock piles.

this is exactly what I got https://www.amazon.com/TAC-Running-...d=1577309884&sprefix=gladiator+side+s&sr=8-20

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[ShadowsPapa]

Define "off-roading".
It means different things to different people in different parts of the country.
Iowa means hills, mud and rivers, muck, clay, woods and trees and getting chased out of fields by farmers, etc - Colorado it means rocks up to your doors, narrow passes, the need for good skid plates or you rip the bottom off the transfer case, other areas maybe sand, marsh, who knows.

 

[surge101]

Define "off-roading".
It means different things to different people in different parts of the country.
Iowa means hills, mud and rivers, muck, clay, woods and trees and getting chased out of fields by farmers, etc - Colorado it means rocks up to your doors, narrow passes, the need for good skid plates or you rip the bottom off the transfer case, other areas maybe sand, marsh, who knows.

Yeah, I don’t think what we have would be considered the “rip your bottom out” kind of terrain. The natural stuff is mud, swamp, gravel and sand. There’s a few recreational parks where I can go that has artificial rock piles to climb, but we don’t have mountains, hills, etc.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Hello all, so I’m new to the whole off-roading world. Not exactly sure what the do’s and donts are yet. I was looking for rock rails and my family purchased me some side steps for Xmas. Now, my question is, can I still go off roading if I put these on? Or are they going to just snap off? Is their any functionality to them. Wondering if I should be planning on replacing these fairly soon, or if I can utilize them at all... also, we don’t really have a lot of rock crawling here, it’s mostly swamp, mud and small rock piles.

this is exactly what I got https://www.amazon.com/TAC-Running-...d=1577309884&sprefix=gladiator+side+s&sr=8-20

The side steps are quite helpful for getting in and out of the truck. I would put them on and start using them. If you decide to start off-roading, survey the area and watch others. Don't tackle trails that will damage the steps. Starting out new, and hitting trails that require rock rails on the truck, are probably not a good combination.

 

[JCJeep1]

If your new to off roading - the best thing to do is go do what you like - your jeep is quite capable. If you have a concern - stop and take a look to see what outcome may be - if bad don't do it. If possible - do it. You will potentially bump, clunk, bang into something - part of learning. If your afraid of paint scratch, dirt film - dont do anything that leads to that. If your afraid of stuck, high center, mud or snow - bring a friend (separate vehicle) for support - its social activity. There are a thousand things that can be posted on what others have done - if you want to learn - go do what your interested in - leave the radio off (you can hear more that way) and next time - you will have more confidence. - Best of all - Enjoy your jeep

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If your new to off roading - the best thing to do is go do what you like - your jeep is quite capable. If you have a concern - stop and take a look to see what outcome may be - if bad don't do it. If possible - do it. You will potentially bump, clunk, bang into something - part of learning. If your afraid of paint scratch, dirt film - dont do anything that leads to that. If your afraid of stuck, high center, mud or snow - bring a friend (separate vehicle) for support - its social activity. There are a thousand things that can be posted on what others have done - if you want to learn - go do what your interested in - leave the radio off (you can hear more that way) and next time - you will have more confidence. - Best of all - Enjoy your jeep

That's very similar to how a guy that took over one of our events was introducing folks to drag racing. He suggested if you've never done it, go through his "intro class" - an informal walk through and down the track. Then do the test and tune night - don't worry about being fast, get it down the track even if you let off before the end - just to get a feel for it. Each time take it further, faster. Don't worry about punching it right away. See what the car can do, what YOU can do, what the track is like, how things look as you go, get familiar with the distance between you and the walls, get a feel for what it takes to slow at the end enough to turn and go get your time slip.
Heck, there was an 82 year old guy out there, there was a postal Jeep, even a fellow with his pacer. All on the same track with the fellow who runs the world's fastest Gremlin at over 180 mph, quarter mile in under 7 seconds.
Even the big guys started somewhere - they weren't born with it.
There's a lot of "back and forth" on forums but when you are out there - they'll all come running to help if you need it.
No one is going to let you get into trouble or leave you hanging.

Agree - radio off, no distractions. You will be able to tell a lot with your ears as well as eyes.

 

[surge101]

If your new to off roading - the best thing to do is go do what you like - your jeep is quite capable. If you have a concern - stop and take a look to see what outcome may be - if bad don't do it. If possible - do it. You will potentially bump, clunk, bang into something - part of learning. If your afraid of paint scratch, dirt film - dont do anything that leads to that. If your afraid of stuck, high center, mud or snow - bring a friend (separate vehicle) for support - its social activity. There are a thousand things that can be posted on what others have done - if you want to learn - go do what your interested in - leave the radio off (you can hear more that way) and next time - you will have more confidence. - Best of all - Enjoy your jeep

Thanks, I will take this advice. As I’m not too sure about what the proper set ups are for off road applications, I was wondering if adding these steps that I received would hinder clearance/the trucks ability at all, and if they provide any benefit in terms of protection. Wondering if people would ever have done thing like that on, or if it’s expected to snap off on a trail.

 

[JCJeep1]

Thanks, I will take this advice. As I’m not too sure about what the proper set ups are for off road applications, I was wondering if adding these steps that I received would hinder clearance/the trucks ability at all, and if they provide any benefit in terms of protection. Wondering if people would ever have done thing like that on, or if it’s expected to snap off on a trail.

yep - and its a nebulous question as nobody can answer what and how your going to use your JT - if you like the steps - use them. If your going to bottom out your jeep or get it in tight quarters that require higher clearance get rock rails instead. Steps are very helpful if you need them for primary usage.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The "running boards" like the Overland has will take a lot. Some of the crazy rocks some take their Rubicons over - no, but unless you get into that, similar should be fine. They do protect the side of the truck - that I can tell you for sure. Rocks and gravel and sand off the road - won't be hitting the side of your JT.
I'd say or suggest that unless you get into spots where you'll be teetering on the tops of rocks, give those steps a shot.
I got goofy after one of our first snows - the stores had the snow bladed into some nice steep piles on the ends of the rows of parking. I parked next to one. My wife expected me to back out of the spot and away from that frozen icy hard pile of packed snow.
Crunch, scrape, grind......... I'm sure I cleaned off parts of the underside, but the Overland running boards didn't get hurt. I know they had to be skimming the ice/snow pile as I went over the side of it and we leaned waaaay to the left until I got to the other side.

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