Finding aftermarket accessories for utes and 4WDs is relatively easy, considering that these vehicles make the bulk of new sales and there’s an ever-growing aftermarket scene. Toyota is Australia’s favourite brand and anyone driving a Landcruiser or Hilux has heaps of choices. While these cars are robust and reliable, some goodies don’t get the attention they deserve. Consider the case for side steps. These inexpensive accessories can do quite a few things when protecting a 6-figure off-roading beast, while also proving handy for easier entry and exit in and out of the vehicle.
What are Side Steps?
Side steps are aftermarket additions that span the length of the doors. They protrude further out than the widest point of your Hilux or Landcruiser and brush off anything coming in their path. Side steps are particularly useful at keeping the side panels of utes and 4WDs protected in more spirited off-roading as well as being an accessible platform that makes getting in and out of the car that much easier. But besides this, they have a few other uses that make them indispensable, especially considering the low price tag.
What They’re Good At
Protecting Your Car
Off-roading means having the goods to protect yourself and the car from unwanted surprises. Here there are the obvious front-end additions like bull bars and skid plates that do a fine job in head-on scuffs with rocks, stumps and wildlife. But not all threats are easily spotted and come right at you. The sides of the car are especially vulnerable. Gravel and unsealed roads will spurt a lot of debris in all directions, but it’s the tyres and the side panels that bear the brunt. Add to this that the majority of collisions with curious marsupials are from the sides, and you get a better picture of where side steps come in. Pair a set of Toyota Landcruiser side steps with a bespoke set of brush bars and you’ll keep the paintwork and those expensive off-roading tyres in pristine condition. Mind you, they also work well with custom-fit fender flares to top up an already off-roading capable car.
These car accessories are also good for everyday driving. The Landcruiser is big and burly and driver error can dent the car in places you’d least expect. Think of areas like parking lots and unwary drivers slamming doors or trolleys into your prized off-roader. Getting a bit too close to kerbs will also see some nasty results.
Getting In and Out
The Landcruiser has one of the highest ground clearances of any car, and this is with factory settings. Bump up the suspension with stiffer shocks, springs with more travel and some bigger wheels, and even taller people will have a hard time getting in or out. While side steps do eat in a little into the overall ground clearance, they’re a necessity you want. For kids, the elderly and anyone a bit shorter they’re the only way of getting into the Landcruiser.
Getting out of a high-sprung car can also be an issue. You’ll be jumping out more often than you’d want. And scraping the dirt off the sills in the process. The benefit of side steps is the designated steeping areas, either in non-slip rubber or perforated metal that stick well with the shoe soles and these provide sure footing every time so no unwanted mishaps.
Keeping the Landcruiser Clean
Since this is an off-roader, side steps also serve the purpose of clearing any dirt or dust before hopping in. Perforated designs also keep their shine by not accumulating any grime.
Which to Get?
Designs
The majority of side steps taper out at the ends and this serves the purpose of integrating fender flares in the wheel arches. Other designs have squared-off ends. Both look good and give off a purposeful appearance to the car. Widths or how much the steps protrude outward can differ, but generally, this is between 20 to 25cm, so just right for most feet. Overall diameters are in the vicinity of 60mm, and tubing is at least 2mm thick.
Standard vs Powered Side Steps
The first is what most buyers get due to the lower prices, but if you want the convenience (and ultimate style) of platforms that lower as you open the doors and raise and sit flush with the car as the doors close, then powered options are a much better choice. These work by way of a small electric motor tasked to do the lifting and lowering.
Materials
Aluminium variants come in as cheaper and also lighter. But they’re not the last word in durability. That is not to say they’ll buckle under more weight. For the last word in strength though, look for side steps in high-grade steel that is also coated against corrosion. These do come in a bit heavier but are all the better off for it. They are what you want if you’re also fitting brush bars. Look for combo packs with both Toyota Landcruiser side steps and side brush bars if you’re after value.
Vehicle Compatibility
Get side steps that suit your Landcruiser series. There are differences in lengths and mounting between different variants. Also, ensure that what you get is ADR approved in terms of airbag activation. Installation is quick and simple, with most side steps bolting onto the Landcruiser chassis with nuts, bolts and mounting brackets.
