Any recommendations on side steps for a 2017 JKU Sport S? The wife is having shorty problems. Would want the steps in black. Also, are they generally pretty easy to install, or better to have done?
I have the Rock slide Engeneering step sliders. Not cheep but they are a solid rock slider when closed. When you open a door the step portion motors out and you have a step for both the front and back to get in. I've also installed the light kit that illuminates the step when the door is opened. Short wife and 4 in lift mandated them. She loves them.
I bought take off rubicon hard rock (mopar enhanced rubicon rails) for $300.
They were brand new,
They bolt directly where rubicon rails go, and use the same hardware.
No holes to drill, super easy install of less than an hour at the very most.
My 5'0 wife uses them, my 5 year old uses them, and I use them.
OEM quality for less money than a crap brand like smittybilt or whatever.
They are always for sale and street price is around $300.
Craigslist and the forum classifieds are your friend.
If you buy, make sure to get all the hardware.
If you are uncomfortable installing them, ask the person you bought them from to lend a hand.
Check your local CL. Folks are always unloading their rails/running boards. To give you an idea, there's a set of running boards/steps off a '17 for $200 in my area.
I considering replacing my Sahara sidesteps with rails. But, for the exact reasons you stated I kept them on.
They're also great for the son and wife getting in.
I also put the Sahara running boards on my 2010 Sport JKU. Just typed "2017 Jeep wrangler jku running board side step nerf bars black OE" on eBay and found for less than $200. For some reason the ones I bought I had to relocate one hole in the aft attach bracket but looks same as stock. Makes a good step. If you lift or need protection from rocks this may not be route to take but I like the flow with the stock fenders. Red body with black fenders with black step.
Can't go wrong with the RedRock 4x4 Side Armor steps! Especially at that price.
I would also recommend taking a look at the Barricade Extreme HD Rocker Steps if you're looking for a sturdier step with a little more stepping area.
The RedRock 4x4 Steps affix by mounting to the body in three locations whereas the Barricade Steps mount directly to the three body mounts. Both are very great products and are reasonably priced.
Not to start a war, but the Smittybilt SRC are not quality...I know, I have them. If you do any off roading at all, they will not hold up. I have nice little dents in my pinch seams from where they flexed up.
They are a decent step and will protect you from door dings in the mall parking lot and look cool, but for not much more money you can get something better...
Only purchase I really regret on my Jeep. I was a newb and realized later I could get something much better for less than $100 more.
I went with the Smittybilt nerf step side bars. My kids had trouble getting in the Jeep even at stock height, now they have no issues. They are easy to mount and seem extremely sturdy.
I wanted something that doubled as a rock rail and side step that did not require you to step around the rail to get to the step. They took a little bit to get them flush with the bottom of the rocker panels, but in the end I like how they look and function.
They mount with 3 brackets in the stock locations.
Hey Ryan those tires look great on the 75th wheels! What did you go with? Did you add a lift or leveling kit? Tax return coming soon so I sense a spring upgrade!
Can someone help clarify a question for me? Is there a difference between the rails that bolt underneath frame as opposed to the ones that use side bolt holes on the colored frame? I hope I'm making sense. Any insight is appreciated.
typically rails that bolt directly to the fram will be stronger, however many manufacturers make them that bolt through the body mounts(I think this is what you are referring to. Many that do that can be very strong as well.
The strongest would probably be the weld on ones, but not an option for many folks.
There are many degrees of protection but the more protection, typically the more $$$.
Metalcloak Rocker flip step is the answer for me. I know you said direct mount and these take a little more than that. Just wanted to show you this option.. I have little ones and the step can be configured 3 different ways as they get older or however you want them.. Pricey, but I'm saving my pennies. OverLand Rocker Flip Step, Pair, JK, 4-Door
I wish people would stop buying shittybuilt products. Check out VKS Fab Prerunner sliders bolt or weld on. Poison Spyder has some and LOD has some step sliders. All of these are American made and much higher quality than that cheap Chinese crap so many people continue to put on their Jeeps.
Before you step down off your soap box, do you have any suggestions that help the OP? He's looking for side steps, not rock sliders. Something to help is wife get into and out of the jeep. With little kids, I would be looking for the same thing. I don't see anything from PS or VKS that fit the bill.
The OP has a sport, which AFAIK doesn't come with anything so I suppose anything is better than nothing. But none of those are that much lower. Maybe something OEM will work, maybe not. He'll have to chime in.
I on the other hand already have factory side steps, but something lower for the kiddos would be nice.
Like those posted by Ryans JK above.
Some people use their jeep for real life, so try not to be too much of a jackass if possible, mmkay?
LOD signature series Rock Sliders also include a treadplate step. In fact, when I googled LOD to get the name it was quite literally the first suggested return.
I had the smitty steps last year. Great steps, bad sliders. I upgraded to VKS, and I have yet to use them as sliders this year, but as for steps, they suck. Yes, they have a step area, however, they are at nearly the same height as the sill. Smitty is fine if you aren't bashing it.
Those are the business - they look great. With that said and already pointed out the Sahara take offs are a great option for anyone whom is not going to do any heavy rock crawling.....
I have the N-Fab Nerf bars and love them. They look like the smittybuilt. Not sure as to which is better quality. They bolt in 6 places (3 underneath, frame?, 3 to side). Make getting in easier as they drop lower than factory side steps. I put them on myself and it took a while but it's b/c I tried to follow the horrible (incorrect) instructions. Went on YouTube and someone was nice enough to post a vid. Do it yourself. No drilling req'd if put on correctly.
I think my wife needs some lowered ones to help her get a step up. We live in Florida, so we won't be doing any rock crawling or any hardcore off roading. Just beginner/scenic type trails.
We put Hammerhead side steps on the wife's JKU - good tread, dimpled for better traction, and it's an actual step, not a rounded bar for your foot to slip off when it's wet/icey. But we also go out to the trails, so having pinch seam protection was a must. If you're just looking for a step up, Sahara take-offs as many have pointed out, or even the tube steps that come on Sport / Sport-S models are sufficient, cheap, and plentiful. I've got a set that came off the wife's JKU sitting in my attic ready for demod at trade-in time, but they're chrome... so much chrome.
O_E
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