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What are your opinions on the factory side steps? Do they make it much easier to get into the back seat of the 90?
I have them on my 90 and I like them. They’re tucked in pretty close so they don’t really affect off-roading much in my opinion but I also don’t really do anything where I would need full on sliders.
Also, they’re pretty nice at keeping a lot of debris from hitting the side of the truck from the front wheels. They do help getting into the back and I never use access height so these are also handy for my wife for getting in and out. I use them to mount and dismount now that I’m used to them also.
I got the all black ones from Vulkan and the quality is great. Paid a local shop to mount them but then I had to take them off and put them on the correct side since the shop mounted them on the wrong sides. So I can vouch for the fact that they’re also not hard to remove if you need to. But when they’re on they’re rock solid. I’m about 265 and I can bounce on this and rock the whole truck with no flex from the step bars.
IMO no. We were renting a 130 in New Zealand and due to the rainy/snowy thus overall wet conditions the steps got extremely slippery. Getting out of the third row some passengers almost slipped on them.
I bought eBay version and installed yesterday. This is my feedback/info/concerns:
I was going to get OEM as I dont like non OEM parts generally. but with price differences of $1,000+, I bought eBay one that looks just like OEM without the Defender logo and black mounting hardware.
Steps are not really the must-have with air suspensions to access front seats (I'm 5'8" and my wife is like 5'3") but its real pain to access backseat without steps. So steps are needed for backseat use. And def. steps make it much easier to access front seat too. So I decided to get it.
HARDWARE:
• Overall quality: Looks like OEM, quality was very solid.
• Mounting hardware: OEM is silver and after market have 2 versions, silver and black, I bought black.
• Step Design: OEM has DEFENDER logo debased on the step. After market has a few versions, exact replica with logo, exact replica without the logo, union flags, defender non-slip checker patterns (like the one on the hood). I bought OEM replica without the logo. for side color, aftermarket has both colors, silver and black.
• Installation hardware: came with all and mine came with a lot of plastic clips that breaks when you remove the side plastic covers. so replacement was easier.
• Installation Manual: helpful for steps. But YouTube video really helped me a lot of tips and tricks.
INSTALL:
I'm not a DIYer really. Maximum I can do is installing intake or hardwiring the radar detector using mirror harness. So very beginner.
There are 2 ways: proper way is to take all side plastic trim pieces out (front, middle, back and lower back wind deflector thing) to install side bolts for the mount. Above video is easier version without installing the side bolst. I was going to do that without taking all side trim pieces but wasn't sure if it'll be safe for abuse (My wife and I'll be fine but not sure on mobile car wash guys, etc.). As plastic clips came with the kit, I decided to install proper way.
Needed basic tools only but cutting the plastic trims and felt undercover wasn't easy so you will need a Home Depot run for strong industrial scissor if you dont have something to cut these.
In terms of installation with very minimal skill set, removing trim panels, under side panel plastic pins were not easy at the beginning but once I figured out, wasn't bad. Just annoyinga and a bit scary (bending plstic trims to remove).
Installation portion, everything was good but driver side, one of side bolt was not aligned properly with existing hole so I didn't install it (1 out of 4). On passenger side, I don't know if I did something wrong, I couldn't fit 2 side bolts for same reasons (2 out of 4). So total 3 side bolts were not installed. But they're vey strongly bolted down without any movement with 4 lower side bolts and each side has at least 2 so I figured it's ok.
Replacement clips were not as good as OEM so it kept sliding out but manageable to install.
Putting front/back side pieces, I struggled as I dont know how to install over button down shirt button looking pins but I don't think it's going anywhere or will cause any noise so I didnt worry too much.
Total time I spent was 5 hours but its def. 2- 2.5 hr job for decent skill sets (1.5 hours for one side and the other will be faster. 1 hr).
REVIEW:
I haven't really used yet but when I stepped on it to test, it didn't move and looked just like OEM that I saw.
Even with some of bolts missing on the side mount (total 3 out of 8), will I buy aftermarket side step again?.
If OEM parts cost 2X times, I will go with OEM just because I know me but I paid 260 and OEM is 1450. So my answer is yes. I'll buy aftermarket.
Above is what I bought. OEM look without DEFENDER logo. Black mounting hardware, Came with replacement clips (some of eBay kits does not show clips so I dont know they come with it or not) and important thing is it shipped from US location, not from China.
So if you're thinking of getting it, I recommend replica versions over OEM.
I had mine installed at the dealer when they prepped the vehicle for delivery. I'm 6'3" so I really don't need them. I got them because I like the way they look and I've read the side steps help protect the gloss black trim along the door sills and lower rear trim just past the rear wheels.
