monkey hanger
Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: London
Posts: 291
  
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| Advice please: Side steps, side bars or rock sliders? |
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Ok , I'm new so don't shoot me down in flames if all this has been covered a million times before!
I need to add one of the above to help with access to the vehicle for kids and my petite SWMBO 
On my defender I had rock sliders (scorpion) with a bar along the side that was just enough to step on.
I'm likely to do some deacent off roading again at some stage and like the idea of some sill protection.
Not sure I like the side steps. Do they offer any protection or are they more cosmetic?
Do the LR side bars cover all my needs?
Should I just  it and go for integrated underbody protection and rock sliders from California?! 8)
The instruction leaflets on the GTR site for fitting of the LR items look like a one way journey so I'd like to get it right now
Before anyone asks....no I cant get a taller SWMBO! "its probably a virus, you'll be right as rain in a few days and if you're playing sport try to favour the other leg"
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 21st Jan 2008 2:06 pm |
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SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
 
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Hi Monkey Hangar and welcome
Quickly side steps (LR ones) are mostly cosmetic but I have them so that wife and toddler can get in and also so I can wash the roof!!! They also help save door paint in car parks.
I have used mine greenlaning (and at the J V Likes track) with the steps on with no major damage but you do have to be careful and for anything remotely serious you should think about taking them off (about an 1 hr).
Side bars I think are completely cosmetic and are neither step nor off road protection and you will eventually dent these off road. I can't speak about sliders, all depends how serious you are going to be!!!! end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
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| 21st Jan 2008 2:54 pm |
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MrH
Member Since: 08 Aug 2007
Location: lost in the forest
Posts: 7754
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Hi MH,
Ever thought of a step ladder with should straper - that's what I got SWMBO when she complained about the height of our first Disco (300TDi). Was quite funny at the time, but she got her own back - as they do.
On a more serious note, not sure how it'll help with the access issue for the vertically challenged but, RLD is getting some heavy duty sills made up to replace the plastic ones - I think they're going to be 8mm Aluminium and powder-coated to the same finish as the originals. That'll give you more than enough protection from the under side, and won't interfere off road. Drop him a PM for more details. If you do go for side steps - put some coppergrease on the bolts before fitting, that way they'll be easier to undo as and when you want to take them off.
Regards,
DN LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.
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| 21st Jan 2008 3:05 pm |
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AndrewS
Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10438
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I have off roaded both my D3's and been in reasonably extreme conditions and have never damaged my sills other than a few scratches on the underside of the plastic trim.
As SPOTTER says the L R products are cosmetic add ons and actually restrict your ground clearance. For instance I have driven places with no issues and the vehicle behind followed with side bars on, the side bars got pushed up and the driver could not open his door. We ended up jumping up and down on them so he could get out.
Unless you are going to do serious off roading or go rock crawling a standard D3 will be fine. In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
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| 21st Jan 2008 3:15 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50947
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What Andrew says  If you are planning any major off-road adventures then then steps or tubes can be a hinderance. The sill covers are very flexible and anything hard is going to rest on your chassis rails TBH  21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
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| 21st Jan 2008 3:26 pm |
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Ken
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
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What they said but i'm still gonna have some of Rays sills 8)
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| 21st Jan 2008 3:32 pm |
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AndrewS
Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10438
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Ken wrote:What they said but i'm still gonna have some of Rays sills 8)
And me for the same reason that dogs lick their balls In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
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| 21st Jan 2008 3:35 pm |
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MrH
Member Since: 08 Aug 2007
Location: lost in the forest
Posts: 7754
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At the end of the day it's a bit like buying insurance - you hope you ain't gonna need it, but thank Christ you got it when the hits the fan - that's why I'm also waiting for a set of Uncle Ray's sills. LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.
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| 21st Jan 2008 3:40 pm |
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monkey hanger
Member Since: 17 Jan 2008
Location: London
Posts: 291
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Many thanks for the prompt advice
I'm reassured that the D3 is so well designed to start with.
I got the feeling from looking at the accessory LR stuff that it was a bit cosmetic. No offence to anyone but to be honest I cant cope with the idea of steps right now after having just sold my Defender. They look a bit soft, I like the profile of the car without them and I dont want to spoil the ramp angle.
Do the sills you mention require any major modification or just replace the existing ones?
Any pictures yet anyone with them?
..................I will contact the mysterious "uncle ray" "its probably a virus, you'll be right as rain in a few days and if you're playing sport try to favour the other leg"
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| 21st Jan 2008 4:24 pm |
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MrH
Member Since: 08 Aug 2007
Location: lost in the forest
Posts: 7754
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Sorry couldn't find the thread, but if you PM "RLD" aka Uncle Ray I think he has some pictures. If memory serves they are simple to fit using existing bolt holes. I'm sure I'll get corrected if that's wrong. LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.
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| 21st Jan 2008 4:46 pm |
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opodden
Member Since: 29 Jun 2006
Location: Elverum
Posts: 100
 
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I bought those, but haven't had time to install them yet, so my experience is limited. But they are very sturdy indeed, judging from the materials used. Fitting is by using existing bolt holes, but some trimming of plastic is required (according to included instructions). The reason I decided to go for this solution was that I damaged the compressor (broke the mount) and I didn't even think I was doing anything extreme. My experience from my other car, is that if you drive off road, you will eventually misjudge your breakover clearance and damage your sills (and that was in a short wheelbase Pajero with 2" lift and 33" tyres).
The Offroving kit is very expensive but looks very solid, and will protect very vulnerable parts of your car AND make it easier to get in if you go for option II with side bars.
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| 22nd Jan 2008 7:51 pm |
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Bill Wright
Member Since: 03 Nov 2007
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 3254
 
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Opodden God Dag!
Who are Offroving? I've Googled them but no takers  Any web address?
Bill Wright Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
D4 SDV6 SE Tech Kaikoura Stone MY15.
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| 22nd Jan 2008 8:26 pm |
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Bill Wright
Member Since: 03 Nov 2007
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 3254
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Thanks for that Buddy. I wonder why they didn't come up on Google. Finger problems I guess 
Bill Wright Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
D4 SDV6 SE Tech Kaikoura Stone MY15.
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| 22nd Jan 2008 8:47 pm |
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DrLex
Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Ciderspace [Oi be in Zummerset]
Posts: 4863
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AndrewS wrote:
And me for the same reason that dogs lick their balls
So Ray's doing a sugar-coated version as well as powder-coated?
Sweet!
BTW, in same boat as Spotter re: steps. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member of Club Med Sucks
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| 22nd Jan 2008 8:48 pm |
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