Cali Raised LED Step Edition Rock Sliders Review
High Quality Rock Slider Option for the 3rd Gen Tacoma - Step Edition vs Trail Edition Rock Sliders
After breaking off the stock side steps on an off-roading trip, I knew I needed to get better protection for my Tacoma. After searching online through various brands for a set of rock sliders, I couldn’t decide on which set was right for me.
Finally, I stumbled upon Cali Raised LED and picked up a set. After installing them and getting to use and abuse them out on the trails, they have held up great and offer peace of mind when on the trails and tougher obstacles. If you’re in the market for a set of rock sliders for your Tacoma and want to learn a little more these, here’s the details and my thoughts on the Cali Raised LED Step Edition Rock Sliders.
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Why You Should Consider Rock Sliders
If you’re planning on doing any sort of serious off-roading or just want some added peace of mind when out on the trails then you will probably want to invest in a set of rock sliders.
Rock sliders are a bolt-on or weld-on modification that are installed in order to protect your vehicle from obstacles that may come in contact with your rocker panels or doors to prevent potentially irreversible or very expensive body damage. These are heavier duty than the stock steps that come installed on your Tacoma as they are made out of steel and are usually able to support the weight of your vehicle because they are mounted to the frame instead of a few bolts on the rocker panel.
KEY FEATURES, MATERIALS, AND SPECS
While rock sliders are a pretty simple modification, the ones from Cali Raised LED were created with ease of installation, customizability, and durability in mind. They are also offered in multiple different configurations to fit your needs and look you want.
Fully Bolt-On Design
The Cali Raised LED Step Edition rock sliders are 100% bolt-on making them easy to install without requiring any special tools. One thing I really appreciated from Cali Raised was the in-depth and easy to follow installation instructions which made the installation quick and painless.
Optional Filler Plates
When configuring your sliders, you can choose whether or not to have filler plates installed. Filler plates go on the top of the sliders to fill the gaps and provide a flat surface making them easier to stand on and give the sliders a more “finished” look. These are especially useful if you have children or pets that would use your sliders as a step. I personally chose to not include the filler plates as I like the look of just the tubing as I feel it gives a more rugged look.
DOM Tubing
The sliders are constructed from 1.75” DOM tubing. Most rock sliders are constructed from either DOM or HREW. DOM (Drawn over Mandrel) tubing is generally stronger and has a smoother finish compared to HREW.
Since they utilize a stronger material able to handle more force, you could, if needed, rest the weight of the vehicle on them. This is good for people who enjoy rock crawling or encounter obstacles where you get stuck on the center of your vehicle. DOM tubing is also a lot harder to dent.
Optional Kick-out design
Another option you can choose when purchasing your rock sliders is the option to add a kick-out. A kick-out is essentially a bend or curve near the end of the slider towards the bed.
This curve helps protect the backside of your truck in situations where you may be navigating through narrow obstacles. Although the entire slider can act as a pivot, adding a kick-out gives you a good point in the rear where if you were to accidentally hit a rock, tree, or other obstacle it will push the truck away from it protecting your rear end from damage.
Three Finish Options
As I said, there are a lot of options when picking out the sliders. The sliders from Cali Raised LED are available in three different finishes for the main tubing and filler plates with the option to mix the finishes.
Raw
This is bare steel. Since steel is prone to rusting, it is recommended to get a finish on them to make sure they last longer. I would only choose the raw option if you plan on getting a custom finish before installing them.
Powder Coat
Powder coat is the finish I went with and I personally really like it as it gives a smooth finish that is also pretty durable. One downside is that it may be a little more slippery when wet. One great thing about powder coating is that if you do mess up the finish of the sliders it easier to touch up later on.
Bed Liner
If you want a rugged finish that provides great traction even in wet situations, bed liner may be a good option for you. Bed liner is typically harder to scratch and has a textured surface. One downside to a bed liner finish is that it is a little harder to touch up if you get dings and scratches.
STEP EDITION VS. TRAIL EDITION
Cali Raised LED offers two versions of their rock sliders for the Tacoma which are the step edition and trail edition. The key difference in these is the angle of the sliders.
The step edition sliders are angled to provide a flatter surface so that they can be used as a step to get into the vehicle or stand on to access things on the roof. These are the version I went with as I am on the shorter side and don’t like jumping into my truck. These are great if you have pets or children that need a little assistance getting into your truck and don’t mind sacrificing a little ground clearance for comfort.
The trail edition sliders on the other hand are catered more towards providing the maximum amount of ground clearance. These are angled upwards in order to sit as close to the body as possible so you don’t catch them on rocks or other obstacles while out on the trail. If you’re someone that doesn’t really need any assistance getting into your truck and want ensure you have as much ground clearance as possible while still protecting your body, I would suggest the trail edition.
MY THOUGHTS & REVIEW
I knew that Cali Raised LED made great rock sliders so I knew once I had broken the stock steps they were the ones I was going to go with. Still while I knew this, I was still on the fence about whether or not I would want the trail edition or step edition.
After purchasing the step edition and having run them on my truck for a little over a year, I honestly could not be happier with them. The installation was super easy as it didn’t require drilling or welding them onto the truck and they have held up to many trail rides.
One thing I have noticed about the step edition was how you they do tend to hit obstacles that the trail edition otherwise wouldn’t. In my video, you can tell that I scraped the sliders on the rocks but with the trail edition, I wouldn’t have as they would have been tucked up closer to the body. With this in mind, I still am really happy with them because they still did their job and I actually like that the rocks hit the slider before even getting close to the body.