Powerful 4x4 side steps

[oceanrunner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanrunner]

just after info on the powerful 4x4 side steps are they easy to fit and what is the build quality like? been quoted $799.00 plus freight ( refer to pict ) . has anyone used a high lift jack on one?

[bens prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bens prado]

Quality of actual steps appears good, quality of U-bolts to mount appears soft. I installed early this year but have not being anywhere much yet to test. Installation was relatively easy once I worked out the slip in nuts into front chassis member, but back passenger side Ubolt and corresponding mounting point didn't line up on my car. I didn't ask about it, I just modified.

[baddna Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close baddna]

The side-step nuts fell inside panelling

Gday Ben.

I've just installed new Steel Side Steps onto my 150GXL - killed the old ones over rocks.

On removing the 6 bolts from the chassis (holding the old side step), the backing nut (in behind panelling) stayed in place for 4 nuts, but for 2 nuts, they dropped away inside the panelling - so I can't refit two of the 6 bolts. Hope that makes sense!

I couldn't see any obvious way to pull off the side panelling to get at the two lost nuts.
Any ideas on how to remove that side panel?

[rally1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rally1]

Hi Oceanrunner
I've just fitted three sets of these to prado's there not to bad but not quite stiff enough in my opinion you would ony use a
high lift jack as last resort. I jacked the the car on the new side steps they were flexing into the sills .I reckon a few slight
mods to the mounts and they should not be too bad. As far as the rear hole not lining up when they fit them they give the
customer the option of drilling a hole in the chassis or leave it 'i left mine for the time being until i find a better way.
cheers

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

I looked at these for mine and didn't like the idea of drilling or leaving so went with a different brand. Also their sales staff were shocking at getting back to you (but that wasn't unique to this supplier).

The ones in the For Sale look great, I was a little impatient and didn't want to wait so I ordered elsewhere, but by the time I got them I didn't actually gain anything.

[oceanrunner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanrunner]

bigdog816 - what brand did you go for?
also after some pics if available

[millsy4466 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close millsy4466]

I had a set of rock sliders custom made by a company in Perth called Blackjack Welding - they have taken the pics off their website but if you contact them, they can explain - think the price is about $700 and they are as tough as!!

I'm about 120KG's and I can jump on them and they don't move and no damage after 6 months bashing them around!!

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Given the information in this thread conflicts with other experiences I've heard about, I contacted Powerful 4x4 to get the skinny on this.

First, I should disclose that I have no affiliation with Powerful 4x4 and nothing to gain. My only goal is for high quality information so I can make an informed purchasing decision. Whilst I haven't parted with the money, I plan to purchase these for my next rig. With that said...

I spoke with one of the Powerful 4x4 engineers, Talal, who knows the product intimately. There are differences between mounting instructions for the 120 vs 150. The comments regarding whether to drill holes or not is entirely with the 120 due to it only have a single bolt-hole in one location. The 150 version of the product, truly just bolts on. However, in early production, there was one batch made for the 150 that had bolt holes upside-down; this has been corrected.

Regarding the side-steps flexing into the sills under a high-lift jack, he commented, "that shouldn't happen". They have tested the steps many times using a fork lift and a high-lift jack. There's never been any issue with lifting the vehicle using the side-steps.

Talal was very interested to know about this thread and he may be able to get some pictures posted for further illustration. If there are legitimate concerns, I get the impression they are eager to work with the feedback from the forum to improve their product if needed.

... I jacked the the car on the new side steps they were flexing into the sills

Powerful 4x4 state that they are suited for a highlift jack and that they have tested this configuration. Rally1, I'm sure Powerful 4x4 would like to know about your experience here.

... As far as the rear hole not lining up when they fit them they give the
customer the option of drilling a hole in the chassis or leave it 'i left mine for the time being until i find a better way.
cheers

Powerful 4x4 state this is applicable to the 120-series only. They claim no drilling is needed for a 150.

I wonder if some of the confusion here is due to slight differences in the variety of Prado models and build-dates.

LFaR.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

I had a set of rock sliders custom made by a company in Perth called Blackjack Welding.

Any chances you could post some pics of them millsy - $700 seems pretty reasonable. I assume you have a 120 series Prado?

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

bigdog816 - what brand did you go for?
also after some pics if available

I went with the Autocraft ones. I'll send you some pics tonight.

BigDog.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Autocraft rock sliders. pics on my buildup thread and here:

[plunko2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close plunko2]

If they're anything like there prado bullbars they'll be no good i just got one of them and it' f***en sh**. It carrys on that much on dirt roads that its cracked one of my mounts already and I've only done about 2000kms of dirt with it.

[rally1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rally1]

I've modified the way mine bolt on . The centre mounts and front mount i made up some crush tubes
went to bunnings bought some long bolts and plates so now instead of being bolted on with u bolts thru
one side of the chassis the the bolts go right thru the chassis with plates in the inside .

[ursos Member Find all posts View Profile Close ursos]

I've ordered a set of Powerful 4x4 sliders for my 150 after seeing them at 4x4 show in October (including getting under the vehicle to see how they mounted) and a subsequent call to Powerful 4x4. I asked similar questions to those mentioned by LFAR in post #8 above and on both occasions got similar responses. Both the sales guy at the 4x4 show and the person on the phone stated that these sliders have been designed to be airbag compatible on 150 and cope with high lift jack. I was tossing up between these and OAQ but the OAQ sliders are only bolted on at two points, Powerful have three bolting points. Will post photos on my build up when they arrive (not sure of delivery date with Christmas/New Year in the way).